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{jy 2 DOWN AND 1 TO GO - - ON TO TOKYO ! 

M* //if '/,'/» ff«r Bonds 

W'arT*M 




Fuhlislied Weekly at 164 West 4Cth Street, New lork 19, N. Jf„ by Variety, Inc. Annual subscription, $10. Single copies. 2I> con (a. 
Entered as •oeiimi-cla.ss matter December 22, 1W06, at the Post OfHge at New VorU, N.' Y., under tbe act of March 'i. 11(70. 
fOPKBIOUT, IMS, BX VARIETY. INC. Al.l. KIOHTS KKSEKVE1) 



VOL. 158 No 13 



NEW YORK, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 6, 1945 



PRICE 25 CENTS 




GFs in England Develop British 
Films and Stars for U. S. Audiences 





| 124 Clicks of 83 Premieres Sock Over 



American GI's arc helping to es- 
tablish British film stars and are also 
teaching British producers something 
about the. kind, of films which will 
have the best b. o. chances in the 
United States. That's according to 
J. Arthur Rank, British film leader, 
who controls about 60 r i of the stu- 
dios in England, some 860 theatres 
in the best situations, and a vast dis- 
tribution organization. 

British producers feel that if 
American doughboys go for a Brit- 
ish screen player over there, then 
kindred Americans would likely re- 
spond in the same way in the U. S. 
The players drawing maximum res- 
ponse from U. S. servicemen in 
England are those who will be es- 
tablished most quickly as stars in 
pictures aimed for the worldwide 
ami particularly the U. S. theatres. 

Discussing trade aspects following 
his arrival in N. Y. from Canada 
last Monday (4), Rank said that he. 
personally, does not believe in film 
quotas. "If we can't make a profit 
against open competition then we 
(Continued on page 28) 



Mike Todd, in London, 
Takes Job Seriously In 
Sizing Up GI Program 

By BOB MUSEt 

London. May 25. 
The uniform must make a difl'er- 
.ehce, tor : Mike Todd pulled into 
town decked in olive green oh a 
Wat- Dept. mission, and of all the 
show-folk who have' slithered through, 
this war- weary metropolis the erst- 
while ebullient, boy-wonder producer 
was the most intense, the most seri- 
ous. Todd made it clear he was 
here strictly in an official capacity, 
and outside of one fast gander at the 
early-lo-bed nightlife spent: . Ws 
■t i hi e compiling. . recommendations 
(continued on page 4) . 



Leigh Brews One 

first post-VE Day spectacular 
to resume its Broadway career 
lights up Monday (11) when the 
famed cartoon sign at 7th ave. 
and 46th st, returns for first time 
since the blackout. First tung- 
sten display will be sponsored by 
Schaefer Brewing Co. : 

Bill for the Douglas Leigh spec 
will include (a) raising of the 
flag on Iwo Jima, (b) a dancing 
short with either Rosario & An- 
tonio or Ray Bolger. and (c) a 
comedy goodwill short titled "Hi, 
Neighbor." 



Coney Jingling 
Hot Do-Re-Mi 



By JO HANSON 

Shrewd and practiced outdoor 
amusement ■ operators - at -Coney 
Island predict a jackpot 1945 sea- 
son at New York's principal seaside 
resort. With wartime restrictions 
on lights lifted, the boardwalk and 
Surf avenue game, ride and food at- 
tractions expect to do biz in fire- 
engine red if the weatherman 
doesn't let them down too heavily. 
There's heavy moola in the deep 
pockets of the proletariat, judging 
by the way the masses behaved 
Memorial Day (May 30), official 
(Continued oh .page 44 K' ; 



SHERWOOD WORKING ON 
FDR BIOG FOR METRO? 

Deal initiated by Metro with play- 
wright Robert E. Sherwood many 
months ago to write an original yarn 
for the studio has reportedly been 
closed. Understood that Sherwood is 
being retained for a. 13-week period 
for a fee of $125,000 aiid that he's to 
prepare a script about Franklin De- 
lano Roosevelt. 

Negotiations with Sherwood were 
opened and carried oh in line with 
the policy adopted by Metro editori- 
al department execs to line up name 
writers via cash retainers. 

Sidney Kingsley, Carl Sandburg 
and several others were given cash 
advances against future literary 
deliveries. Kinsley's deal was for 
around $150,000, also providing for 
about the same length of time as 
Sherwood at the studio. .Sandburg 
cud his writing away from the studio. 



'Bell Bottom Trousers/ 
Old Sea Chantey, Rings 
The Bell as a Pop Hit 

. A sailors' chantey of obscure 
origin may yet become the ''Made- 
moiselle from Armehtieres." of World 
| War II. The song, even before mak- 
iing the best, .seller lists, has been 
;known to sailing men for many 
! years. With the added stanzas .im- 
provised, by Gi's and . high school 
(Continued on page 46.' 



NETWORK NABOBS DUE 
FOR EUROPEAN TOUR 

Washington. June 5. 
- Ctrl. Ed Kirby. head of Army PRO 
radio branch, has announced that 
high officials of radio are going 
overseas after film execs now tour- 
ing former Nazi concentration camps 
have returned. . 

The radiomen's trip will not cover 
atrocity camps, Kirby said, but will 
be a general tour of war-smashed 
Europe so that they may gain useful 
information in programming shows 
on European conditions and on steps 
to be taken in the re-education of 
Germany 



NEXT SEASON? 



Demands of the Army tor profes- 
sional talent, to appear overseas at 
Pacific war fronts, plus European oc- 
cupation and redeployment centers, 
are so heavy that managers fear they 
will have casting trouble for next 
season's shows. Hollywood is expect- 
ed to supply a fair share of players 
to Broadway, but name artists of all 
amusement divisions are slated to 
join the USO-Camp Shows ranks, 
while hundreds of average actors are 
also being signed. 

Some shows proposed by USO may 
not &a overseas because of USO's in T 
sistence that all hands guarantee to 
remain for six months. Stars who 
have contracts for next season are 
willing to take the assignment during 
the summer, and it is up to USO to 
revise its stance on the six-month 
guarantee. Claimed that a high per- 
centage of players who join the USO 
at this time will doubtless lose the 
chance of a season's work because of 
(Continued on page 2) 



Outdoor Vaude 
In Ball Parks 



If present plan? materialize, 'it'll be 
an even bet that the crowds jamming 
street cars and buses to tbe ball 
parks will be on their way to a 
vaude show instead of a baseball 
game. • 

Promoters lured by /the heavy gate 
that can be obtained at baseball 
stadia are looking into the possibility 
of staging variety concerts there on 
the days that the diamond isn't used 
for sports. The plan has already 
been tried successfully in the south 
and is now traveling, in the direction 
of New England. 

' Frank Dubinsky. a concert - pro- 
(Continued on page 48). : . 



Broadways 1944-45 Legit Season 



Kronenberger Winnah! 

Louis Kronenberger, of PM. 
has won the 1944-45 "Variety" 
boxscore of New York drama 
critics. Lewis Nichols of the 
Times was second. 

Details in Legitimate depart- 
ment. 



Chi Bleats Vs. 
B way Producers 

By MIKE CONNOLLY 

Chicago, -June 5. 

Broadway producers are getting 
slapped around plenty by Chicago 
drama critics these days, which isn't 
unusual for Chi. A week's eullings 
from the columns include these 
diatribes: 

Bob Casey, News: "New York has 
the answer—Chicago is really a hick 
town / populated" by theatregoiiig 
saps who will pay hard cash for any- 
thing that Broadway's custodians of 
the old culture choose to send out 
here." 

| Claudia Cassjdy, Tribune: "Billing 
. (Continued on page 15) 



By JACK PULASKI 

Broadway's top theatre year since 
the start of the war was recorded 
during the season of 1944-45, which 
technically terminated Saturday (2). 
Not: only did legit production spurt 
way over 1943-44 but the number of 
successes increased considerably, 

The hit parade was so pronounced 
that some showmen rate the season 
as the best in a decade. There 
were 83 new shows presented — not 
counting 14 which quit out of town 
—and of the total. 24 clicked. Half 
of that number were smash hits. 

Occasionally one or two attrac- 
tions are produced which play for 
several seasons but among the bell- 
ringers of '44-45, there are live 
straight plays predicted to score 
runs of two years or more. Includ- 
ing five revivals and repeat engage- 
ments, Broadway's total number of 
shows went over the 100 mark. The 
- (Continued on page 48)- 



THESPS WILL TOUR TO 
PLUG LASTING PEACE 

Theatre, film and radio personal- 
ities are preparing to barnstorm the 
country on behalf of peace and a. 
strong United Nations Organization, 
as /outlined yesterday (TUes.) , by 
Edward Chpdorov. . 

C'hodorov was one of tn» sneakers 
at a luncheon at the Astof hotel. 
N...Y,. called by Fredric March, 
treasurer of . the. Independent Citi- 
zens Committee of 'the. Arts, Sci- 
ences and Professions. 

The luncheon -was called primarily 
for the purpose of raising funds for 
flic work of the committee which 
started out as a political group in 
the last Presidential campaign, but 
has broadened its interests to in- 
clude civic affairs. Other speakers 
in addition to C'hodorov were .1. 
(Continued on page 50) 



Is It $150 Worth Of 

Junk or 9G of Art?: 

Lbs Angeles, June 5. 

Fritz Hcnkels, sculptor; filed suit ' 
against Fox-West Coast Theatres, 
demanding $9,930 for his statuary 
that once stood in the forecourt of 
the Grauman's Egyptian theatre on"; 
Hollywood Blvd. . ', ;. 

F-WC attorneys, answered that it. 
cost $150 to hire a junkman to haul ] 
the .statues to the city dump. 



Pixers Producing 
L. A. Welcome Show 
For Patton, Doolittle 

Hollywood, June 5, 
Mervyn LeRoy has been selected 
by Mayor Bowron to produce a show 
at the Coliseum Saturday night (9), 
climaxing the welcome back to the 
U. S. of Generals George K. Patton 
and James H. Doolittle. 

Y. Frank Freeman is representing 
the film industry and has placed all 
facilities of the studios and talent at 
the city's disposal.. Writers are 
lending their' talent for the drama- 
tized spectacle being readied to pre- ' 
cede the introduction of the two gen- 
erals, ' /■ • : ' ' ■ -. -.. . 

Flacks have also gone on loanout 
from the. Hays office and studios to 
give the event a heavy ploy. 



FOII TELKVISI<» 




The Hour 
Of Charm 

All-Girl Orchestra 
and Choir 

Conducted Uy 

Phil Spitalny 



Studios Continue to Hop on Latin-Am. 
Band (Wagon) for Added Conga to B.O. 



By WHITNEY WILLIAMS 

Hollywood, June 5. 
T;a tin -A rrter) ca n , markets shortly 
will be flooded not alone with 
American-localod product but with 
pictures patterned, against countries 
of the home teams as well. Ever 
since Walt Disney's "Saludbs Ami- 
gos" made such inroads on coin be- 
low the border. Hollywood produc- 
ers have been preparing scripts with 
backgrounds of Spanish-speaking 
nations until today the trend is very 
Latin-American. Few studios are 
passing up 'this golden opportunity 
to cultivate: friends and open lip new 
.outlet ; iii: the republics to the south. 

Republic, which jtlsf now is cele- 
brating its 10th anniversary., appears 
to have got. the jump on other com- 
panies; apart from -Disney, who, be- 
sides "Sa'ludos." . has his high-gross- 
ing "Three Caballeros." Nearly a 
year ago. this studio recognized the 
popular appeal of Ary . Barroso's 
song ''Brazil." arid made a picture 
around the song title.,: bringing the 
songwriter from that country to 
"" Holly ' wobctT to .-; cler. additional liutn-'" 
bers for the production. 
' ttardl,' ..were the cameras cold 
than' James FitzPatrick, who for 
years has turned out travel shorts 
for Metro, made a deal with Repub- 
lic to produce a bilingual film, "Song 
of Mexico," in Mexico. Ho traveled 
up and down the corridors of Mana- 
naland to film this: Acapulco, Cu- 
ernavaca, Mazatlaii. Guadalajara, 
and a dozen other picturesque ports 
of cr 11. Herbert J. Yates, company 
head, is reported to have been so 
. enthusiastic about this picture that 
' he immediately signed FitzPatrick to 
make another, this one probably to 
be about Cuba, jfler producer re- 
turns in the fall from England. 
Maraca Musicals 
Republic currently is producing 
"Mexicana," m usical. co-starring 
Constance Moore and Tito Guizar, 
with Estelita and other Latin Ameri- 
can artists, and in July "or August 
"Rio de Janeiro'' is slated to roll, 
also with Guizar in lop male role. 
Studio probably will utilize musical 
services of Ary Barro-o aiain for 
this one. Herman Millakowsky's dra- 
ma, "Strange Obsession," soon to 
start, will unfold' for most part in 
Mexican setting. 

RICO is very Latin America- 
minded also, with "Pan-Americana," 
a musical,, already released, and 
"Magnificent Tramp," to star. Can- 
tinflas, Mexico's leading comedian, 
coming up. John H. Aucr. who pro- 
duced - directed "Pan - Americana," 
will, repeat with Cantinflas film, 
wh'ch very likely will be filmed in 
part in Mexico City. Present plan 

• is to niaVrc this in English and Span- 
ish. 

"" "Ahothcr 'proTtiTetTofr Til this cycle 
is "Cornered," which will star Dick 
Powell in an Argentine setup, di- 
rected by Edward Dmytryk. Direc- 
tor : has just returned from three 
weeks in Buenos Aires, where he 
had several thousand feet of back- 
ground footage lcn,sed' for picture, 
slated as one of RKO's most ambi- 
tious fm-coming season. 

Metro's Contribution 
Metro is about to start two. "Holi- 
daytin Mexico" and "Fiesta Brava." 
First, probably to be filmed in Tech- 
nicolor, is a .Joe Pasternak produc- 
tion, and will return" Ilona Massey 
to the screen, as.: well -as present 
Jane Powell and Jose Iturbi. Esther 
.Williams has been tentatively set for 
"Fiesta..'.', also a musical. ' ] 

"Masquerade in Mexico," pairing 
Dorothy .Laniour and Arturo de Cor- 
dova, i.s already in the can at Para- 
mount, this company some time 'ago 
having turned :. out "Eombalero," 

• Technicolor musical short which was 
up lor an Academy award. Columbia 

■ also has completed "Gay Sehorita," 
starring Jinx FaJkenburg. and while 
this musical has Olvera Street, in 
Los Angeles' Mexican quarter,' -for 
background, it definitely can be in- 
cluded- in any Lalin-Anicrieaii trend. 

Laurcl aud Hardy's 'The Bullfight- 
ers" was released several weeks ago 
by 2*0th-Fox. as f-'irerunner to its 
lineup of bolow-the-Border films. 
Company has several, shaping up in 
script form, with "Mexico City" 
probably rolling first. With Carmen 
Miranda starred, There is also "Chi- 
ca Chicb," Damon Runyon produc- 
tion, and "Captain of Castile," from 
Samuel Schellabargcr best-seller, 
which unfolds in part in the Mexico 
of Cortcz period. William LcBaron 
was scheduled to produce "Rio Ca- 
bana" before lie left lot's roster of 
producers. Upon his departure, he 
announced he would return to make 
this as soon as the war permitted 
traveling to South America. 



United Artists producer, Andrew 
Stone, some time ago reported he 
planned to""produce "Pan-American 
'Sensations 'T)T— 1946" whenever he 
could trek to South' America with 
a troupe. PRC is represented in line- 
up with "Club Havana," musical 
with Carlos Molina and his orches- 
tra, and Isabel ita, the dancer, prom- 
inently featured. Jack Schwarz also 
starts "Bombshell From Brazil" 
about June $ for PRC release, and 
representative of Capra-Briskin unit 
announces that this new organiza- 
tion Will turn out suitable produc- 
tion for Latin-American inarket. 



MCA TRYING TO LURE 
JOSEPHINE BAKER HERE 

Attempts are being made to im- 
port Josephine Baker into this Coun- 
try by Sidney Piermont, of Music 
Corp. of America. Piermont .has 
been in correspondence with Miss 
Baker, foremost Negro entertainer 
On-.the^Gohtiii&it.^-whOi-is-.-currently- 
attached to the French ■ army as a 
lieutenant in the entertainment 
corps, ■'-, .. 

Piermont met Miss Baker while 
at Casablanca, where he .served with 
Army Special Services. , 




155th WEEK! 

KEN MURRAY'S 

"BLACKOUTS OF 1945" 
El Capitan Theatre, Hollywood, Cal. 

"IJest evoniiiK's entvi'tainmont in 
America. Ken Murray is gt'ertt." 

FRED ALLEN 



Hope, Benny, 'Info' 
Alerted for U80 



+♦ + ■♦♦♦♦♦+♦+4 



SCULLY'S SCRAPBOOK 



♦ By Frank Scully 



This Songplugger Has 
Real Ups and Downs 

Chicago. June 5. I 
A lotta songpluggers have their 
ups and downs, but Billy Moss, who's 
been at it off and on for 30 years, 
is having more than his share right 
now. 

Moss, who carries his office in his. 
hat, is currently plugging a ditty en- 
titled "Serenade of an Old Guitar" 
while ascending and descending in a 
Woods Bldg. elevator, his extra-cur- 
ricular avocation being that of 
operator. 



Cooks Tour, June 3. 
Robert Benchley, who used to be a newspaperman himself tN. Y. 
Tribune-Li pton's bar; circa 1915) and Who can still toss a baby up to the 
ceiling and catch the darling 20 times (on 12 whiskey sours), author of 
"For .God's Sake, .tot Jfe_Chit Jjf. TJw^ 

tini!" has reduced the writing of books to character parts. He's down to 
800-word intros. His latest, which took four years to write, used a turkey 
as cooked by Morton Thompson, to further confuse readers who might 
otherwise never be able to make head or tail of Thompson's, "Joe, the 
Wounded Tennis Player" alone. 

But they're not confusing us. They figured they had a turk on .their 
hands and were going to beat the critics to the storehouse. But we, the 
people, crossed them up! We seem to like these wounded tennis players, 
8-ball gazers and termites at the feet of totem poles, not to stress publish- 
ers like Bennett Cerf who compete with their own authors as gag-corn- 
pilers. Even Hollywood is buying the products of screwball scriveners, but 
they won't buy Thompspn for a while because he's a GT. without so much 
as a wound stripe, and currently far short of points. 

If and when they do get him back, Metro might thank Jim Tully and me 
who worked like dogs five years ago to place this Thompson as a writer 
at Culver City, so that he could get fired for not working hard enough 
and thus get spare lime to write a. book. '..:--'/ 

(A coliiiiiriist is a reporter who got a lucky bi'ciijc that later (unreel 
OKI to be a fracture, — From Joe's diary.) v ..';'".'■..' 

Author-Actor Benchley says he consulted an analyst who told him . the 
reason he couldn't get around to writing the intro to Thompson's cookbook 
(which was to- be called "The Naked Countess," a title supplied by J. B. 
Priestly, who couldn't use it either) was because he was secretly jealous 
of Thompson's cooking and in his subconscious, a downtown local station 
•j.Bowling Gnepn, really), Benchley, was trying to hold back publication of' 
j Thompson's turk; It made sense, except that Benchley didn't write any- 
i thing else in those four years. Little did anybody think that the intro of 
j "The Naked Countess" would turn up later as the intro to "Joe, the 
With their air shows going off for j Wounded- Tennis Player." All agreed that Joe was so good he needed 
the summer, seve'ral toppers are no high class introduction, which is exactly what hegot. 
• ' , ,, cri ! (Ever notice how happy a man is when asleep? That's because lie's 

headed overseas lot USO-Camp | ..^ ( , of)i , w _ f>om Joe ,/ dW ... ■ . , .';; 

Shows in probably the largest aggre- | And vou re not getting "How to Cook a Turkey" by Thompson out, of 
gation of talent abroad at pile time, i "Variety" either. I've eaten those Thompson treated turkeys both, with 
Bob Hope and a unit that includes | Benchley and at home, and judged by Cain's storehouse or, current black 



market standards, they're tough birds to mess around with. Read Thomp- 
son on anything but turkeys. Read him everywhere and anywhere, 
especially in "Joe, the Wounded Tennis Player," but turn a deef ear to 
him when he tries to cackle his way into your kitchen disguised as a 
turkey. Henry W. Hanneman, Who somehow got in that famous class 
of Columbia '17 along with M. Lincoln Schuster. Howard Dietz, Morris 

Mankiewicz, will testify that Thompson 



Jerry Colonna is off this month to 
Europe (ETO) for eight weeks. An- 
other unit consisting of Jack Benny, 
Paulette Goddard, Larry Adler. and 
Martha Tilton, is also set for ETO 

for eight weeks, starting in June. , , ... . 

Also set for ETO i.s the "Informa- ^lund, S, Seadler and H J. Mankiewicz. w,ll 

tion Please" program, unit to con- W ^ SU P' ,0S ^ l ^,™^^ S : rao ^ bo ^^ 1 !? 8 ° 
sist of Dan Golenpaul, owner-origi 



Loop Landmark, Saratoga 
Hotel Folds After 72 Yrs. 

Chicago, June 5. 
Saratoga hotel, oldtime Loop land- 
mark and stopping place years ago 
of many of the greats of showbiz, 
closed the last, of its stack of reg- 
isters Friday (1) tor good. Learned 
the Chi board of . education, which 
owns the site, plans to wreck the 
eight-story. 72-year-old building as 
unsafe, 

.So the last of the hotel's 35 guests, 
.'.ome of whom have lived there for 
30 years, moved out — amotig them 
"Doc" Mills, also somewhat, .of a 
landmark; "Mills, "who - cTaims"~to be' 
the Saratoga's official greetcr, re- 
called, last week when it used to be 
the gayest spot in Chi and a strong- 
hold of free lunch where the sand- 
wiches were piled so high the bar- 
tenders had to use hooks, like gro- 
cers use to haul packages- down from 
the. top shelf. 

Gathering spot for theatrical and 
racing crowds, Some of the guests 
included Gaby Deslys, Kitty Gor- 
don, Lillian Russell, Richard Mans- 
field, Anna Held,' George Adc, De- 
Wolf Hopper. Fay Templcton, Weber 
& Fields. John.' Barry more. Opie 
Read. Finley Peter Dunne. Snapper 
Garrison, the Re iff brothers (jock- 
eys). P. D. Armour, wHo. always 
I drove a charabanc with six. white 
I horses (nit to Washington Park race- 
track? packing the carriage . with 
pretty girls. And many other- w. k. 
old timers. 

v Located on South Dearborn street, 
property opened as a hotel under the 
management of ..lames K. Sebree in 
1885. passing through a great many- 
other managements after Sebree 
died. . In 1919 it was described as 
"the rottenest place i n the world" 
by Police Captain Morgan Collins, 
who was referring to the many mur- 
ders, suicides and other crimes that 
occurred there when it was • no 
longer a fashionable place to stay. 

But that isn't the way Mills and 
the other hangers-on feel about the 
Saratoga. After 30 years, their mot- 
to is. "It's small, but it's home, and 
we like it." Besides it's hard finding 
softie -place else to live. 



nator: Clifton Fadiman, John -Kier- 
nan, and Franklin P. Adams (FPA), 
and to include Gregory Ratoff, Regi- 
nald Gardiner and Joseph Freeman. 

Bette Davis, announced to go over- 
seas as Hollywood Victory Commit- 
tee choice, will appear in a legiter, 
"Holiday." Play will be cast and 
produced on the Coast, with the 
Pacific as likely destination. 

Minerva Pious is going overseas in 
a'vaude unit, "Big Time Follies." 
Her routine, will include a number, 
"I'm Just a 4-F WAG," written for 
her by Fred Allen. -. 



People who don't know how crazy Hollywod can be, think Thompson 
is crazy. He is not. Like most people above the rank of ragpicker he is a 
collector. They collect old coins, stamps, paintings. Thompson collects 
old gags, nude stories, morbid tales, old trusses, rejection slips and so on. 
But he really isn't nuts, except in this matter of writing very convincingly 
about his cooking, when the fact is he can't cook for huts; 

Thompson is better when telling how Englishmen handle Hollywood. 
James Hilton wrote "Goodbye Mr. Chips" for 10 pounds for a London 
mag, only to have Ellery Sedgwick violate all. laws of the "Atlantic 
Monthly" and republish it, thereby sweeping all before it until in the end 
Hilton was called to Hollywood to write the script for R. C. Sherriff's 
"Journey's End," while Shcrriff got the job of scripting "Chips." 



Sinatra Overseas 

Frank Sinatra finally got off on 
his first overseas trip for the USO 
last week. Singer, with a unit in- 
cluding film comic Phil Silvers, did 
a show in Newfoundland the night 
after his takeoff: from N. Y. and is 
now in England preparing for shows 
for 'occupational forces on the con- 
tinent. 

Sinatra returns to the air around 
Aug. 15 for Max Factor. Hollywood. 



PETTY GIG RACKET 

ALERTS CHI COPS 

Chicago, June 5. 
Manpower shortage is a source of 

! acute headaches for Chi* cops and 

j house dicks-Tvho— are— currently cas- 
ing hotel lobbies and cocktail 

: lounges here harder than they have 
since pre-war days for slick char- 

| acters, a la the gigolo types who 

| operated during the N. Y., Chi, San 

i Francisco' and other World Fairs of 
'33. '39, '40. etc. '- -'.';-' ; '- . 

I It's all petty stuff: guy picks up 

; gal, takes her to a nitery, has him- 

: self anywhere from $10 to $50 or 

! more worth of a good time, depend- 

; ing on the femme's roll, then excuses 

| himself, leaving her stuck with the 

j check. But there" ye been enough 

! complaints from women, many of 

| whom are afraid to give- theirftemes 

j because they fear publicity, to cue 
a manhunt of no mean proportions I which "no self-respecting Mexican 



Cantinflas Repudiates 
RKO Pact; 'Too H'wood' 

•'•'.. Mexico City, June 5. 

Cantinflas has nixed his RKO con- 
tract to play the "Beloved Vaga- 
bond" in English in Hollywood. Both 
he and his sci iptcr, Jaimes Salvador, 
took umbrage at the changes made 
in the script which they aver is 
now unrecognizable and calls for a 
"llollywoodcsquc" production in 



by; private and city police forces, 
Loop branches of which have been 
increased for this purpose.. . 



GI Jukebox Jive to Jump 

Thousands of jukeboxes for our 
farllung fighting and occupation 
armies are oh the agenda as a 
morale-booster. 

All of which is a further boom to 
Yankee music all over the globe. 



Dolores Del Rio Nixes 
Film Bids From H'wood 

■ l . . Mexico City. June- 5. 
, Dolores Del Rio, recently returned 
from N. Y., claims she has turned 
down many offers from Hollywood 
and will continue to work in Mexico, 
where the profits on her percentage- 
basis pictures are -much more than 
any salary offered north of the 
border. . \ 

Star returns to work here this 
week, playing in "Chiclero," a Mau- 
rice de la Serna production. 



Dave Rose Discharged 

Hollywood, June 5, 
Sgt, David Rose received his mcdi- 
j cal discharge from the Army Sat- 
urday (2) after seven months in the 
DeWitt General Hospital at Auburn, 
Calif. 

Rose, who was musical director 
for the Army Air Force show, 
"Winged Victory," will return to 
'studio work. 



or Latin-American actor would take 
a part." ."';'• 

The Mexican comic also an- 
nounced he would no make no: pix 
here this year because of the row 
caused by the union which he was 
instrumental in forming and which 
lie heads. 

He denied ''Variety's" recent re- 
port that he was. planning .to go to 
Spain, declaring that he was going 
to Argentina before August. Cantin- 
llas re fused to reveal the purpose of 
his Argentine trip.. . - . : 



SHOW BIZ POLITICOS' 
2-DAY CONVENSfl IN NX 

The Independent Citizens Commit- 
tee of Arts, Sciences' aiid Professions 
will hold a two-day conference at 
the Waldorf-Astoria, N. Y., June 
22-23 to discuss employment prob- 
lems in entertainment industries and 
postwar expansion. 

Margaret Webster and Lillian 
Hodman" 'will "be among' the speakers 
in the theatre panel; Gilbert Sekles 
and Peter Lyon, in -'radio; William 
Feinberg. and Roy Harris, in music. 
A film panel, with Hollywood 
speakers, is also planned. Dr. Har* 
low Shapley will be conference 
chairman. - : : .. 



Turhan Bey Into Army 

Hollywood, June .5. 

Turhan Bey was inducted yester- 
day i4) into the Army at Ft. Mae- 
Arthur. He's a Universal contractce. 

Turkish actou was ineligible for 
the draft until Turkey declared war 
on Germany several months ago. 



Oberon-Korda Divorced 

Hollywood, June 5. 
:■'■ Merle Obcrbn obtained "a divorce 
from Sir Alexander Korda today '5) 
in Juarez. Mexico, on charges of in-; 
compatability, ' 

Suit uncontested by the British' 
producer. 



, Mex Comic Impatient . 

Hollywood, June 5. 
RKO pacted Cantinflas for "The 
Magnificent Tramp" to be made here 
in both English and Spanish ver-: 
sions, with John H. Auer producing 
under executive producer Sid 
Rogell. Cantinflas, in a statement 
from Mexico City, reportedly said 
he broke contract because "Spanish 
Fantasy" did not portray Mexico 
correctly. He said Jaime S&lvadors 
script was "changed beyond recog- 
nition by the Hollywood producing 
company." Lawrence Kimball wrote 
screenplay here. Production will 
now be shelved. ' 



B'way Fears 

C iiHiniicd from p ut ) 



the length: of time required for sol- 
dier entertainment. 

For high-salaried people the USO 
assignment will probably mean a big 
financial loss,- but rank and file's 
should benefit, it being figured that 
they welcome the guaranteed en- 
gagement terms. Some revision of. 
USO pay has been worked out, all 
in legit casts getting $100 weekly, 
and, as the Army pays all expenses, 
the moderate-salaried people get a 
chance to save a tidy sum. Previous- 
ly some of the smaller-part perform- 
ers, received less than $100, which 
permiVted' ^rfyment of more money 
to leading players:. ..'.:- 



Wi'Anrsriay. June 6, 1915. 



PftftlETY 



PICTURES S 



U. S. PIX IN 'NEW DEALS' ABROAD 



Ed Raftery Wants to Bow Out As UA 
Prez in Sept. and Return to His Law 




Hollywood. June 5. 

Ed Raftery, president of United 
Aii'VK will present his resignation 
to the company's board of directors 
when they meet again in Septem- 
ber- He wants to abdicate from the 
post, and return to private practice 
w ith the law firm O'Brien, Driscoll & 
Raftery. in N. Y. 

For past six months he.s been 
looking for an opportunity to tender 
his resignation, but due to the illness 
or Gradwell Sears, distribution v.p,. 
has held it lip. Sears is expected to 
assume active charge of the business 
shortly.- .' -;• ,. '-" 

'Raftery went into the UA job fol- 
lO'.vjng the resignation of Murray 
Silverstonc! since no other person 
whose name was .presented to mem- 
ber-owners was acceptable. He had 
been handling UA corporate matters 
for his law firm since inception of 
the company, as well as the personal 
' affair*' of- Mary Pick ford. 

When drafted tor the presidency 
of the company, Raftery felt that 
the job would be temporary, and he 
would soon again be able to resume 
his law oflice' work, But with noth- 
ing enveloping, find .Capt. Dennis F. 
O'Brioil, head- of the linn, in semi- 
•'vcl iretjnent from practice. Raftery 
.feels that ho must shortly, return to 
the law firm. 

•Both Arthur F. Driscoll and" Raft- 
ery are nephews of O'Brien, who 
founded the lirm with Moses L. Mai-, 
vensky more than 30 years ago. 
Raftery has been with the outfit 25 
years. Me reportedly told. Coast eon- 
fidants recently that he hoped to gel 
the eonsorit of UA pw'neis to gel out 
Of the. presidency by September, bill 
that he would handle the corporation 
legal matters through his linn's of- 
fice as heretofore. 

FELDMAN-BLUM TAKE 
OVER SEtZNICK AGCY. 

Hollywood. June 5. 

Takeover of Selzniek agency and 
its clients will probably be consum- 
mated within a few days, pending 
windup of final - negotiations witli 
Famous Artists Corp. Under pro- 
posed setup Famous will' receive 50 "i 
of net proceeds with equal balance 
to be distributed among heirs of My- 
ron Serznick's estate. 

•Waitasement-of-arouhd-MtO- clients- 
is involved in transactions as well 
as New York and London office* of 
the Selzniek Co. It. is provided in 
the negotiations that personnel of 
Famous Artists should complement 
Selzniek staffs in administration of 
the firm's business and representa- 
tion of its clients. Famous would 
also place its own reps in N. Y. and 
London offices to work with present 
Selzniek staffs. 

Parties to the transact ion. Which 
would take over operation of the 
Selzniek business, include, besides 
Famous Artists, Charles K. Feliman 
Corp.. Feldman-Blum Corp.. Charles 
K. Feldman. Ralph Blum. Jack Gor- 
dean. William Dover and .Minna 
Wallis. With consummation of deal. 
Selzniek building in Bevery Hills 
would be vacated immediately and 
either be. disposed of by the estate 
or blueprinted for enlargement to 
accommodate commercial firms. 

Previously James Saphier and 
Tom Fizdale entered into art ar- 
rangement for the takeover of the 
Sejzuick agency certain factors were 
alleged to militate against success- 
ful operation. Severance papers 
were drawn and Saphier and Fizdale 
withdrew from the operation. 



Hodiak'i Woes 

Hollywood. June 5. 

John Hodiak wound up his 
work in "The Harvey Girls'-' at 
Metro without any. appetite for 
dining in railroad restaurants. 

During, the filming he sus- 
tained two broken ribs, a sly on 
his eye and a case of mumps. 



WPB Loosens Up 
On 35 mm. Film 



Washington. June 5. 

WPB is allocating a total of 622.-, 
180.000 feet of. 35 mm. "film during 
the third quarter! 

Of this, Hollywood will receive a 
direct grant of 271.000.000 feet! which 
is 10,000.000 feet better than for the 
"current quarter and 5.000.000 feet 
more than during the first quarter 
of the year. In addition, the studios ! 
will have 74.100.000 feet of Army | 
and' - Navy film credits for prints 
made available to the armed forces, 
which is the largest amount thus far. 

The newsreels have been awarded 
56,860,000 feet, the most they have 
had in a year. ' 

The so-called "Class C" producers 
have boon allotted 8.100.000 feet, the 

(Continued on page. 8) 



TALENT GROUP INTO 
INDIE PRODUCTION 

Hollywood. June 5. 
Augmenting the deal between 
principals for "Diary of a Chamber- 
maid." Benedict Bogeaus. Lewis 
Milestone. Paillette Goddard. Bur- 
gess Meredith and Jean Renoir 
drew tip papers over the weekend in 
Palm Springs for a new producing 
organization. Quartet.' minus Mile- 
stone, set a deal early last week for 
-Diary." but latest move will be to 
form a production corporation to 
make films, with "Diary" as the in- 
itial picture for the company. Mere- 
dith will co-produce with Bogeaus as 
well as be featured in the film. 
.'.Milestone, and .Miss Goddard. have, 
commitments with 20lh-Fox and 
Paramount respectively but will as- 
sociate themselves exclusively with 
the new company as soon as current 
pacts expire. Title of new firm not 
selected as yet. 



LIKE BRITISH? 



American film execs are nego- 
tiating with French government of- 
ficials' for a quota .arrangement for 
V. S. films exported to France 
similar to the British quota system 
applying to U. S. distributors. 

Heads of major U, S. film com- 
pany foreign departments currently 
in France have been negotiating 
through the U. S. Embassy in Paris 
with several French ministries in 
an effort to set up quota and ex- 
change agreements for American 
producer-distributors. 

One of the objectives is the re- 
tention of t he — p ue^ wa iL_n u rrieri cal . 

quota of approxiinately 90 American 
films semi-annually. Another aim is 
to secure use of rentals accruing to 
U. S. distribs in France (which must 
now be deposited in blocked ac- 
count) for, among other things, pro- 
duction of quota films in France if 
the British quota plan is adopted. 

While the film industry has been 
placed in the Ministry of Informa- 
tion division of the French govern- 
ment, ramifications are such that 
negotiations must be conducted 
through the Ministry of Finance (.re- 
garding remittances of funds to the 
U. S.i and an internal affairs office, 
as well as the MOI. " • 

The British quota pattern, if 
adopted, would obviously prove 
beneficial 'to French film production 
particularly at this time. Under 
such a plan . U. S. distribs would 
either produce quota films in France 
or buy such films there. In either 
case the sterile, blocked funds of 
U. S. companies would be put to 
(Continued on page 28) 



Ranks Associates Say U. S. Pix Deals 
Offered; May Link Up With Producer 
Later But Deny Plan to Operate Here 



Hopper Leaves Metro; 
Will Finance Indies 

Hollywood. June 5. 

Harold Hopper. Metro studio exec 
for a year, resigned to reenter pri- 
vate business. Before joining the 
Culver City organization he was an 
executive in the motion picture, di- 
vision of the War Production Board. 

Hopper will divide his time be- 
tween financing independent motion 
picture enterprises and functioning 
as president - Of the Motion Picture 
Society for the Americas, 



WB Gives Siege! Full Meg 

Hollywood., June 5. 

■ Warners upped Don Siegel. shorts, 
director, to full directorship, with 
"The Verdict" slated as.his first full- 
length feature. '.-.'-. i' 

Picture is based on the old Israel 
Zangwill whodunit. "The Big Bow- 
Mystery." '■' ■£-.'.,' 



RKO's 'Body Snatchers' 
Now OK for 'Adults Only' 

Chicago. June. 5. 
Ban imposed hj Chi police motion 
picture censor board last month on 
RKO's "Body SnatehersI', 'was lilted 
last week, following appeal of local 
exchange to Police Commissioner 
James Allrnah: with pie opening as 
dualer with "Brighton Slrangler" 
(also RKO) at the Loop Grand 
Wednesday t30ii Both are in on an 
"Adults Only" pass. ..however. Also 
pinked during ) Jay was Republic'* 
-yampire's- Ghost..''. -. deemed V too | 
scary for kids by the board. 

Board's rejects on Monogram's j 
"Dilliiiger" and PRC's "Crime,-; Inc..' 
meanwhile, s'till sl:ind.. as do pink 
on RKO's "Zombies on Broadway 
and Columbia's "Kiss and Tell. " with | 
] exchange execs in. there pitching 
with Allmah ;to switch these dec.i- 
I'Sittns also. Board also tnihiiunceil 
'that billy 16 cuts were made in the 
| 82 pix (1)20.000 feet of film i review..';! 
during 'the. month. . 



Video, Films Will Play 
R41I, Says Tele Chief 

- Hollywood; June 5. 

Motion pictures and video will 
travel hand in hand after the war, 
according to Ralph B. Austrian, ex- 
ecutive veepee of the RKO Televi- 
sion Corp.. in an address titled "Film 
and Television." delivered at the 
forum of the Affiliated Committee 
lor Television. He declared: 

"I am a firm believer that, when 
all the cards are down, motion pic- 
ture film will carry 60-70"-;- of all 
manufactured television entertain- 
ment," 



Agnew Due Back Soon 

Neil Agnow, spies- veepee fir 
David O. Selzniek. is due \yj-.U from 
London and Paris next month. 
: From England he will survey 
France, etc. 



Skirball to Indie Prod. 
Old Hammerstein Musico 

i Hollywood. June 5 

! Jack Skirball closed a de-.il u-ilh ; 
|.Oscar Hammer.sU'in 2d yv-tero >.v ; 
I whereby the lailer will collaborate | 
I with Bruce Manning on tin-' •screen- : 
! play "French Town," new tag .tor ; 
; "SutVny River." 

| It's an plrl operetta by H ;. minoi*- 
i stein an'.'l Sigmi'l-d ' lini.ivi.Tg which 
I had an itl-futod leg'.l run.. .'■' j 



Spyros Skouras Back 

Spyros P. Skouras. 20thrFox preVSy. 
planed into . New; York last Siinday_ 
-l3>, following extended . sta\ iifBng- 
lan.d and Europe! * 

He speeded uo return in order to 
meet J.' Arthur Rank, who arrived in 
N, Y, frorti Canada- on Monday i4,i. 

Greek Relief 1'l.e'a 

.;. , '';• Washington, June 5; 

Spyros Skouras. 20th-F,->x , prcsi- 
idertt', made , a plea last week, by 
cable to Henry .1/ Kaiser, chairman 
of the United National Clothing Col- 
lection.: for. clothing for the. suffering 
Greek.. people.. 

''•• 'Pointing out that .1.400 G're.-k. vil- 
hi>VfS have buen burned to the 
ground. Skouri.s "said lis could find 
iki words to describe the appallin'. 
ctufd'tiiwi, "Pioijfe wyhj. .--L-.-ping in 
c:i\cs. A ctii'irter mi'iion rcl'tlio-."- 
.ire homs'lcs. Clo'tH'p.'i a'lolf, d 
ih.-s^ un.'o'.'iunale men.' worn: h and 
••h>'d i n will tillcyi-i'e Icri.ihle sul- 
.ering," his n v cs:-agv. said. 



Colorful Goldwyn 

HollyV'Ood. June 5. 
Samuel Goldwyn continues 
- tiiiter-minded in "The Kid From 
Brooklyn." his fourth consecu- 
tive technicolor production in 
two years and a half. 

Producer's last black -and- 
' whiter was "The North Star." 

Weltner Seen As 
Hicks Successor 

While no announcement is ex- 
pected to be made for several days 
by Barney Balaban. Paramount 
prexy. as to a successor to the late 
John W. Hicks. Jr.. several foreign 
department toppers have been men- 
tioned as likely to head Paramount 
International, post Hicks held when 
he died las) week. 

George Weltner. assistant to Hicks 
for years and currently v.p.. is a 
logical choice. He's been familiar 
with homeoflice details for a long 
time. 

David Rose, managing director in 
Great Britain, who arrived in N. Y. 
this week, is regarded as. next in 
command and appears likely to be- 
come vice-president, stationed in the 
U. S.. if he can be persuaded to re- 
main in N. Y.- Rose stayed on the 
job in London throughout the worst 
days of the blitz, and probably 
would like to be in charge of all 
Par operations there now that the 
shooting is over. A. L. Pratehctt. 
James E. Perkins and Robert 
Schless, Par International division 
managers named in recent promo- 
tions, also rate in about the order 
named in any realignments. . , .- 

Vladimir Lissim New 

RKO G.M. in Europe 

Vladimir. Lissim. RKO homeolTi"C 
foreign department exec, is slated to 
.head., up. European distribution _fpr. 
RKO with headquarters in Paris 
Phil Reisman. RKO v.p. in charge of 
distribution, is planning to make the 
appointment shortly. No successor 
1)38 . until . now been appointed to 
Reginald ' Armour, former European 
general manager for RKO..' 

Lissim was assistant . European 
g.ni. under Reginald Armour. A 
French attorney "and authority on 
international law! Lissim lectured at 
the University of Pari*-. In recent 
years he has been working out of 
the RKO home office in N..Y. 

Lissim is scheduled to leave 
shortly for Paris where he will 
headquarter and likely handle Near 
East and . Far East distribution as. 
well as European. 

Pascal and Soskin's Pix 
Costs Too Rich for Kank 

Re.--ign:.ti( n of Gabriel Pascal and. 
Paul Soskin from the Independent 
Producers. Lid., affiliated with J. 
Arthur R'ink. K in .lin-' v. th Raillt'i- 
vtew that cost of Brtli.-h film pro- 
duction must be brought down. -. 
'■ Pascal '.directed. "Ciiesar -?nd C.lco- 
putra-." while Soskin has not made it 
lilm for the' company s\&zk "D-.ar 
Octopus." about two yaM» ago. .. 

"C-.ies;ii" reputt-dly ost around 
.J t. 000.000. although Rank declined to 
give -ah estimate, of the cost when 
questioned in ,N. Y. Monday ( 4 i ; 



U.S. film production interests have 
in recent months approached J. 
Arthur Rank. British film leader, 
who arrived in N.' Y. oh Monday (4) 
from Canada, looking to an affilia- 
tion, according to close business as- 
sociates of Rank's. Numerous pro- 
posals involving, various phases, of 
.motion picture operation have been 
submitted to Rank, either directly 
or indirectly. One. of the purposes 
of Rank's visit to the United States, 
it is understood, is to get first-hand 
imorm-atioirToir^ATiTel-iOmT-opeVatior'S - 
before planning any future commit- 
ments. 

David O. Selzniek, always interna- 
tionally-minded, recently told- inti- 
mates that one of the main reasons 
for his trip cast from Hollywood was 
to talk with Rank. 

However. Rank slated Monday (♦> 
that he is not planning to prodi-ce 
films in the U. S. He admitted, how- 
ever, that he may eventually become 
associated with some Americaft pro- 
ducer here, although he "has no 
definite, plans as yet."" 

Production execs now with Rank 
in England told "Variety" they fait 
that an effective method for mer- 
chandizing Rank's product would be 
to include a substantial number of 
American piotli.res— S lo 12 hi each 
block of 30. Whether Rank will find 
it expedient to adopt such a proce- 
dure may depend on the results- of 
.:'• ■' (Continued on page 28) 



PAR PAYING OFF % 
BONDS IN ADVANCE 

Paramount took further strides in 
its move towards strong financial, 
position by authorizing the immedi- 
ate pre-paymcnt of money necessary 
to effect the present retirement of 
$1,250,000 .worth of outstanding 3% 
debentures. Bonds would be re- 
tired at par. They arc due -1952 to 
195B. Prepayment is in anlicioation 
of future sinking fund obligations. 

Based on 1944 earnings the sink- 
ing fund paid May 15 this year was 
$475,000. It is estimated that the 
prepayment JvML coyer sinking furid_ 
obligations payable in 10*6. 1947 and 
part of the 1948 obligation. 



Julius Goodman's Estate 

Chicago. June 5, 
t.'ii'» left by Julius Go-ichnan. ble 
<'ii-<iv.Ticr of Goodman - Harrison 
thertre ciivuit. who died . April 25 
is 'c'st'in:il".d hi *i 50'jiOO. 

G-ll's li'f nabe liouses continue 
uiid-'r oAi-iation of L. 11. Harrison. 
Gooclnit-tl.'- partner. 




'I'r'Mfl* MltH<,.tt(*lsl*it*'t*f) 
KiM'M>KI> KV SH1K KlkVWIiJI AS 
i*uhlliilM-|j *»>fW> l.y t AKfKIV. !»<• 

.si.il Sri. -r.iin ii, t'r-!*Wli'iu 
I.V1 VVomi 46lli Si . N'W Villi, If S. V 



A lihlM l . 
SI hi: U t '*hi!>» 



aiius('i!ll'T">N ' 

$|1| -l'*l»l fix" 



Vol, 153 



No. 15 



irMi>i:x 



Bills' 


. . . . 46. 


Chatter .... ., 


. 51 


Film Kevlews... • . . 


,-,'-. 12 


Foreign ,.. ;. . ..... .'. . 


... 15 


H'H S-' Revlc"-- ... . ; . 




Inside Legit . 


,. 49 


Legitimate . „ , ........ 


..47 


Literati . . . .- '. . . . , 


St 


Music . . .. ...... 


. . ,-' 41 


New- Acts.-. »..,...:,. 


... 4fi 


Night Club Reviews. . . . 


. . . . 4(i 


Obitiary ........ .... 


.... 51 


Orchestras . . . ,. . ».'. ..'. .- 


....4! 


Pieiiiits 


. ... . 3 


.Radio . ... , . . 




Radio Review's/. ... 


.... ;« 


Frank' Scully . . . : ... , , . 


2 


Vaudeville . . .. . . ..... ; . . 


...41 


War Activities. ; . 


... 4 



ii.\ii,v t as: I'.i v 

•(f'ui.iiKiifir/iii in.it. ^ •«•»'• 

t.inllv » aifcty. i w| i 
.' $I'i ,a Yc.'ir 5!V t-.n-un 



SHOWMEN'S 7th 



Wodiicsdav, June 6, .1915 



Around 10,000 Theatres, Highest Yet, 
Look to Set Free Movie Day Record 



$4,755,000 BONDS FOR 
'MILLER DAY' ATN.Y.PAR 



The film industry is expected to* 
ring, up the largest single day's I 
sale of bonds since the inception of 
war loans today i(5) when approxi- 
mately 10,000 theatres throughout.! 
the nation participate in -Free ^Scaling the house at $25 bonds for 
, _ „ . . . . I upper-balconv seals, to $5,000 for the 

Movie Day. , best se a (s for t<)t; „ gross sales of $4,- 

.' National chairman lor the Indus- j ooq.ooo, the Paramount theatre: 
try during the 7th War Loan, Sam jJ. Y., last night 'Tuesday) realized I 
Pinanski, revealed this week that I $4 -$5 Q00 through extra sales on its 
at least 2.500 more houses will par- I .. R .j aj()r Glenn 'Miller Dav". benefit 
lieipate in this event during the | performance.' a special event off -the ! 
current drive than in any .prior ; cttrrcnt Seventh' War Loan 'drive set j 

up by Bob Weilman; managing d.i- ' 
vector Of the Par. i 
Al Jolson purchased 



- The Hard Way 

Chicago, June 5, 
A Green Bay, Wis., office gal 
had a date with a movie star in 
Chi last wecl<, and kept It, but 
under anything but glamorous 
conditions. 

She won the trip to the big 
citv as. result of winning a 
Seventh War Loan bond selling 
contest sponsored by the" Or- 
pTieum theatre, Green Bay, re- 
ward being a luncheon with.. 
Sonny Tufts in the Pump Room 
of the Ambassador - East hotel. 
She could gel only a day off 
from work and had to make the 
400-mile round trip between her 
town and Chi in one day^-and- 
in a day coach at that: 



No Preference Shown Navy in Choice 
Of Camp Shows, US0 Officials Say 



US0 TAKES RESPITE 
ON V-E LEGIT SKED 



$100,000 
eats, largest 



campaign. Forerunner of the day 1 , 
was an advance barrage of adver- | 
tising and publicity that blanketed ; 
the country Monday (4) and yes- | 
terday. Newspapers, radio and lobby '< 
displays were used, plus important i 
plugs on network broadcasts during | 
both days. 

However. Pinanski wired state' 
chairman to warn their workers' of i 
■complacency on the part of the pub- | 
lie that arrives with warm weather j 
and' summer vacations. He likened \ 
tiphrrtaicyH^r^^ttm'd-eneniy / "If I 
is an enemy' that we must lick by : 
99'i perspiration arid inspira- j 

tion. Let's finish the fight the last. j 
four weeks of the drive." he said. j 
In several States "Free Movie! 
Day" is a double-barreled event, 
attention being focused on the oc- 
casion by special celebrations. In 
Wisconsin, for instance, "Ernie Pyle 
Day" has been proclaimed by spe- 
cial act of the legislature, while the 
District of Columbia, too, will honor 
"the 'best friend' the GI ever Had." 
In Southern California it is being 
called "On to Tokyo Day" in 050 
Southern Cal. houses, and is ex- 
pected to result in the sale of $1.- 
000,000 in "E" bonds. 

In some areas the number of par- Downey 
ticipating theatres is double or triple i JelTy Lestel ' 
those of the Sixth. In metropolitan for d Dann y O Neill, Dean Murphy. 
N. Y.. more than 600 houses of the 1 The Modernaires, Corp. Harvey 
territory's 700 theatres will par _ Stone. Maxine Johnson and Boys. 

I Martin Block. Marion Hutton. Don 
Baker. Johnny Johnston, Ed Sulli- 



w.orth of bonds for two 
buyer for show. 

"Miller Day." in tribute lo the 
popular band leader who was lost on 
a plane flight overseas, was cele- 
brated in other key cities with spe- 
cial shows such as given 'at the Par 
and in some cases with local radio 
amateur talent, etc." Some bouses 

held special shows in advan ce. i-pl 

the Jiirie B anniversary 'of D-Bay. 

. The : Par played only .one show 
yesterday i Tuesday', closing down 
at 3 p.m. in preparation for the 
evening's benefit, which 'went, on at 
8:36. 4fld ran about four hours. 

Milton Berle m.c.d. while the list of 
talent' included the orchestras of j 
Charlie Spivak. Count Basie. -Louis 
Prima, Benny Goodman and' Fred 
Waring, plus such bandleaders, sans 
their orchestras, as Shep Fields. 
Sammy Kaye. Gene Krupa. Guy 
Lombardo. Cab Calloway, Paul 
Whiteman.. Jerry Wald. and Xavier 
Cugat. Others on the' talent sked 
were Eddie Cantor. Allan Jones. 
Kate Smith. Bill Robinson. Morton 
Gil Lamb, Perry Como. 
Tex Beueke Jo Sftaf- 



Array Whoops It 
Dp on Chi Loop 



Chicago. June 5. 
The U. S. Army is making its most ' P*™* Us, firs musical 
ambitious, local War Bond pitch to ^esttc hospital j-.rcu.t, titled ( Par 
dale right in the middle of Randolph uon , ™ e 
street.' whooping it up a la -Singling- -j 
Bras— Ba rnii in- -'-&- . Bail ey 1 , ..CDmp.lete 
with Big Top 



4-':. Recently activated interest of the 
| Navy in entertainment has been re- 
sponsible for an increased flow of 
pro talent (from USO-Camp Shows) 
to naval bases.. .Activity has also 
given rise to a little confusion re* 
With the addition last week- or i K»NN"fe destination ol entertainment 
three more shows to its special legit ' umts - Wllh rumors of the Navy get- 
program, for a total of 18. USO- j Preference, now over the Army 
Camp Shows is temporarily stopping 
any further V-E legit assignments 
other than its regular requisitions in 
order to clear "its decks. The three 
shows are "Othello," "Holiday" and 
a third company of "Three Is A 
Family." "Othello" will be headed 
by Paul Robeson and Jose Ferrer, 
and Holiday" by Bette Davis, The 
15 previous plays are now in re- 
hearsal or tryout stages, and being 
given final o. o. by Army 'and Camp 
Shows, officials in New York;.' ' - 
The musicals department is pre- 
for the do- 



GI construction gang went to work 
on the tent two weeks ago. roping 
off the choicest show biz section of 
the Loop i Randolph, from State to 
Dearborn 1, to cue some extra fur- 
! rows in the brows, of theatre and 
llitcry operators, already care-lined 
plenty by curfew and brownout 
blues" Latter did a little squawking 



with Harry Krivil slagin 
md Sandy Grant doing the dance 
numbers.. Also lined up for the dept. 
Ts . a 'Tyieri'y ~'WT3ow ""■' production" 
which the New Opera Co, w ill.' do 
for them, with Felix Brentarto stag- 
ing. 



Mike Todd 



5 Continued from page 1 

lor entertaining occupation 



army 



it first! claiming stoppage of traffic | Gls on the basis of surveys in Italy 



par- 
ticipate, a new record comparing 
with the 274 which took part in 
"Free Movie Day" in the Sixth. 



Cil Show Hypes Seattle 

Seattle, June 5. 

"Kapers in Khaki." the Fort Lewis 
GI show at the Orpheum, where ad- 
mish was only to buyers of bonds, 
grossed sales of $6,527,300 in bonds, 
reports Herb Sobottka, city mgr. of 
Hamrick- Evergreen. 

Palomar i Sterling) is giving over 
tonight i5) at this house to bond 
admish. Next wrll follow bond 
nights at the Jensen-von Herberg 



van. Diana Lynn, and trio of Tip. 
Tap and Toe. . 

Jack Mclnerney. pub-ad director 
for the N. Y. Par. got many publicity 
breaks for the benefit. 



How on the Rialto caused by the 
rope-off would result in another dip 
in grosses: however, there doesn't 
seem to have been any real cause 
Tor moaning to date, as the Gl s are 
drawing big audiences who overflow 
into amusement places. 

Circus canopy covers the street 
Tor a half-block, housing "On to 
Tokyo," Army-State Street Council 
sponsored exhibit including a mighty 
10-ton M-.i pontoon bridge, the kind 
intrepid , Yanks put up over the 
Rhine and Elbe. Thirty-five enlisted 
men and one officer, all returned 
I overseas, vets who've built similar 
bridges in 



France, England and uermany 

Todd left today (May 251 for a 
quick visit lo Paris, and then on. 
possibly, to Moscow, but he said he 
expected to be back in England 
about the middle of June, and lake 
off for home or the South Pacific 
from here. He was so serious about 
his assignment that he ducked the 
local press, and it was only by 
chance some of them ran into him. 
Todd said the nature .of his 'mission 



in the matter of shows, and setting 
| up . its own transit, system. This, 
! however, is in error. ; ■ ':•'• 
j Heretofore, the Army had assumed 
j responsibility for overseas shipments 
| of units. lOnce a USO unit is 
; turned, over for overseas duty, its 
i destination and handling is in the 
.services' hands, not USO's). The 
i Army would route shows into both 
; Army. and Navy installations, distrib- 
uting time at each base as it saw 
[.best. With the Navy recently setting 
i up its own personnel to handle 
shows, it, has now undertaken to as- 
sume . responsibility for part, of the 
'work of sending units overseas, 
i Units may now be shipped across on 
Navy supply ships instead of Army- 
' transports, -t Wtrs*:'"6]>enirig 'wider 
; channels of transport and making 
more transportation available. In 
other words, both Navy and Army, 
instead of the Army alone, are work- 
ing to route entertainment around, 
i with units still- serving both. But 
destination and routes still have to 
■ be worked out in each area lo decide 
' how much talent each base gels. No 
preference for either branch of serv- 
ice is being shown. . ,'• 
•;' There have been some complaints 
about talent signing up for one thea- 
tre of war ias Europe! and objecting 
' when routed elsewhere, the Pacific, 
•'Tor instance. Rumors have said that 
! some actors could sign for certain 
: areas, while others-could not. USO- 
Camp Shows officials deny this, stat- 
ing that as a general rule acts can 
specify where they cannot be sent 
for physical reasons, but cannot 



H'wood Again Will Prod. 
Can.Y9thWar Loan Film 



combat'.' areTonkru'cting ! lloldin «' big spectacles In Hitler's 
i Nuremburg Stadium was one phase 



of it. 

Baseball and football games, girlie 
shows, pageants, and .even circuses 
in this monster home of hate, will 

t.'On- 

lantly before occupation troops in 
that area, Todd feels. 

WashingtonrJune 5. ; " c "" a ," ""''"y"; « ; Todd has beell busy Hnintf up a 

Hollvwood, which has made either | barracks display. Daily features m- hj , circuU t0 ,.. l(e m O0 _ 



Show opened last Friday ( 1 » and j 
closes Monday iil). 

Also included in the shows, which 
are on hourly from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.. , , 

are food demonstrations. . clothing ! h< ' 1 " , koc ",., Uie Am .?.' ca:1 
exhibits of American and captured ; 
German and Jap . uniforms, and a : 



a trailer or short for each of Can- 
will 
that 
—the 



be asked to make another tor 
country's coming 9th war loan 
Victory Loan drive. 

Ben Henshaw. of the Ca nadian 
War Finance Committee, is due here 
July 9 to meet with Tom Bailly, 
Hollywood WAC coordinator, who is 
now in Washington 
cuss subject matter and production 



Liberty, and the Hamrick-Evergreen ^ da ' s , e 'f h ] wai ; bond^ drives 
. Fifth Avenue and Paramount. 

A first-timer is the bond matinee 
at the Metropolitan next Friday 
-..wilh-Hclcn.-Hayes- in ---Harriet" the- 
lure. 

Ted Gamble, national director, 
former showman of the Pacific 
• Continued on page 22) 

JIMMY CANNON HAS 
'BLUE DANUBE BLUES' 

Germany 

Editor. "Variety": 

I submit further proof that- all 
songwriters are liars once they sit 
down to hack out a lyric about riv- 
ers. I don't know what it's like in 
other places, but the Danube around 
here certainly is not a sweet stream 
moving, dreamily to the sea'. Outside 



1 elude colored smoke operations 
(guaranteed not to smoke payees out 
of the Oriental theatre and the | 
Chemical I 



tie it impossible for him to specify, f-speeify where they will go. An act 
what his recommendations would be ; with allergy to tropic climates can 
in advance of submission to the j beg off. As a rule, says Camp Shows, 
War Dept., but . he admitted that | i' 1 '^ Ko where they're told. There ve 

• been one or two cases when acts 
; balked, whereupon they were re- 
leased. There is one instance of a 
unit that was rerouted lo Europe 
j aftei' being set for the Pacific, "be- 
cause the femme headliner objected. 
' USO-Camp Shows made an excep- 
tion here, because of their desperate 
need of talent, and not wishing, to 
lose or penalize balance of unit be- 
; cause of the femme. 



I cupied territory with the aid of a 
little gadget that helps him bring 
recalcitrant German theatre owners 
into line. It's a card listing him as 
Service and commumca- BrJ g adiel . Gclle ral .assimilated), 
I and . wJUh__the laiialLcal .Gcrman._sub- 
servience 



Latin Quarter) by the 



tions with a score of U. S. cities and 

depots' by The- Signal " Corps, and , ^.^.j^^.,, t<) authoHty it cm|s 
bond buyers are rewarded with j a ,., Llment . , The ass imilated rank- 
rides in scout cars, ducks, weasels • jt . s one ( , r „ lase rnlernaVibiial eoh- 
They will dis- i ""d armored cars, which have start- velltiol! things ^. is intended to in- 
ina points at both ends of the ex- I form the cncmy of the k il)d of 

civilian 
(o the 



questions. No idea yet of what the'l hibtt. ' ...• ■ ... . '..- - .» . 

picture will deal with, but the most | Theme of the show, pounfled home | 
successful to date has been "All Star i by Loop department store p.a. sys- 



treatmcnt they must give 
prisoners of war attached 



., Hollywood. June 5. 

Silver Star for gallantry in action 
n repulsing a Jap attack was 
awarded to Lt. Col, Laurence W. 
Beilensoh, chief counsel for Screen 
Actors Guild. '.' ,-. 

Citation reads: "For gallantry in 
Of my door in Regen.sberg it is a i action, disregarding his own safety 



Bond Rally," used for the Canadian 
8th and now for our own 7th. 



Lt. Col. Beilenson Cited 



rushing, roaring, foaming river dash- 
ing over the broken bridges. But 1 
can understand it's haste. I am in a 
hurry to get out of Germany, too. 
IW/Kil 'about' lite Svianee, Jame; 
JBfl.l ' . ' 

' I see "Varietys" wherever T go ;•'.-•. 
and., that, means' France. Belgium, 
Luxembourg, Germany, Czechoslova- 
kia, Austria . . . wherever the Amer- 
ican soldier goes. Oddly enough, 
most of the "Variety" readers aren't 
pros and nio.-t of them aren't New 
Yorkers. One guy Tasked said: "I 
like it." I just thought you'd like to 
know. Naturally,, the paths of the 
armies are not littered with "-Vari- 
etys." -But it would please- you, I 
think, to know in "how many places 
it turns up.. 

Jimmy Cannon. 



while under.- heavy enemy . .fire. 1 
Though outnumbered, repulsed three 
successive Japanese attacks^-cour- 
age above and beyond the call of 
duty displayed by Lt. Col. Bielcnson 
reflects credit upon himself and the 
forces of- the United Slates.". ■■• '. ' - 



Keeping Up With the Flicks 

Pvt. Sol Jacobson is in Bremen, 
editing — a— NipiSr Army newssheet. 
Cpl. Ted Goldsmith has been as- 
signed to Fort Slocum, New Ro- 
cbelle. N^ Y. ' Sgt. Abner Klipstein 
is at Wright Field, Dayton, O. 



Sgt; Joel Levy, Jr., Killed 

Joel. Levy, chief -motion picture 
booker for Loew's out-of-town the- 
atres, has been advised by the War 
Dept. that his son, T/S. Joel Levy. 
Jr., 22. U. S. Signal Corps, .formerly 
of Loew's publicity, has been killed 
in actiofi . In '. the Philippines.. Sgt. 
Levy, an expert photographer, was 
with a sound-camera unit., in the 
forces that retook Manila, and' per- 
formed distinguished service ; with 
Pacific invasion forces. 

Sgt, Levy leaves a widow and one 
child. 



army. Thus war correspondents are 
treated as captains but most top- 
ranking showfolk arc listed as gen- ] 
eral staff.) 

A lot of what he has^ seen and- 
hcard has impressed the producer 
with the idea that the war may .have 
ended tor General Eisenhower's lads, 
but it's just begun for show business. 

"We've got to bring the home- 
front to what used to be the war-, 
front," Todd said, "We've got to help 
convince those kids they haven't 
been forgotten, and we've got to 
keep our way of life constantly be- 
fore- .-them, realizing some of them 
may be cut off from, it lor years 
n f : ' . jand subjected to other influences. 

•. KM IJrnCC inairmanl NOh-fraternization is tough enough 

Bums Mantle, dean of New York with, lots of good sports and enter- 
dranja; critics; is emerging from re-, tainment programs. Without .ihem. 
tircnent to chairman a benefit show. I think it would be impossible, 
by the Central Chapter of the | "I don't like to harp on one theme 
| Queens County Red Cross, Sunday but- this is where show business must 
| <24) at the Forest Hills Stadium, really begin to fight. We've got to 



tern that blasts day and night for 
the. length of the Loop stretch of 
State street, is statement of Maj. 
Gen. Graves B. Erskine, command- 
ing general, 3rd Marine Division of 
Iwo Jima fame: 

"We can't finish the lough war in 
the Picific with the support of a 
quarter, or a half, or three-quarters 
of a nation. Everyone must pitch ih. 
Success of the 7th " War , Loan . de- 
pends upon . extra War Bond .pur- 
chases by every American." 



Jim Thorpe, at 57, 

Joins Merchant Marine 

. : Los-Angeles, June 5, 

Jim Thorpe, at one time one of 
the country's greatest athletes, and 
■ long in Westerns, has joined, the 
| Merchant Marine and is shipping out 
[for India. Thorpe is 57, and had 
I been turned, down by the Army, 
Navy. Marines and USO-Camp 
I shows before trying . the Merchant 
Marine. 

RKO and 20th-Fox for months 
have been mulling the idea of doing 
his life story, while Metro claims it 
has a version of its own for a film 
based on the athlete's life. 



| Co-chairman will be Alan Corclli. 
Theatre Authority exec sec, Show 
will climax three days of exhibition 
tennis matches at the stadium. . 

A committee of newspapermen in 
charge of the event will . be . aug- 
mented by Jim Sauter. United Theat- 
rical War Activities Committee 
chairman, and Toots Shor. restau- 
rateur. .,-,' •> .. 



'Oklahoma!' in China 

- "OklalToma!''- -has got as fai~ a^ 
China, GI members of the 14th Air 
Force staging a production of the 
Broadway musical with ,Pfc, Don 
Pointer, ex-Coast actor, directing, 



iVlemph's Man Wins Air Medal 

Memphis, June 5. 
Lt. Louis C. Ingram, son of Metro 
*ps*«'h- inanageiuJiere, -awarded Air 
Medal fpr "meritorious achievement 
while participating in aerial flight on 
reconnaissance missions over Japa- 
nese mainland and nearby Japanese- 
'iloJd islands." He'< ba.sed "on Guam. 



et better and bigger entertainment 
out to Germany, Italy and ; else- 
where, and we've , got to get it to 
them fast and consistently. While 
the war was on our soldiers had 
plenty to think about beskles what 
kind of a show they were going lo 
to: get, but now entertainment bulks 
larger and larger in their lives every 
day. Our business just Iws to re- 
spond." ' : '.-"•'.;" 

Todd refused flatly to comment on 
persistent, reports here that a good 
many important theatrical figures 
consider tWP end of the European 
war terminated any duty they, may 
have felt to soldiers in . this hemi- 
sphere. 

"That's not for me lo say," he said. 



L. A. to N. Y. 

Glen Allvine. 

Walter Bunker. 

Dane; Clark. 

Cecil Coan. 

SherriH Corwin. ~— '. 

Jerry Dale. 

Miss Dorothy. 

William J. Fadiman. 

Betty G ruble. 

Bruce Ilumberstone. 

Harry James. 

William Keighley. ■ : - 

Sol Lesser. 

Oscar A. Morgan. 

Bob Parrjs.' .'; 

Heinz- Roemhel.d. 

George Schneider. 



N. Y. to L. A. 

Dr. Lyman Bryson. 
Ann Corio. 
Jean Dalrymple. 
Danief F. Greenhouse. 
Sam Hearn. 

Mr. and Mrs. W. Ray Johnston. 

Col. Nathan Levinsori. 

Herb Little. 

Joe Pincus. 

LeRoy Prinz. 

Sain Shayon. 

Dave Victor. 

Harry M. Warner. '• ' 

Bob Williams. , • . 



Wednesday, June 6, 1915 



5 



I 



I 



1 




RKO Beats RKO as More Than 
100 Theatres in New Eng- 
land and N ew York State 
are Set for Simultaneous 
Openings June 26! 



S.v > , 




18,000-Seat 
Boston Garden 
Scene of Night 
of Spectacle, Sun- 
day/ June 24 
Hearst-Sponsored 
Prelude to a Premiere! 

Important International/ 
National and Local Per- 
sonages at Dozens of Affil- 
iated Affairs! 

Tidal Wave of All Forms of Ex- 
ploitation Breaking Over Every 
Inch of Wide Territory. 

Similar Treatment Immediately fol- 
lowing For Area Served by WLW, 
Cincinnati, "The Nation's Station/' 



Entire Yankee Network 
and Additional Power- 
ful Stations Beamed 
on Millions In Area. 

Hearst Newspa- 
pers in Boston 
Going To Town 
With Pages 
and Pages 
of Promo- 
tion ! 




P^KTFfT ^>«lnes(lay, June 6, 1015 



p:/ : * 



The screen's great drama of how a 
handful of heroes started the jug- 
gernaut that crushed the Japs! It's 
the inside story of the invisible army 
of the Philippines! A thousand- 
thrilled action show that will make 
your crowds stand up and cheer! 




/ 



Starring 



JOHN WAYNE 

with ANTHONY QUINN • BEULAH BONDI 

FELY FRAN QUELLI • LEONARD STRONG 

Executive Producer Directed by 

ROBERT FELLOWS • EDWARD DM Y TRY It, 

Scrttn flay by »«n Bariman and diehard Landau 



r m 



PICTURES 



Wednesday, June 6, 



1945 



IATSE Scores Major Victory, Court 
Rules Walsh Seizure Action Valid 



Hollywood, June 5. ■ * 
IATSE won its first major victory 
in the 13-week studio strike yester- 
day (Mon;) when Superior Court 
judge* Emmet H.' Wilson dissolved 
the temporary order restraining In- 
ternational Officers from interfering 
with autonomy" of the Affiliated 
Property Craftsmen Local 44, 

Judge Wilson Waved aside any 
argument by. IA counsel Michael 
Luddy as unnecessary, holding that 
emergency under which the Inter- 
national seized control of union was 
properly executed and that pi-exy 
Dick Walsh had compiled with all 
terms of the constitution. Judge 
Wilson held that Walsh_had full 
authority to execute the takeover 
order, that members of Local 44 had 
•passed order in disobedience of In- 
ternational, and that plaintiff had 
hot exhausted all remedies provided 
for under union constitution. All ap- 
plicants for relief were denied, leav- 
ing the International free to pro 
Ceed with trial of four members ac 



Hay ward Set for Paris 

Hollywood, June 5, 
Louis Hay ward, currently play- 
ing in Hunt- Strombergs "Young 
Widow," has a commitment to make 
a picture for Rene Clair in Paris, 
late in autumn. .'-.•'..:• 

Before going overseas, Hayward is 
slated for a role in "The Return of 
Monte Cristo," to be produced by 
Edward ' Small. 



Warner Execs Meeting 
At H.O. on Operations, 
Plans for Coming Pix 



A general meeting of Warner the- 
atre execs to discuss current operat- 
ing matters and forthcoming prod- 
uct, plus plans in_ connection with 
latter, is being herd at the WB homc- 
cused of "acting agairist-lhe best- in-* ^JfliCfc 



terests of IATSE." * Temporary 
restraining order tossed out by 
Judge Wilsor? prohibited Interna- 
tional ;from proceeding with the 
trial, from preventing meetings with 
membership, and from interfering 
with autonomy of iocal. 

While temporary order was pend- 
ing, membership met and nominated 
officers, but this action probably will 
be nullified by IA in view of court's 
ruling. 

International had discontinued rank 
and file meetings and ordered elec- 
tion of officers postponed. Extra 
police and 1 sheriff's details were 
alerted for duty yesterday as strik- 
ing technicians increased their 
picket lines and received orders to 
"cut out the politeness and get 
tough." At the same time it was re- 
ported that International union 
presidents in the building trades 
were calling a meeting in Washing- 
ton presumably with the idea. of de- 
manding William Green, president of 
the American Federation of Labor, 
rescind his announcement that cur- 
rent walkout is an unauthorized 
strike. 

Building trades were reported 
cracking down locally, with result 
that IATSE heads are said to have 
pulled their men off construction 
jobs at one major studio. Carpen- 
-ters-have-asked mill men and others 
not to handle supplies for studio and 
it is understood building trade tops 
protested IA men being used to erect 
a building. 

At meeting of unionists at Ameri- 
can Legion Stadium Sunday night 
(3) labor chiefs told members that 
—production -was-below- -30%- level- It 
was also revealed that decision ex- 
pected this week by NLRB on Set 
Decorators election and that Ma- 
chinists Local 1185 had filed unfair 
labor practice charges against major 
companies. Several speakers criti- 
cized 'actors, writers;' clerical work- 
ers and other groups for not insist- 
ing that producers end controversy. 



District managers and zone? buyers 
arrived yesterday (Tuesday) to sit in 
on the conferences with h.o. execs, 
including Joe Bernhard, g.m. of the- 
atres; Harry Kalmine, assistant gen- 
eral manager; Clayton' Bond, head 
of film buying-booking; and other 
WB circuit men, among them Harrx 
Goldberg, Frank .Phelps, Abel 
Vigard, W. . Stewart McDonald, 
Harry Rosenquest, Louis J. Kauf- 
man, Frank Marshall, Nat D. Fell- 
man, Herman Maier, Rudolph Weiss, 
Frank Cahill, Martin F. Bennett and 
Dan Triester. 

Zone managers brought in arc 
James Coston, Chicago; Nat Wolft 
Cleveland; I. 3. Hoffman, New 
Haven; Frank Damis, Newark; C. J. 
Latta, Albany; Ted Schlanger, Phil- 
adelphia; Moe Silver, Pittsburgh, and 
John J. Fayette; Washington. 

Buyers in on the conferences are 
Burt Jacocks and Max Friedman, 
Albany; John' Turner, Philadelphia; 
George Crouch, Washington; Harry 
Feinstein and Saul . Bragin, Pitts- 
burgh: Alex Halperin, Chicago, and 
Tony Stern, Cleveland. 



Ferrer Gets Col Meg 

Hollywood, June 5. 

Columbia upped Mel Ferrer to di- 
rector, with "The Girl of Limber- 
lost," an Alexis Thurn-Taxis pro- 
duction, as his opening chore. 

Former producer-director of the 
Hildegardc air show, Ferrer has 
worked for 18 months at Columbia 
as dialog director. .- 

SPG on Coast KO'd 
On Most Demands 

Hollywood, June 5. - 
WLB panel hearing the ease of 
demands by Screen Publicists Guild 
from the producers, tossed out prac- 
tically every contract demand made 
by the flacks and awarded, raises, 
which for most part were offered by 
producers. Demand ,, for classifica- 
tions for senior publicists, includ- 
ing overscale men, was nixed by 
the WLB. Although minimum of 
$120.64 per week was granted for 
seniors, juniors were placed in four 
pay brackets, ranging from $65 to 
$89.96, and apprentices given a min- 
imum of $40 for a 40-hQur-week.- ; f 
Although flacks wanted a 40-hour 
week, WLB only cut the hours from 
54 to 48. Panel also ruled WLB has 
jurisdiction over all raises except on 
overscale people who come under 
Treasury Dept. Also tossed out were 
requests for overtime after 6 p.m., 
"right to file grievances and arbitrate 
merit increases.. . 



U. S. Okays 20 th Troupe 
For Puerto Rico 



Trip 



Hollywood, June 5. 

Clearances for a 20th-Fox troupe 
of 10, headed by Henry King, direc- 
tor, were granted by the Govern- 
ment for an expedition to Puerto 
Rico for the filming of "American 
Guerrilla in the Philippines." Crew 
leaves Hollywood, July 9, headed for 
San Juan, P. R. 

Cast, headed, by Fred MacMurray, 
leaves July 28. Donald Brower, 
studio's public relations man, is 
already on his 'way. 



16 Mm, Outdoor Pix 
ANewWorrytoExhibs 

Popularity of 16-millimeter out- 
door picture theatres, especially in 
the south, looms importantly in reg- 
ular theatre exhibition. Fact that 
high-quality sound now is possible 
for the 16-mm. projectors and the 
10c. admission are chief worries to 
regularly established exhibitors. 

Routine of these new exhibs is to 
move—their- pro jectors onto a vacant- 
lot, set up chairs or planks for 
seats and then board up this space 
as an outdoor operation. The ad- 
mission often is as low as 10c. with 
5c. for children. 

While these 16-mm. operators are 
hot able to get the latest features, 
I the early clearance of new product 
through armed forces camps re- 
cently has made some pictures avail- 
able, within a year, or earlier, of na- 
| tional release date. The 16-mm. 
exhibs pick (hem up from independ- 
ent dealers of 16-mm. pictures, since 
regular film distributors make them 
available to these indies when they 
appear old enough not to interfere 
with regular customers. . 



Dixie Stance on Negroes in Pix 

Recent, comment by Collier's mag declaring that the city of Memphis 
pulled a boner in banning the showing of "Brewster's Millions" because 
of Rochester's prominence in the pie, called 1 forth a defense from the 
Memphis Commercial Appeal last week (26). ("Variety" long ago called 
attention to indiscriminate cutting of films by. southern censors, in- 
cluding Memphis, because of Negro footage). Defending its censor 
board, the newspaper stated it was Hollywood, that pulled the. boner. 

The whole south is in protest, says the sheet, over "the absolutely, 
stupid manner in which motion picture producers have used Negrqes 
in films." iNewspaper throughout refers to Negroes with small "n.") 
It calls attention to incidents of a white emcee embracing a colored 
woman, of a closeup of a Negro soldier's face between two white girls, 
of a Negro couple spotlighted at a USO party, claiming all these irritate 
southern audiences. ~ 

"If Hollywood would adopt an every day natural, practical attitude 
toward the Negro in pictures there would be little protest from the 
south," says the sheet. "Let the Negro appear in the picture. Let 
him appear naturally. Don't overemphasize him just so Hollywood 
can show how broadminded it has become." 



Export Assn. Due to Become Actuality 
This Week As Aid to Foreign Problems 



Studio Contracts 



Hollywood, June 5. 
Burl Ives, actor, 20lh-Fox. 
Harold Kress, shorts direc... Metro. 
Barry Sullivan, actor. Paramount. 
James Dobbs, actor, Warners. 
William Russell director. Par, - 
Susan Blanchard, actress. 20th-Fox. 
Dick Haymes, renewed. 20th-Fox. 
Alexander C. Grant, actor, M-G. 
Jack Townley, writer-pro., RKO. 
Edward Ashley, actor,, Republic, 
Twinkle Watts, moppet, Republic. 
William Powell, renewed, Metro. 
Conrad Janis, actor, Columbia. . 
Albert S. Rogell, pro. -dir., Republic, 
Edwin G. Linden, cameraman, 20th.' 
Don Siegel, director, Warners. 



Bill White Named V. P. 
Of Gen'l Amus. Corp. 

Bill White, head of the film. depart- 
ment in General Amus. Corp.'s Hol- 
lywodd office, has been named a v.p. 
of the organization. ■ ; 

He .has been with the firm two 
years. .. :-' .-'■".'.'' ■'.'; '-■'•■■'.■■ i 



Faye Marlowe4 : ©ps J Spider , 

Hollywood, June 5. 

Faye Marlowe draws the top 
I'emme spot in "The Spider," to be 
directed by Robert Webb and pro- 
duced by Ben Silvey at 20th-Fox. 

Role was originally intended for 
Carole Landis, who -turned it down 
and is now in "Reno for her divorce. 



HEDY TO SHOW HER 'AGE' 

Hollywood, June 5. 

Hedy Lamarr took a sixmonth op- 
tion on a French play, "Uncertain 
Age," which may serve as her first 
indie starring venture when she re- 
turns from the nursery to the screen. 

Play was co-authored by Henri 
Aisner and Lilo Damert, ' 



JOHN W. HICKS, JR., PAR 
V. P., DIES IN N.Y. AT 58 

John W. Hicks, Jr., 58, president of 
Paramount International Films and 
v.p. and director of Paramount, died 
June 1, at Memorial hospital, N. Y. 
City, following an operation last 
April 17. It was the second opera- 
tion within about two years. -r-» ■ 
Associated with the motion picture 
business since 1912, he was one of 
the most active and highly regarded 
foreign sales executives in the in- 
dustry, having been with the foreign 
end of the business since March, 
1921. Despite failing health in re- 
cent years, Hicks (lew to London in 
September, 19.43, during the blitz to 
attend to corporation business and 
had mapped postwar plans for world 
survey trips to be made by plane. 

Starting in the picture business as 
operator of two theatres in Missouri. 
Hicl&-became-a-film-salesman in 1914 
for General Film, Co. in Oklahoma 
and Missouri, later going to Minne- 
apolis as branch manager for Golcl- 
wyn Pictures Corp. 

He joined Paramount as a branch 
manager in 1919, transferring to the 
homeoffice in N. Y. as assistant to 
-the -late Sidney- R. Kent,--then- sales- 
manager of the corporation. Hicks 
first went into the foreign branch of 
the industry in 1921 when named 
managing director for Paramount in 
Australia. After 11 years there, he 
returned to the homeoffice again. In 
1932 he was made manager of Para- 
mount's English division, and acting 
manager of Paramount International 
Corp. in 1933. Hicks became man- 
ager of Paramount Pictures' foreign 
department a year later, and in 1930 
was elected a v.p, of the company. 
He was named to the directorate in 
1938. Hicks also was a director of 
Famous Players-Canadian Corp. 

When Paramount International 
Films, Inc., was formed last year. 
Hicks _\vas made president. He lived 
at New Rochelle, N. Y„ but never 
forgot his home town of Scdalia, Mo., 
where he was born, regularly re- 
turning .there during all the years 
that the film business took him to 
all corners of the globe.. As a for- 
eign Sales executive, Paramount 
business took him to virtually every 
country in Europe, to Great Britain, 
the Orient, the 'Near . East, Latin- 
America and Australia .and New Army 
Zealand. . ' Army ' 

Long a strong advocate of the free j Navy .. 
screen, Hicks , expressed the hope Canada 
this year, in commenting oil the FEA . 
postwar period, that screen playing OWI 
time will be free and open through- I 
out . the world in the reconstruction 
era. ■ - ... 

He is survived by his widow, his 
son, John W. Hicks, 3d, of U.S. 
Army Ail' Force,,, now at Tonopah 
Field, Nevada; twin sisters, and . a 
brother, Wilson Hicks, executive edi- 
tor of Life; Funeral was Monday t4) 
in N. Y. Burial" will be in the fam- 
ily plot, Sedalia, Mo. The industry 
was well represented at the services. 
Capt. Harold Autcn, a director of 



June 10-pct. 27 Set For 
U's 'Biumberg Sales Drive' 

Bill Scully;. Universal's sales chief, 
yesterday fT'ues.) announced a sales 
drive starting June 10 and carrying 
through to Oct. 27. It will be known 
as the Nate Blumberg Testimonial 
campaign in honor of the company 
proxy. Sales force will be divided 
into eastern, western and southern 
groups. 

New t/oduet available during the 
drive will include the latest Deanna 
Dtubin starrer. "Lady on a Train," 
"That's the Spirit," new Abbott- 
Costello comedy, "The Naughty 
Nineties," "Uncle Harry," and "On 
Stage Everybody," with Jack Oakie, 
Peggy Ryan and Johnny Coy. The 
current pictures available for cam- 
paign are "Salome," "Patrick the 
Great." "Sudan." "Here Come Co- 
Eds" and "Frisco Sal." 



35 mm. Film 



Continued from page 3 



The film industry's Export Assn., 
expected to be one of the picture 
business' greatest media for building 
trade-in the-postwar. foreign-market,, 
is expected to become an actuality 
this week. It will enable the indus- 
try to act with unanimity on all 
problems encountered aboard. 

At a huddle of major company 
foreign managers and film chief ex- 
ecutives last Thursday (31), imme- 
diate incorporation in Delaware was 
approvad. The Export Assn. should 
be ready for business, with a board 
of directors picked this week. All 
major companies and such inde- 
pendents as Republic and Monogran\ 
are expected to become members, 
with every major company certain 
of membership. Independent ..units 
or companies are eligible, and the 
Society of Independent Motion Pic- 
ture Producers has been invited to 
name a member to the board. Proxy 
also likely will be picked this week. 

Although there has been consid- 
erable talk, off and on, about a 
united front for operations in for- 
eign lands, this is the first time the 
American film business actually has 
set up the machinery for a united 
front. 



most since the last quarter of 1944. 

Producers of factuals will get 15,- 
750,000 feet, and 6,300,000 will go to; 
producers of special pictures, such as 
scientific research, microfilming, and 
identification purposes. .-•:'. ..-.'•' 

In the third quarter, only author- 
izations lor the transfer and expo- 
sure of 35 mm. film bearing the 
number 14.000 or higher will- be 
valid. ■ \' 
Allotments to the studios: 

- Linear feet 
Producers ' - of film 

Columbia Pictures Corp.. 29,208,380 
TVIerro' : Goldwyn'-Ma~yer"ari"d" 

Loew's. Inc. ...... 40,693,360 

Monogram Production;;,* 

Inc. 7,888,810 

Paramount Pictures, Inc.. 28,717,870 
Producers Releasing Corp. 5.308,890 
Radio-Keith-Orphcum 

Corp 22.251.810 

Ropiiblic Pictures Corp. . . 17,736,950 
Twentieth Century- Fox 

Film Corp 30,707,010 

Universal Pictures Corp., 

Inc. . 26.501.090. 

Warner Bros. Pictures, Inc. 32,576,910 
Independent producers... 29,408,920 
As in the second quarter, WPB has 
established an over-all quota, or al- 
lotment, for independent producers 
as a group, in addition to the quotas 
for the 10 producers affiliated with 
national distributors. This ovei'-all 



Kay Francis Sets Next 

Hollywood, June 5. 

Kay Francis' next Monogram star- 
rer, "Allotment Wives," will be di- 
rected by William Nigh. 

In addition to starring, Miss Fran- 
cis will co-produce with Jeffrey Ber- 
nercl. '..■' 



quota represents the amount, of film 
normally received by independent 
producers, plus a small additional 
amount needed to provide flexibility 
of^peraTioh "for the 'smaller tilde*' 7 
pendent producers. The individual 
quotas of the distributors from whom 
the independent producers formerly 
received film have been reduced to 
(,he extent that they supplied film to 
independent producers. 
Allotments to the ncwsreels: 

Linear feet 



Producers 

March of Time . ,-, ........ 

Movietone, Inc. ... , , , . ... 

News « of - thc-Day News- 
reel; Inc .. . , . , . 

Paramount Pictures, Inc., 
producing Paramount 
News .... 

Pathc News, Inc. 

Universal Pictures Co., 
InC:, producing Univer- 
sal New -.reel - . 



of film 
2.318.719 
13,318.500 

12.129.0(10 



12:192.259 
9.574 .500 



7.127.259 



Overall 35 mm. Breakdown 

For. lite first t'mle, WPB has released a breakdown showing libtr i.i. 
has been allocating 35 mm. film to all groups of claimants including the 
ariitcd services, making the figures arailuhle for a full year by quarters: 



Eagle-Lion, attended as rcpresenta : 
five of J. Arthur/Rank at the tat- 
ter's request. ,, 



Overseas ; . . . . . . 

Doiiicstic ;,, . ; . : . 
M a j o x e-ntertainmenf 
picture producers.. .-. 
Ncwsreel producers. . . . 

"Class C" producers. . 
Factual picture pro- 

- ditcers 

Special picture pro- 
ducers ,,..(........ 

Army and Navy credits. 
Reserve ............... 



1944 

4lh qtr. 
77 000,000 
42,000,000 

1,000,000 
50.000.000 

7.750,000 

5,000,000 

271,368.000 
52,550,000 
9,000,000 

15.000,000 

3,000,000 
58,000,000 
5,000,000 



1945 
1st qtr, 
75,500,000 
37,000,000 
1.000,000 
(iK.835.000 
18,000.001) 
8,300,000 

266,000.000 
51.614.000 
6,000,000 



1945 
2d qtr. 
85,500,000 
43,500,000 
1,784,000 
52,000,000 
18,000,000 
17,250,000 

261,000,000 
52,856,000 
7,500,000 



1945 
3d qtr. 
(W.000.000 
54.000,000 
3.600,000 
38,000.000 
13.725.000 
V. 8,750,000 

271,000.000 
56.860,219. 
8.100.000 



9,000,000 11,500,000 15,750,000 



1,500,000 
60.000,000 
10,000,000 



5,500,000 
66,000,000 
2,500,000 



6,300,000 
74.100.000 
4,994,781 



Tofals 



;- Army— 40.000,000,. . Navy- 
Army-Navy theatrical releases, 



596,668,000 600,749,000 
31,000,000*, 



624,890,000 622,180.000 
3.100.000 . special reserve for 



Wednesday. June 6, 1945 



PfiRIETY 



PICTURES 



Balaban, Freeman Head Nominees 
For Par Directorate; 16 to Be Named 



Notice of Paramounl's annual + 
stockholders, meeting, to be held 
June 19, at which 16 directors for the 
ensuing year are to be named, was 
scut to shareholders this week to- 
gether with a proxy statement. Man- 
agement nominees for the director- 
ate are Barney Balaban, Y. Frank 
Freeman, Stephen Callaghan, Harvey 
D. Gibson, Leonard H. Goldenson, 
A. Conger Goodyear, Stanton Grif- 
fis. Duncan G. Harris, John D. Hertz, 
John W. Hicks, Jr. (who died last 
week), Austin C. Keough, Earl 1. 
McClintock, Maurice Newton, E. V. 
Richards, Edwin L. Weisl and Adolph 
Zukor. ' ' 

Highest salaried executive, up for 
election, according to the proxy 
statement, is Balaban with remun- 
eration of $156,000, which does not 
include expenses allowed amounting 
to $20,800. Next is Henry Ginsberg, 
v. p. and manager in charge of studio 
operations, with $145,316. Freeman, 
v. p. in charge of production, is next 
highest with $130,000. 

Others in_ higher brackets are 
ICcdugri, v, p", chief counsel and 
. secretary, with $78,000; Zukor, chair- 
man of board, $109,000; Charles. M. 
Reagan, v. p. in charge of domestic 
sales (named to present post by the 
directors, April 6, 1944), . $77,491; 
Goldenson, v. p. in charge of thea- 
tres, $44,200; Neil F. Agnew. v. p. in 
charge of domestic sales until April 
6 last year, $41,531; John W, Hicks, 
Jr.. v.- p. in charge of foreign sales, 
$41,600. and Jacob Karp, assistant 
secretary, $46,200. Griffis, chairman 
ol' the executive committee, re- 
ceived no salary. 

After Agnew's resignation, the an- 
nuity contracts In which he was 
named as beneficiary were delivered 
to him, according to provisions of the 
Pension Trust Plan, Annual benefits 
estimated to be payable under this 
Pension Trust, in the event of re- 
tirement, for Balaban are $28,250; for 
Freeman, $10,797; for Keough. $6,- 
47!): for Griffis, $12,458. Hicks was 
due to get $4,725. 



Par Aide a Suicide 

Hollywood. June 5. 
Lav.erri R. Davison. 52. assistant 
chief of budget control for Para- 
mount studios, shot and killed him- 
self June 3 at his Hollywood home. 
Earlier he had attempted suicide by 
gas but was rescued by a brother 
who survived him. 

Reason for death was given as 
despondency over ill health, ^ 



SELZNICK'S P.A. STAGES 
'GI AWARDS' IN D C. 

Washington. June 5. 

David 6. Selznick's eastern public- 
ity chief. Jack Goldstein, has been 
hustling through a half-dozen dif-' 
fereiit official channels to set up Hie 
GI Awards stunt next Sunday (10) 
at the Walter Reed hospital here, 
where Jennifer Jones and B.ing Cros- 
by will appear. Miss Jones is a Selz- 
nick star, but the producer was able 
to s.nag Der Bingle in on the stunt, 
whereas representatives for Rita 
~Hay worth, Eddie "Bracken and" the- 
"Going My Way" (Par) producer 
will send stand-ins. 

These five won the GI Favorites 
contest as staged by the Army Pic- 
. torial Service and announced in 
Yank mag. Selznick seized upon I his 
as a GI contrast to the usual Holly- 
wood hoopla when the Academy 
awards its Oscars, and publicist 
Goldstein contrived a plastic GI Os- 
car in the form of a shield. 

Before an audience of 2.000 pa- 
tients at the Reed hospital next Sun- 
day along with President and Mrs. 
Tinman, who have been, invited:' Sec- 
retary 'of War Stimson, solons from 
the Senate, the Washington newspa- 
per publishers, veterans" organiza- 
tions, generals, i et ai..' 'Mis* Jones.- 
Crosby and the others will be pub- 
licly kudosed.. 



PIX MOGULS NAMED 
FOR EUROPEAN 0.0. 

The film industry key executives 
who leave the U. S. on or about June 
18 for a tour of liberated European 
nations under the guidance of Su- 
preme Headquarters, Allied Expedi* 
Tionary Forces are: Barney Balaban, 
Paramount president; Sidney Buch- 
man, Columbia s' dio. head; Harry 
Cohn, Col prex Lester Cowan, 
iifdie producer;"Si .abianr War-Ac- 
tivities Committee theatres division 
chairman; Russell Holman. repre- 
senting Henry Ginsberg of Par; 
Francis Harmon, WAC vice-chair- 
man; Charles Koerner. RKO studio 
chief: Sol Lesser, indie prod; E. J. 
Mannix, Metro studio chief: Taylor 
M. Mills; N. Peter Rathvon. RKO 
president; Jack L. Warner. WB stu- 
dio head;. R. B. Wilby, WAC the- 
atres division; Cliff Work. Universal 
studio topper, and Darryl F. Zanuck. 
Major Stuart Palmer, of the War 
Dept.'s public relations staff, will be 
liaison officer for the group. 

Trip, in line with recent tours 
made by Congressmen and news- 
paper editors, is to acquaint film 
execs with problems in which the 
Army is involved, including the re- 
deployment of the Army of Occu- 
pation, American Military Govern- 
ment, displaced persons, prisoners of 
war, the food problem, transporta- 
tion, reconstruction and other topics. 

They will be guests of the British 
government in London, and will also 
visit Copenhagen, Brussels, the 
Hague. Paris. Rome. Prague, the 
Rhine and Ruhr Valleys. Cologne 
and Frankfort, amongst, other cities. 



Mono Pfd. on N. Y. Curb 

Monogram Pictures preferred, a 
new issue, >was listed for trading on 
the N. Y. Curb exchange last week 
(Friday). Company always had" its 
common on the Curb but the pre- 
ferred is just making its appearance 
in public hands. 

Announcement that the preferred 
was going oil the Curb exchange was 
made by W. Ray Johnston, Mono 
prexy. 



Curbs Off 35 mm. Projs. 
But Army Still Gets 1st 

Revocation of the Limitation Order 
which governs production and dis- 
tribution of commercial picture pro- 
jection equipment recently means 

'that manufacturers of 35-millimeter 
motion picture equipment have been 
given the green light by the War 
Production Board. The order impos- 
ing similar controls On 16-mm. equip- 
ment had been revoked earlier. 

Only, catch in any heavy release 
of picture projection equipment is 
that, manufacturers expect demands 
of. military services for such pro-' 
lectors' and amplifying. '.apparatus' 
will preclude early supplies to the- 
atre 'exhibitors. It's estimated that 

'trie Army today has about 30.000 pro- 
jectors of both 16-mm: 'am* regular 
35-mm. size, some, of which may be 



Cowdin to the Coast, 

Recuping From Op 

J. Cheever Cowdin. chairman of 
Universal's board of directors, was 
sufficiently recovered this week from 
his recent operation to take a train 
for Los Angeles Monday (4 ) night. 
He plans to further recuperate at his 
home, near L. _A., .aiid may _npt_get 
back_to his desk at the studio for 
several weeks; ~ " ~". 

Nate Blumberg. Universal's proxy, 
also will probably shove off for the 
Coast this week since he has re- 
mained east this time much longer 
than he originalyy planned. He 
wanted to be in N. Y. while Cow- 
din was in the hospital, and decided 
to~stay over a few days longer for 
the start of trading in Universal 
common on the N. Y. stock exchange. 
Blumberg acted as financial chief for 
the company in the. absence of Cow- 
din, who always has handled com- 
pany's financial affairs. 



Lloyd Drops One U Suit 

Hollywood. June 5. 
Harold Lloyd dropped one of his 
three plagiarism suits against .Uni- 
versal, but the other two actions are 
still on the court calendar. 

Dropped suit concerned the Uni- 
versal picture, "She Gels Her Man." 
actions in vol ye . ''Her Lucky 
and "So's- Your. Uncle." 



Other 
Night" 



DOS INKS NELSON y 

Hollywood. June 5. 
David O. Selznick signed Argylc 
Nelson as production manager 
-available -t-o-schools and-^colleg-es aft- . fc c tivR .. J une-,jq 



er the war. Among the biggest manu 
facturors of projectors and sound 
systems are Eastman Kodak. Inter- 
national Projector and RCA. 



Stanwyck, Cummings Duo 

Hollywood. June 5. . 

Barbara Stanwyck and Robert 
Cummings will co-star in the forth- 
coming comedy. ''The Bride. Wore 
Boots.'.' at Paramount, with Patric 
Knowlcs in a top. featured role. 

Seton I. Miller will 'produce and 
Irving Piehcl direct. Starting late, in; 
Jute,',-. '" ■..'': .'■:•', V'. 



Much Amus. Stock 
Trading Last Mo. 

Philadelphia. June 5. 

Activity in film industry stock was 
brisk in the period between April 
11 to May 10 as disclosed in a re- 
port last week by the Securities & 
Exchange Coihmission here. 

One of the largest transactions re- 
ported was the acquisition of 3,740 
additional shares of Warner Bros. $5 
par common by Harry M. Warner, 
bringing his total holdings in that 
security to an even 150,000 shares. 

There was plenty of activity in 
-Loe-w'Si-Inc.f-common-highlighted-by 
a— stock splitup of 38,100 shares. 
Splitup went tp the following: How- 
ard Dietz, 30 shares: Leopold Fried- 
man, 1,424: Eugene W. Leake, 200; 
Charles C. Moskowitz, 1,500; Wil- 
liam A. Parker, 1,200; J. Robert 
Rubin, 4,130: Nicholas M. Schenck; 
3,826: Joseph R. Vogel. 600; David 
conversion notes ,(2% c < f. Other 
throp, 200. 

Purchase of 2.395 shares of Colum- 
bia Pictures common by Harry 
Cohn, Hollywood, was largest deal in 
that security during the repoi:t 
period. Other activity in Columbia: 
Jack Cohn added 620 to his holdings, 
now totalling 32,496: the Joseph 
Cohn Trust added 65: Ralph Cohn 
Trust, 50; Robert Cohn Trust, 145, 
and Jeannette Cohn Trust. 5 snares. 
Joseph McConville added 2 Col. 
shares: Abraham Montague, 50: 
Abraham . Schneider, 40: Nate B. 
Spinggold (through a holding com- 
pany), added 254 shares, and Don- 
ald S. Stralem, 15 shares. 

Monogram Pictures of Michigan 
purchased 2,000 shares of Monograin- 
Pictui'cs Corp. $1 par common; Wil- 
liam B. Hurlburt added 666 shares, 
bringing his holdings to 4,029. W. 
Ray Johnston. Hollywood, reported 
holding 20.491 shares of Monogram 
common. 

Barney Balaban, making a belated 
report (Dec. 1944), reported the 
acquisition of 2,000,000 Paramount 
conversion, notes 2 :l i '", > . Other 
transaction in Paramount: W. E. 
Griffis Trust reported disposal of 
2,600 shares of Paramount SI par 
common to a beneficiary. 

Paul G. Brown, Boca Raton. Fla., 
reported" the~disposal-~of 8,672 Uni- 
versal -common warrants while 

adding 306 shares of Universal com- 
mon stock to his holdings, now 
totalling 29,000. 

Mono's $107,840 Net 
For First 39 Weeks 

Monogram Pictures' consolidated 
net profit for the first 39 weeks of 
the company's fiscal year amounted 
to $107,840 as against $111,961 for 
comparable period a year ago. The 
three-quarter period ended last 
March 31. Profit is after all charges, 
including .provision for Federal in- 
come taxes. 

W. Ray Johnston, company proxy, 
noted that the report did not fully 
reflect -revenue from Great Britain, 
since distribution in that country 
was changed, last Aug. 1 from an 
advance royalty basis -to •straight 
percentage distribution. This, he 
said, resulted in. a, great deal of rcye- ' 
nue being deferred' to a later. period.. ; 
which .under the .previous way of. | 
handling would have been, reflected- j 
in this report. New distrib -arrange- j 
fnejnt in. Great Britain is expected to ' 
give .the company a grcaterperceiil-.; 
age of gross receipts there. , ... i 



Film Dearth a Real Worry in Chi; 
St. L Closings Because of Shortage 



Brown's Latin Post 

Hollywood. June 5. 

Lawrence K. Brown, formerly 
with the Joe. Breen staff in- the 
Hays office, has taken a post with 
the Motion Picture Society of the 
Americas. He will function "as con- 
tact for studio production personnel 
on matters . pertaining to Latin- 
American content fri films. 

Speaking both Spanish and Portu- 
guese, he will handle translations 
and interpretive matters for the 
office. 



el- 



Nelson recently resigned at RKO. 
where he had been assistant to Wal- 
ter Daniels, production manager, for 
four years. 



Bloomberg to Supervise 
Rep Building Program 

Hollywood. June. 5. • 
Republic'.'- new $2,000,000 building 
program will be under supervision, 
of' Dan Bloomberg, recently hoisted 
from sound director to chief engi- 
neer of the studio. . 

In addition to taking charge of all 
permanen"t~constrtictioit-.qn. the lot, 
Bloomberg will function as technical 
manager of film process and the ed- 
itorial' film library. 



MASS. SHOWMEN IRATE 
OVER NEW TAX THREATS 

Boston. June 5. 

Massachuset is amusement industry 
lias been staging secret sessions here 
to plan counter-offensive against tax 
gouger? who would ruin b.o, biz. 
-Tbe-Bay State, is. hard. up.-for..r.evel-_ 
nue to meet expenses of proposed 
soldiers' bonuses, •postwar public 
■works, amplification of the East 
Boston Airport and the Port of Bos- 
ton. So solons turned as usual to- 
ward funlovers despite fact they are 
bearing as much burden as they can. 

The .legislative committee on tax- 
ation has voted 7 to 5 in favor of 
boosting admission taxes on theatres, 
racetracks and other amusement 
enterprises from 20 to 30%. Now 
the matter is in the hands of the 
ways and means committee, which 
will hold a hearing June 12. 

Plenty of sparks are promised by 
amusement mags, who are deter- 
mined to fight to the last. Plenty of 
legal talent has been assembled. 
Legislators from up-country want 
the tax. and. the governor's office 
doesn't know which way to turn. 

UA's MPPDA Resignation 
Effective Nov., WB on Fri. 

Warner Bros.' resignation from the 
Motion Picture Producers & Dis- 
tributors of America became effec- 
tive last Friday (1), without any 
word from WB of any action to 
rescind the resignation. ' United 
Artists has also resigned from the 
Hays organization, effective in No- 
vember. ' 

Both companies have long since 
been reported dissatisfied with the 
program of both trade and public 
relations set up by the Hays office. 
. UA, as first reported in "Variety" 
several months ago, discussed break 
with .the Hays-office when. some, jof 

_the_distrib's owner-members ex; 

pressed dissatisfaction with the play- 
ing tirne and conditions available to 
independent producers. 

Reported at that time that Mary 
Pickl'ord. David O. Selznick and 
other leading indies were pressing 
for an open break with the Hays 
office. UA reps met at the Hays 
office the same week and aired 
grievances. Official resignation fol- 
lowed several months later, although 
UA had planned breaking away from 
the Hays office before the Warner 
Bros, action became known. 

Major companies, meantime, arc 
reported expanding their individual' 
public relations activities, particu- 
larly in Washington.' 

Harry M. Warner, president of 
'Warner Bros.rleft -N. Y. Sunday- f.3) 
for the , Coast. ■ He': had been east 
for about one month on a routine 
trip and prior to leaving for Holly- 
wood confirmed the WB withdrawal 
from the Hays' office, effective Fri- 
day ID. 

Harman Sues 20th 

Los Angeles. June 5.. 

.Hugh Harman. caribou producer, 
filed a breach -of -contract, suit here 
against 2(>th-Fox. demanding dam- 
ages of $1,072,900. ' . -«>. 

Plaintiff claims, ho had a contract 
with the studio for . a: . 936-foOt 
•sequence.- combining cartoons, wttlr 
livc actors, for ''Billy Rose's Dia- 
mond Horseshoe." .'/':'.'■ 

U , ROLLS TRIO 

Hollywood, June 5. 

Three new productions face the 
lenses at Universal this week, mak- 
ing a total of five in work'. 

Newies are "Once Upon a Dream," 
"As It Was Before" aiid "Alibi in 
Ermine." Holdovers are "Uncle 
Harry" and "Frontier. Gal." 



Chicago. June 5. ; 
Chi is strictly a seller's market 
these days, judging from features for 
July, tabulated last week for general 
release houses b.y Jack Kirsch of 
Allied Theatres. Of the 50 features 
on the short-shrifter this time, .a 
total. of 16 are reissues and seven are : 
westerns, to cue some fingernail-bit- 
ing on the part of hundreds of cxhibs 
here as to just how they're going 
to interest payees in coming out of 
the heat-and-glare into the aircondi- 
' tioning. 

Exhibs, as' usual, are blaming dis- 
tributors,- who in turn admit there's 
(a) a print shortage, lb) a dearth of 
product," and (c> a tendency on the 
part of home offices to hold back 
releases. 

.-, To give an idea, here's the layout 
for the week of July 8: "Strange 
Death of ■" Adolph Hitler." "Hard 
Guy," "Strange Boarder" and "Scan- 
dal for the Bride"-- -four reissues; 
plus "Sheriff of Cimarron" (west- 
ern),.. "Escape" in the Fog." "Kcip 
Your Powder Dry," "It's a Pleasure." 
"Pan-Americana^-aiTd— "Having' -a - 
Wonderful Crime." 

Releases for . July 22 week are 
"King of the Circus" and "Skull and 
Crown," reissues, latter starring Rin 
Tin Tin; "Renegade of the Rio 
Grande" (western), and "Music for 
Millions," "Main Street After Dark," 
"National Barn Dance." "Sporting 
Chance," "Fashion Model" and 
"Gangster's Den." 

"Try and make four double bills 
a week out of that, willya?" says the 
exhib. 

To continue the tale ot woe. here's 
the week of the 29th: 

Six reissues — "Air Force," "Swamp 
Woman," "13th Giicst." "Barbary 
Coast," "Mr. Boggs Steps Out" and 
"Hell's Crossroads." One western— 
"Cowboy from Lonesome River." 
The rest are "Honeymoon Ahead," 
"Between Two Women." "Enchanted 
Cottage," "Brewster's Millions" and 
"Stepping in Society." 

Weeks of July 15 and 22? "Let's not 
go into that." says the exhib, flopping 
back in his chair and staring blankly 
at the ceiling. 



„ St. L. fix Shortage Also 

St. Louis. June 5. 

Fancho.n & Marco has placed two 
of its deluxers, the 5,000-seater Fox, 
in midtown. and the Ambassador, 
downtown, and the Shubert a house 
owned by a syndicate in which the 
Arthur brothers are the principal 
owners, on a weck-to-week basis 
because of the shortage of celluloid 
of a calibre that would warrant 
screening in these places. There 
also is a possibility that one of the 
houses may be closed for a six- 
weeks" period~and the- Shubert; not 
air-conditioned.-for- three -months.— — 

Announcement of the possibility 
of closing was made in order that 
theatre contracts with the various 
union organizations employes in the 
houses may be kept and there will 
be no turmoil if any of them should 
be shuttered. The Ambassador, on 
several occasions at the fag end of 
an exhibition year, has been shut- 
tered during six weeks of the sum- 
mer season and although the closing 
last year resulted in some litigation 
with the owners of the building the 
execs of F&M produced a contract 
that gives it the right to close when ' 
films are not available. 



'Corn' and 'Xmas' Wind 
Up WB's 19 for W45 

With Ben Kalmensph. general 
sales manager for Warner Eros'.; set- 
ting up releases for July and August, 
company will end the current season 
(1944-45) at a new all-time low for it 
of 19. pictures. . WB will give its 
accounts, only one picture in July, . 
"Corn Is Green" and one in August, 
"Christmas in Connecticut." National 
release dates, respectively, are July 
21 and Aug. 11. During the current 
month of June there will be two 
films, "Pillow' to Post." which goes 
on release Saturday (9) and "Con- , 
flict,". which - is set for June 30. . ' '■ 

Second only to Paramount in the 
number of pictures in' its present 
backlog, Warners 'now has 20 pic- 
tures in the can that remain to be 
released, these, of course, including 
the four picture.- ye; to be made 
available this season.. 

Company has five in production at 
the Burbank studios, while 10 will 
go before cameras as soon as stag* 
space is available. Scripts on 12 dif- 
ferent pictures to go into production 
later are now in work. 



PtiSttETf Wednesday, June. 6, ]<M5 




Exhibitors are urged to watch the box-office 

A VERY GRI 





I 



VICTORIA THEATRE. 



G. C F. 



P 





with Raymond Huntley • Billy 

Foreword by Quentin Reynolds 

Screen Play by Eric Ambler, Peter Ustinov 

A Two 



SPCED TOTAL VICTORY! 
THE MIGHTY 7th WAR LOAN! 



r 



( 



Wednesday, June 6, 1945 



11 




Hartnell • Stanley Holloway 

Carol Reed 



Directed by 



Produced by Norman Walker, John Sutro 

Cities Film 



Released by 



Century-Fox 



12 



FILM REVIEWS 



Wednesday, June 6, 1915 



On I of This World 

(MUSICAL) 

VarniniiUiil release of s/inn* iWliliy -pro-, 
dm-lion. Slavs Ktl.tie- llrarUii, Vei-ohieit 
IjHUP, Diana bytui: tviillil'es I'iisk Daley, 
l'arkyakiiikus. li.maltl .M > ; 1 1 1 i . 1 <- . Flni-onee 
Bad's. liioB Crnrlry's NhK t'niniei) Clival- 
Inrn. Ted . l r liit'itn; 1 1'-lil.v l\ln,ti,- ltnv-.Xoli.le, 
Jut 1 'HeU'.llliiari. Dnii .Wi-Knii'. Diy-ei'Ved - f'.v' 
Hal Wfllkoi. i-llased on swnies l>y IMinali'-Ul 
Alrelwn liiHVSani i '.i>i.ii\ ; i.iiirfu .n ii.ni. Mat- 
ter llel,en>i anil A n Inn- I'ln'llins: -fainjss, 
Johnny Melerr. llni'nld. Alien. Hen Uali'Uti. 
'•'H(*t'i)ie Wii.Vne. . Sii'm i'osiiiyr, i- 
• ami KililU- l-'liei l.ii-t' : 'ilmyey. 
■•'. editor. Siuitti < ; i hno, i>: 

Tlniinixnn, 'l'.re\ it wi 0 ai l' 
' "JTuh"!.""?'. IIijoiUuk tin;, 
ltei'lile 1'Vnian 



.•IIS lte.ril;i)'il 
. Salinity l.'-e; 
;iimvi:av - StD.'irt 
'iiiiioun'L'.'N. Y.-. 

im mins. . . 



Rummy Dn'life. .. ;•■ . 
Hetty Mil).'!-. . . . . 
Knnny. I la- - .li uaiia.-l 
• ills IMIiiIwk, , 
.1. J emwdo'd. 

Harriet l.:rlni--lr. . .. . . 

Had ia -. Annelltll'i 1-M.C . .... 
•Hi's. 'Rnlililnsi . . . . . - -V. , . 
Cllai-He, llrisKS. : . . ..- •'•'■ • 

Trying Isi-nnk. .-. ,.'. 

Blntf's kills': Hnl.V I'iifrliy": 

Pehiiis Ornsliy... Lin 1 '.r."S).> ,* 
" (llanionrette C.marli ;«'KI 
Nancy t'uriiT. An. In y Yuan*. 

I'iniio Ma.-.-ii--.?:- i'.uiii..ii 
Fioiiin.' Hcni;.- Kline. I'- 
llMi-limni). 



.'Cddie Ul-lti'ISen 
I . Ver.iniea Unite 
Diana I. van 

. ("iiss littles" 

I'iul.yakarlnis 
IViinild MiU'Hl Wo 
. . I''lniv*nee Milieu 

. : .", .l>"ii Wilson 
.v.'. ..Mnliel I'ntRr- 
. ..a 'anil's statin 
;. .'. I. ylnff Rai'im 
. i'h, nip ri.'.^liy. 



:;in Joan. 
I,, I p-vro, 
I'.lVillfiro, Ted 
\ NoVle. Joe 



"Out of This World" is an entertain- 
ing musical with a strong east headed, 
by Eddie Bracken. Veronica Lake 
and Diana Lvnn Who are billed 
above the title. BoNotliee prospects 
.'ire very: promising. 

Film is .built along novel lines and 



for the Irish as well as lor t lie houses 
that run it. It's .straight -bolt from 
.start to finish. 

James Edward Grant has written 
a story that takes Jo.hn L. from his 
early youth as the Boston strong boy, 
through his great victories here and 
abroad, into the days of drunken dis- 
illusionment, ' and' finally to the. ma- 
ture man. no longer a '.champ with 
his fists, who becomes the exponent 
of clean living; It's, a thoroughly 
credible story which gave -the pro- 
ducers an opportunity of recreating 
the rowdy 'oOs with all' their nos^ 
talgic appeal'. Through sets that look 
authentic, dialog in character at all 
times, songs that flavor of the period, 
and sock boxing contests, the job 
has been done well. Restit: Every- 
man's John L: Sullivan, a believable, 
human' aiid warm character . goin" 
through a play that's entertaining 
and at times gripping. -.:.'. 
. All this, of course, could not have 
been accomplished without careful 
casting and directing, especially since 
the real star of the tilm is a man 
who had never done anything in pic- 
tures cxecpfasamexfra oiv the War- 
ner lot. And that mail is a lind. His 
name is. Greg McClui'O. He not. only 
looks the part of the Great John L. 
He acts the part, and grows. With it. 
even •»>>. the. subject him.self grew, 
from, a boastful youngster who con- 
quers a world and loses it. to the 
man who-- regains . respect . when lie 



pulls plenty of Uvughs A, unique}^,. UuU , u , ( .. ln H „ ht illu)t her bat 
stunt is. having ; Bracken;. pKn , a . Ue whrl . p iu ,. u ,, c0UlUs f01 . - moro t | u ,„ 



eroon-swobnei'. which, be isn't, with ■ 
Bin g| Crosby's voice ayb^d m to fit ', Um ^ hoycmmh 
BrackeJi-s..- -singing — j.tp._ iRpveriieiitiv i- ■ 
Crosby, isn't seen at any point out 



:eoh at any . 
his four vouna boy*. Gary. Phillip 
Dennis and Lin, appear in a bit 
shortly after the opening and are 
responsible for a couple' cute cracks 
•when they' Hear their father's voice 
coming from Bracken. There' arc nu- 
merous other little scenes and bits 
which land the laughs and give good 
pace to. the action.- Very funny is 
the sequence in which Miss Lynn 
and Cass Daley try to keep Bracken 
from appearing at a benefit show by 
getting him down with a cold. They 
partly undress him. steam him in a 
bathroom and then sit him on a 
piece of ice. 

Action opens in a small town 
where Miss Lynn, who conducts a 
girl's band, is putting on a benefit, 
show. Bracken accidentally gets 
pushed into it and. sines a song, be- 
ing Bing's voice, of course. Arrange- 
ments have been, made to plant some 
bobby-soxers in the audience 1 to go 
all out for Bracken.. As result of 
what occurs, the band and the sup- 
posed crooner-killer get a lot of pub- 
licity. Miss Lynn takes him over and 
in order to get back to N. Y. sells 
shares in him to several persons. 
However, they make. the mistake of 
selling 125% of shares, a .situation 
which creates plenty of trouble. 
•• 'Production/ contains seven song 
numbers. They arc -;Out of This 
World." "June Comes Around Every 
Year," "A Sailor with an Eight-Hour 
Pass," "All I Do Is Beat. That Gol- 
darn Drum." ''I'd Rather Be Me." 
"Ghost of Mr. Chopin." and "It 
Takes a Little Bit More." On the 
whole they listen well but are not 
particularly outstanding. "Goldarn 
Drum" is comical, done by Miss 
Daley,, drummer in Miss Lynn's 
band. She also does ""Eight-Hour 
Pass." "I'd Rather Be Me." which 
is reprised by Bracken at the finish, 
looks to be lops amon.g the picture's 



muscle. McChire .was a day laborer, 
»i ..prayer in a 
ittk'--t ; h«rt+'e~\\4ien -,CiH>sb.v- -disco-v*- ■ 
ercd .him. He's in the. Army now — 
having gone in as soon as he fin- 
ished this picture. But he'll, hcve-r. be 
an unknown again. Crosby has signed 
him to a term contract and, like 
John L. himself. MeClure should win 
many more plaudits before, he's 
through. . .: ., 

But if it's MeClure who carries 
the greatest burden, the rest of the 
cast is right there with him at all 
times. The two. wom«n in his life, 
played by Linda Darnell and Bar- 
bara Britton. are done effectively. 
J. M, Kerrigan does Sullivan's parish 
priest sensitively and without lush 
sentimentality. Lee Sullivan as the 
champ's boyhood pal and singer. 
Richard Martin as the suave man of 
the world who loses his woman to 
the lighter, George Mathews as the 
dumb ex-champ who becomes John 
L.'s sparring partner and friend, and 
Simon Scmenofl as the French la sfl- 
uotte expert, add to the general sense 
of perfection. 

■ There are a number of outstanding 
scenes that audiences will remember. 
One is excruciatingly funny. That's 
when SemenofT isvho is a ballet 
dancer) fights the American pug in a 
Parisian bistro, using his lo gavotte 
skill in kicking. It's the first time 
this fect-tighting has been in a. film. 
Another comes near the end of the 
picture, when Sullivan suddenly de- 
cides to stop drinking. That's when 
MeClure really comes through, as a 
superb actor. . "'■ ' Cars. 



Miniature Reviews 

. "Out of This World" i Musical) 
(Par). Entertaining m usical; 
should do very well at b.o. 

"The Great John h" (Songs) 
iUA). Boff from start lo finish, 
with Greg MeClure as Sullivan 
an absolute lind. 

"Within These Walls" (20th). 
.'Action ful ' prison .yarn that 
shapes up as ' moderately good 
entertainment: should do okay. 

"West of the rccps" (RICO). 
Okay western. 

"Don Juan Qtiilligan" (20th). 
William Bendix-Joan Blondell- 
Ph.il Silvers in absurd comedy, 
unlikely for big boxoflice. 

"Penthouse Rhythm" (Songs) 
ill). Musical melange on a low 
budget with no. names. 

••Stenpin' In " Sbeicty" ( Rep) . 
E. E. Horton and Gladys George: 
in lightweight comedy. , .../. 

"'Vampire's Ghost" iRcp). A 
"B" thriller with few thrills. . 

"Phantom Speaks" > Rep). Fair 
chiller starring Richard. Aden. 

"Phantom of 42 ml Street" 
• PRO. Whodunit with- back- 
stage locale geared for moderate 
grosses, 



,soh he lost and which taught him to 
temper discipline with kindness.. 

Mitchell gives an excellent per- 
formance., one that is partly sym- 
pathetic and" "partly 'iS6tT"H«TTf0Wt"IS" 
played effectively by Edward Ryan, 
while the daughter is Mary Ander- 
son, youthful and refreshing type. 
She is paired romantically, but not 
with emphasis, with a model convict 
Who becomes the warden's trusted 
chauffeur. The daughter has learned 
that the convict, played well by 
Mark Stevens, is serving a short term 
after having taken the rap on an em- 
bezzlement charge for his married 
brother. Tops among the numerous 
convict characters is. Roy Roberts. 
Harry Shannon does well as assist- 
ant warden. Char. 



malaprops, Flatbush variety. 

Bendix plays a Brooklyn barge 
captain with a mother complex, 
though she's been dead for 10 years. 
Seemingly everything he docs is 
governed by the omniscient spirit of 
the old gal. He even marries biga- 
mousiy because of it— one because 
she laughs like his mother; the sec- 
ond, because she cooks as well. And 
the circumstances surrounding the 
marriages, including a gangland 
murder for which he almost takes 
the rap, reach so far afield that 
there's bound to be little audience 
restraint left when the 'courtroom 
finale comes. . 

Bendix is Bendix. As the title 
character, he's a deadpan dumb type 
with an inordinate capacity for com-, 
mitting lingual homicide. Miss Blon- 
dell is outstanding, physically: her 
dialog is unimportant, relatively. 
Most of the remainder 'of the cast is 
there for atmospheric purposes. '"••', 

Arthur Kober, an invariably facile 
writer at this sort of dialog, and 
Frank Gabrielson are credited with 
the screenplay, from an original by 
Herbert Clyde Lewis. William Le 
Baron produced on what seems like 
a modest budget. There's little that 
Frank Tuttle could have done with 
the direction. '•••' 

Brooklyn— and a certain tree— will 
have trouble living this one down. 

Kahn. 



IViiiIioiisc II hv fh in 

(SONGS) 

l*ni\,-i>:il j'elenj<e ul' j-Vank (lenss ulwllle- 
tion. l-Vaulri-.s . Kii b\ (Irani, l.el'.s Callfer, 
Btlwa'nl .N.irvis. llnr.'iecl liy KiUlie ,(\lme. 
^iVieiiMliVyv ; Shnn^r"Knl,V'lTH, "llinvjfr,T"L>liiiJi- 
«lale. rinai sltay liy Kolierls unit Min Sel- 
yin. .M,u*iie;il illieiior; KilKav KatiiehHil: 
eaniei-a, \\'iliiain sirk'ner: . eilhnr, Uus-s-'ll 
stehoeniriirtli, T»*iilesli„«n ■ >i. r„ Juno I, 

'■l.V. hlUipiiiK lime. "(I MIXS.- 



IIKO release ul liei-titan Sehloiu in-othu- 
Iktn. H*eal.uve« liAilifl'l .VI il, -1111111. Itardaia 
Hale, Uie'liaiil W"i'i'n>. 'niuiKiiiii Hall. Klia 
I'la-aay. |>t nrn't <<d ' liy Kilwaid Kllly, 
Seirenpliiy. Xonnaii il,nlyl,tii rr.»in navel l,y 
Hune tlrey; eninera. liai-i'v J, Willi. Tt*;»,|e- 
yhuien X. V . June I. liunniiiK Unie. 

«B MKN.S. 

I'ecoK. ... . . .'.lli.liei'l itilellliiTl 



Kill. 

1,'hlio Ualleriy 

Cnlonel t.;iiiil>el'V. 

Suzanne ...... 

J, it* Slingei- 

Tex bivans. . . , . . . 
>:iy<# lliil'ijan, . . . 
Ura.t Sawlelle. . . 



. llai'l.ara Hale 
. Uiehjinl Mart-in 
. . 'i'lnir.il.On- Iliill 
....lilla ("onlay 
-Uii>st'll Hontiin 
. .Vl.lill Williams 
.Urine Ivlwanis 
.Hairy WntnlH 




A -producti on" Tnimtjei— toward .'the 
finish includes a slick sequence with 
five leading pianist -bandleaders; 
Carmen Cavallaro. Ted Fiorito. 
Henry King. Ray Noble and Joe 
Reichman, which is nicely staged. 

Performances bv the three stars of 
the picture arc clicktul, while Miss 
Daley, among the featured players, 
also registers strongly. Parkyakar- 
kus is a smalltown merchant who 
has taken shares in Bracken. There 
isn't chough of him. however. Flo- 
rence Bates is another Bracken in- 
vestor. Don Wilson, not named on 
the' screen, is a radio announcer and 
m. c. Donald McBrido stands out 
sharply as a talent agent. : -' 

Sam' Cos-low., who figures on the 
story, end- and on several of the 
songs, injected . good production 
value Into the picture, while Hal 
Walker's direction is smooth. .-, 
:■' ;■'.■.■..•:-'•'■'• Char. 



Within Tii«v«« Walls 

2(llll-l'"t.x r,le:,se 1,1' lien Sllyty,- id-otlne- 
liim. Suit-s 'rininias. Miiellell,' Mary Aialei- 
ffon, Kilwiinl Ityan; featured Mark Sleyelis, 
B. S, I'ully. Iliiy Itiiliei-ls. ,1,'ihri ItuWlle' 
Nnrnnin Lim it. I-Mw ai-.l. Kelly. HarVy Slinn- 
niin. Ilireeieil l.y lli-nc-e I lumhel'stnrie. 
Htei-y. t'hiH-les 'I'r.llinell run! .lanies- It. 
Misher; iiilar,lnlii,ii. |.:nKene .J.lnK ami 
WalnUl TiK'lioi'Ii: eaniera. .Uleu .Maf-Wll- 
li'iros .i'ml ,.( 'ly.le I*,. \'ia n:i ; .-yjjiji , .i'._Ijai.i , y- 
llt-ynaltis. Ti-axlt'sh.avn N. V.*, June I. '4."t. 
Runaiii!,"- liniu. 51— HINS. . . :., . 

MUhael- Haivlainl /Tlinmiia Sliifhell 

A nne J-tnu/la n.l ,.•..,..,..*. . . Mu ry Aiiil^i'snn 

'rninnile Huwlnnti: . . .-, KtlM-ai'il kvan 

Steve UiisvtL.- '. .ilm'U >Slevenfi 

llany llniVsi'i' H. S. I'ully 

Mui'Hn. Ili'iilsi.-h Itny lttil»fi(« 

HiiKel'* ........,' Ifilm UusKft] 

Vete Murad 1...:. X.nliiiiil l.lovrt 

'I'nliinrv fullalaiii. Kilxv'al'tl Kelly 

.Mel .'a lit r\ ll:n'i y Slninnan 

Hi,l,i.y .tenLius f .- . . .Iti'.\ Williams 

I'ein-p.tn (tallili I limn 

SlaliiMl .MJUll 1)1,1, Itusll 

('llllllls William lliiliiisaii 

SI Ul-l ( JU:H ,1 .............. . I''it..||li(..l Ifiiilum 



Tin' <M"4>a< .loli 11 I . 

(SONGS) ■;■ 
... .IJrtllt ii, AVilsis.-. I'eieo.^e . ni* ..Hiit)- Craghy 
(l'"rnnl< It. ..MaKltnlj- i,ii f l Jiim^a KilieUilj 
• iranU iii-ntiih'iiiiii: .. .siai-s l.iiala liainell, 
■ .Jiai'liailj lirtutin: inii'.„liii-t.s Ci-etf M.-t'lnrp; 
•fealliiTO Ollt) Krnjiic. Uallrt-e Fehl. Jli- 
j-ei-U'd .hy IvV.-inlv -..Tin He. Si-reennlay l>v 
Ci'a.nl: lliihl .1 mi^fls shrt'etl l.y J'olin lifili'l- 
Kiim: e.lilia. . Tlieniltire Kelllim-er: nmsleal 
. nl'ii'eWoc \ ieior ynnnHi snnirs, . .lnhnny 
llnrkr anil . Limes- Van lleusen: i-ainern, 
' .Tiunes VHii Tters.. I'l'eeieiveil X. y., iUiv 

81, 'la. ItUI.IIllfr tij.lle, lid MI.VS. 

Jolilt. 1.. Sullivan. 
Anne laviiislallii. . 
Jvotliy. Hltl'Iviifss. . 
M'lekey. , . . 

lticiliu il .\l.;l I ill . . . 

Mfilanns. . . .-.' 

. Jolm Pino.), . . :. . . 

-Hilly .Mil 1.1 1 , 

Falhei' ir .\ialli'V. . . 
Sluntiieui- ciaiie. .-. 
Mtfl'we) Siilll vim. . 
jSrilmr IVipliMIe; 



...Hi-en Mii'lurc 
...l.lnilu Darnell 
.-llai'liai-a RlHlon 
. . .'.I.ee Sullivan 
. . . . .Kilo Krunee 
. . . It'll llm'*" 1'Vfl 
Ht'tiree Mallli'U-s' 
. . . Ittilierl Havrai 
. ..1. .M. K"j i'i;;an 
,Sim.iii Henieirttfr- 
el l-'ii»,lkin 
. . 1 1 a 1 ry ("iiif'ker 
Haura Sulllvmi nunc lanulin 



. In. his first Independent produc- 
tion, Bing Crosby comes out with 
both fists swinging through a drama- 
tization of the life of John L. Sulli- 
van. When the pic is released, it 
Should be a great clay 'all around, 



Aclionful film, ably produced and 
directed. "Within These Walls" -is a 
prison story that rates as moderately 
good entertainment in its line and 
shouid do satisfactorily at the box- 
office. 

Picture is built around Thomas 
Mitchell. ;) tough penitentiary warden 
who lives to regret the stern' policies 
he placed in force, and his two ado- 
lescent children, a son and daughter. 
The story opens on demands by 
Mitchell, then a judge, for measures 
to curb riots which have been oc- 
curring at, the prison of an unnamed 
state. He's nominated for the job of 
warden by the govenor and takes 
over with a vengeance, laying down 
very stiff rules.;.' 

Meantime, as Mitchell plays the 
part, the warmth of affection which 
he has for his daughter and a son, 
latter a ne'er-do-well, is accentu- 
ated though his paternal rigidncss. 
on the other hand, finally estranges 
•him from his boy. Finally the son is 
brought to the prison following con- 
viction, of a" crime, with the lather- 
warden making no exceptions for 
him. .';-.., .-• '.-. 

Ultimately the lad figures in an 
attempted jail break and is shot by a 
follow convict. This leads to a very 
tense scene in which the father him- 
self shoots it out with the murderer 
within the prison walls. This se- 
quence is excellently done and sus- 
tained for several minutes. 

On the finish the warden softens 
when a new ■"oup of prisoners is 
brought bcfoi.; him. among them a 
young chap who reminds him of the 



Snwtelle-. '. . . .I'ei'e l.allTalei 

Or,' llmvanl . . . ,* Mi-yam AVushliuri) 

Marshall , i IMiilin .Mollis 

Pun Manuel. MaiVni (lanalaKa 



For fans of the great outdoors who 
like their Zane Grey without too 
many fancy frills, this pie is a nat- 
ural. It's', a western that should 
draw audiences who go for the type. 

Story centers about Barbara Hale 
as the niece of a rich Chicago packer 
who goes out to his Texas ranch on 
orders of his doctor. Period is of the 
wild, lawless days. The party meets 
up with a quick-shootin', honest cow- 
hand (Robert Mitc'hum) who .rides 
w.fi!l_a.ncLkoows lmw_to handle, ban-, 
dits as well as the gal. Latter poses 
as"a"boy foi-a time, with-some scenes 
promising luscious developments, 
but prooriety is maintained. At end. 
the girl from Chicago had ditched 
her lawyer-fiance, and is ready to 
marry the cowboy at the nearest 
mission church.. 

Mitchum, with the help of Richard 
Martin, does the riders of the range 
proud. Miss Hale , plays the rich 
girl well, and Rita Corday is okay 
also as the maid who's straight from 
Parcc. Rest o£ the cast is adequate 
for the business at hand. Production 
is none too lavish but good, enough, 
and direction is smooth. Cars. , 



Ilii-k. 

ijintiu 

Jnnitir. ,-'....' 

Ma>iie UMj*etll»l 11. 

Kenly I'elham 

'Fatty 

Bailey 

Puny .- 

Irnia - 

Rl-ewsliir 

joe 

.lank 

.liiltnny ......... 

Bin.....:....-.,'..... 

Xii k. 

Serpen ill 

Ttni 

Dam e Spe*'ially . . . . 



. . ,'. ;'. Kll'liy liraiu 

......... Luis ("olltei; 

. . .- . . . Wilwiil'U Morris 
. . .\la\ie liasenbliumi 
.Wl'le JlloVe 
. . . . M imia ,X16ml>el 

.M'lihviii'il S. liroiiliy 

..Jinl.v (-"lark 

Miirinn Man In 

.... . Dimalil M.-Uriile 

Henry Arwielta 

.-..fiinniy Dml.l 

. . . . . , . . Lli>l)li.v Wm l li 

lamls Da I'l'i.n 

Heoine l.le>t| 

. . . . ... . .Filul -Hurst 

....... . Harry llul-l'ts 

. . . Vel.tseo ami I.eiK-ti 



Don .Inan tluilligan 

•-'lllll-Knx rek-nsij i,r Wlllhtiiv-'i.e liiiiim 
ln-uilurlion. Sims William (t--nMi.v. .loan 

ltli,ii.li.|l. Will Silver* l)h leil liv .|."i-ajil< 

Tllllle.' Si'ifennby,- Arllnir Knlle'r anil 
I'lanlf ll.-ilnii-lsiMi. rrom ,.1'ininiil l.v llei- 
tldl'l (.'lyde I. en |s; pillior. Xm niail I'lillKHI : 
Uinierli, Xin-lierj l".i-uil!ite:. iuiisle: [t'l'nil 
Niitm 11, Trailesliiiien X. V.; Jnjie j,"l.". 
1:11 niiiii," 'i.iine, ;.'i mix's. 



I'allleli Ouillitiin. . 
.Vl'.irjoi'le- Miisl-iiii-k . 

Alae Henn:,-.* , ... 

•Mrs. KriMiv IT 

l-M. Mossi-t.n-k . . . .-'. . . 

i.niy, : ; . ..; . , . , 

.Hit-wle '..\li.,ssl '» k ..Yv 

.1 n.lki' .......... .-. . , 

S.ili-s Hill ...,'. 

D'-I'onse ..Alloi (i'.y.. .' 

Mr. Itiisliirall-. 

-Allnlii Massi-tii-l; 
Dim-lei Alleiney/ 
Mis Klal.-e, , , . 
A i lie Aliissl'ni-k-. . . 

1) Hyetl l-'asan. . . 

I 'nsl nineivv , . 

JuilKee 

Cnnrt' r.li-ik. ....... 

Milliner........ 

I'tihee Si ikciinl. , , . 

IVher , 

I'.ill.-e i lislieelii)- . . . , 
I'nllee su-iiom-niile 1 
llailcn.ler. . 

'MMI.,..:. 

Uniilici.', • ■ ,■ 

clerk. Man Ui|-;f II11.1 



. : ... William neniiix 
.......K.aii liHiinlcll 

- ...I'liil Silvers 

,-. i : . ,- . Anne Ilevere 
..,„..:.., ;U...;s: polly 
. . . ... . , . Mary ,'l'reen 

. ... ... . .lelin itiisM-ll 

.'. Vi iln*. A nn llni'M 

'I'Jims'iiin Hall 

. ....I'arii Williams 
. . . . . Iljelj^ril Caliif's 
. Iloli.tl-I. ,i 'avanaiiKll 

Rene ('.ii-siin 

.*, .( leorile. .M.'ieri'ii'ily 

.... Helen l-'i-etinaii 
. .*: . ; .-.('iiai-lfis Cane 
.. . : AiUhony Camsn 

K.klle Aeuft 

. . ... i.loel l.'flodklll 

... . . ('l)ailp? Maiufi 

. . . i.l'tirtniel't- Vnsaii 
.... . ..I. lines Klavin 

.-. ... . ..lelin Alln-iKlit 

.CI1..1 les I). ItriAvn 
I.ee I'tortl* 

. , .-. : . .'I'onl Dnii.'in 
...ii'in'i'V llarrisnn 
. . . . iHenevieve He|| 
. . . . . ..! itiuiiy l.'onlin 



Despite William Bendix, Joan Blon- 
cleTl and Phil Silvers lor the mar- 
quee, "Don. Juan Quilligan" is no 
boxoffiee. sock: It's a familiar yarn 
punctuated with the usual Bendix 



Universal apparently has had suc- 
cess with the fluffy-type quickie 
musical fare and Ibis one is in that 
category. 

Story-line is not especially weighty; 
cast yoes through its paces tongue-in- 
cheek; songs are just fair, and the 
whole picture is thrown together in 
an off-hand sort of way. 

Yarn deals with the troubles four 
youngsters of a musical quartet have 
getting started in show biz. The 
way they finally reach their goal 
tests the credulity of the audience, 
sincc .il is strictly the script writer's 
idea of how to become a. hit. 

None of the songs rate listing, 
three composed by Jack Brooks and 
Norman Berens; one. Berens teamed 
with Seymour Kramer, and other by 
Inez James and Sidney Miller. Act- 
ing and vocalizing by. those in- the 
cast showcases couple of good voices, 
notably Kirby Grant and Judy Clark, 
latter a lightweight edition of Betty 
Hut'ton. Remainder of the rather 
lengthy list of supporting actors do 
their best to liven up the proceed- 
ings, but fail in most cases because 
of material. .. S£cn. 



Su'»|»in" in SociHy 

Itriiulilie u leiise af Jnsepli nmfinlc/. inn. 
tin. -lien, l-'ejinit-es Ktlivaril Kvereft Horiun, 
HIioI.vk He, irne. ijheeietl liv Alexander Ks- 
w'ay. Seit"-ii|tlay.. Jli-mlfoiil Hopes, from 
novel l.y .Yfaiirel Arnae: eililor. Hairy 
Kelltr; eam.i in, llPKKie leilntlne;. Al Fox. 
I.Ui,ol( I.Mi. N. V., iveek at June J, M."i, tlunl. 
JtuniiiliK Hint', 'it >II\'S, 

.Imlse Avery Hi-linn- .'.B. 10. Hurl on 

I'cnelnpu Welisle liladys (let, rue 

l.tila ICon-est. . Until Terry 

Miinluiia Hollerl Idvinifslou 



Hew Tie. 

Tlie Diit-hess., 

'.leiiny I lie .Jiike . . . . , 

Hdiine. , .' .-, . , 

(.'.alkie.-... ..'.:;.. 

Ivory, . .-. :.'.--. 

Kliirley . 



..iaek l.altu 
.. . . . f,otu I. ane 
.Isabel Jewell 
.Frank .leaks 
, . . I'aiil ' .Hiirst 
. Ilatry Harvis 
i . .hia, Atlrinn 



llllliiii". Tom llerlK-11 



Idea of a jurist, who had a rep for 
throwing the book at malefactors ap- 
pearing before him, being forced to 
take refuge in a questionable road- 
house run. by and infested with law- 
less, characters, may have presented 
possibilities on paper. Somehow it 
got lost in the shuffle. Result is light- 
weight comedy that Will have to de- 
pend upon marquee draw of Fdward 
Everett. .Horton and Gladys George, 
co-featured, to. snare 'em; 
. "Steppm'- in Society" has its. mo- 
ments but unfortunately, does not 
sustain a rollicking pace 'throughout. 
Story sags and laughs are too widely 
spaced. Horton and his i'rau. Miss 
George, seek refuge in the Jungle 
Club alter being caught in a storm. 
Underworld characters therein arc 
leery :of the strangers but one of the 
mob pegs the judge for a racketeer 
and he plays along with them. Every- 
thing's jake until, a- gunmolL (Isabel 
Jewell) cases him as the judge who 
ruined her love, life by refiling her 
boy friend in durance vile for a long 
stretch, lie is subjected to a "Kan- 
garoo Court'' trial in which he not 
only outsmarts the wise guys and 
gals but has them all converted to 
the straight and narrow at the fade- 
out. ■ 

Horton givp.s his usual good per- 
formance as the indue. Miss George 
is splendid «s his wife. Miss Jewell 
is also standout as the jail-widow 



Remainder of cast do okay in respec- 
tive roles. Direction by Alexander 
Esway is as well as can be expected 
with material at hand. i'dbn. 

TIm» Vaui|»iiVs t.liosi 

)(e|iirlilli'' relenso of ttiulolph W, , Aiiel in-ii- 

illlvtltill.- I'VnUll'eH JoHll AlilioU. Charles 

(Ini'ilon. I'eKtsy - siewiirt,' Uituil Wiilieis. 
Ilii-eeietl -hy Lesley Selan.ler. .Seveeniilay, 
.lolin K. Iliiiler, Jrf'lKh Hniekett froiit ni'in- 
inal sinry liy lli'iiekeli; eainer.i, liu,l 
Tliiirkeiy: Utibefl 1 'It tacit : edlnir. .'ioiiv 
.Mnrtlnelll. Al Himiklyii Slraml. week ..f 
Miiy.at. '1,1. ihlill. JlllnnliiK lime, 5!) MIXS. 

... . ..Totiii A Ulnar 

', . . . .('Ila I'll 11 liol'tltiil 

. . . , . . I'i'KCT Slew lit I 

(Irani W illl.-vs 

. . . . . .'. . ..Vtlt'le Main 

.. . i , . lOminet i N'tin.i n, 

.Iliiy llari-Hil'L 

..... Mm-fhi Wilk'ins 

. ... . . . Ii'rank .latinei 

. . . . . .Jininiy Atil.iev . 



We'lili i iillon.,. . 
IJo.v lli n.lr.ii k. . '. 
.Intit'.'Y.ineti. . ... 

I'"ill llel (i ilelll isl . 

•I'hoiluis Vanee". . . 
..II111 Harrai ... . . . . 

Sliuon I'eter". '.; j , 
.Tlie Doetrii'. . .'. 
,'1'lm Hum 



Republic endeavored to wrap this 
one up as economically as possible, 
and encase within the 59 minutes 
running time enough thrills to give 
the picture some semblance of re- 
spectability. 

Whether associate producer Ru- 
dolph E, Abel succeeded is another 
matter ent.ircly. Yarn deals with a 
vampire who rules the underworld 
of a plantation town on the \ve<t 
coast of Africa. He overpowers a 
plantation owner, who finally is 
saved through the reasoning power 
of a priest, in time to rescue the 
damsel from the clutches of the das- 
tard. •' '•■'.' 

John Abbott, as the vampire, along 
with Charles Gordon, Grant With- 
ers and Peggy Stewart, go through 
ihcir_pae.es. in stilted fashion. Script,. 
settings and camerawork just so-so. 

Steii. 



Tin' IMianlom Spraks 

.Itt'ltnlilie release nC DollliW H. Bliwn )iro- 
tlnt-lion. Sims Hk'lllUll Ariel): leiinlies 
Hiinili'y Iti.lnes. I.iinie lloliorlf). Tola Cow- 
ers. Direeletl 11}' John l'lllKlisll. I)l'll;l>ial, 

J.ih.i) K. Culler: eaniera, William lti-ioltoiii: 
eililtir. Al'tliui' Ituljerls. At Hi'0(»kl.vn-Sl'r.inti, 
u-eek of May .'11. 'iri, dual. RunnhtK tinie.*: 

:>» miss. 

.Mutt I'lnser,. Kh'hiud Arlei) 



Dl-. I'lHll llenwiek 
Joan Itenwit'U. . . . 

Mui'vey ItoHiinlus. 
c.irnelia WiUnionl 
i iw en ,MeA ulster. . 
Cliailii' D.iils...... 

Kelly Hiinnel, . . *. , 
l-.,iui< Kujitan.'.:", . 

Fi„nl, Is 'Ceel 

.Vl.uy Kapitin 



.....Stanley Rl.lm-s 
... ..l.ynnc Itoi-fns 
....... .Toot Towers 

.('liarltilte Wyiiiers 

".lonal lian Dale 

..... t'levr.e Walkln 
...... Marian .Mm 1 in 

Carry Owen 

Hall' Har.il.le 

Doreen Met' 1 



This one is a spine-tingling sadistic 
chiller that has its odd moments, aiid 
on lhe wh o.le does not test the cre- 
dulity of tlie audience. With Rich- 
ard Alien as star, it will please those 
who enjoy this type film fare. 

Alien, as a reporter who out- 
guesses the police throughout, aids 
in adding to the suspense of the 
proceedings. Phantom, played by 
Tom Powers, proves to be a con- 
victed murderer who returns to the 
earth after dying and imposes his 
will . on a scientist, latter carrying out 
the former's dastardly slaughters 
without realizing it. 

. Entire cast which, besides Alien 
and Powers, includes Stanley Ridges 
and Lynne Roberts in the major 
roles, enact their parts in fairly good 
fashion. Settings and camerawork, 
too. are above par. , Steii. 



IMianlom of 42nil SliMM't 

i'ltl' n-1. use t.r M11 11 In .Uoon'e y a nil Allu-H 
liftman p 1, allien, in. directed hv llieinnli. 
I-V.uiiii"s On ve ii'Krieii. Kay AlitrMHi*. Ahiti 
Mowjii'ny. . liM-iink .lenks. Sereeniilay, Mll- 
lo'n "Itiilsoiv. t'l-oin story by Jael t Tlu vvry and 
nal.-iiii :" eintor. nnuli Winn: T'iiraefti, Jaini s 
Ki'own, Al New Vmilt, X'. Y., week of May 
-Jll. 'l-'r, dual. itumihTB time. iW M1NS. 

i'l.iiy Wiioli lili .'. ... Dave O'lli len 

i'liilnliii .Mocre ...Kay Kulritlne 

(Veil .Moore:.! Alan Mowliray 

Itotiieo Frank Jt'iittH 

Jatiel Hut -hull, in Kilylhe Klllnl.t 

I.I. tYnlsli-., Int'.li Miilhall 

Hinsi'V .....' ' • .Vera M.nslin 

llen^j.. 'IJitiiiiHs ;..-*.*.. .Stiliil'-V 1'iiee 

.It 'tin: 1 'arl-ady '..'... ..Idllii .Craw- laid . 

ttolierls. ...... , Cyril He levant i 

TinnMliy Wells., ..Taut ivwer 

Lik S\e whodunit woven around 
the tin aire : and members of "the 
royal family of that era" looks geared 
for moderate grosses in the duals. 
Although theme is somewhat old- 
hat, it zips along at a merry pace 
that arrests attention from outset 
and sustains it throughout. 

Kay Alriridge is making her Broad- 
way debut in. a new play. Preein is 
snafued by murder of her wealthy 
uncle backstage. Alan Mowbray, the 
actress' father, is suspected. Al- 
though starring in a current hit. he's 
known lo be short of coin. Being 
next of- kin he'll naturally , inherit 
his brother's estate. 

Dave O'Brien, drama critic, muffs 
the murder yarn for hi.s sheet, but 
later teams with Jack Mulhall. head 
of the homicide squad, to crack the 
case. This and two other murders are 
pinned on Mowbray's dresser.. 

O'Brien gives neat portrayal of tlie 
critic turned gumshoe. Miss Aldridge 
lends both personal charm and talent 
as ... the young actress, with Mow- 
bray, Mulhall and Frank Jenks also 
turning in neat accounts. Latter, as 
a stage-struck taxi-jockey; sustains 
the comedy element of the yarn. 
Milton liaison has contributed com- 
pact script whicli Albert Herman has 
directed in proper tempo. . EdbiC 

McCarthy's prc bow . . . ' 

Hollywood, June 5: 
. First production by Leo McCarthy 
under his contract With PRC will be 
"Strangler of. the Swamp," a who- 
dunit. 

Frank Wisbar has been inked to 
write the screenplay and direct. 



THEY SAID IT OF "GOING MY IVA K". . . ^mi) rffl THEY SAID IT OF "DR. WASSELL". • 





Kind Of Picture 

That Makes Us 

Proud Of 





99* 



comes from 




*New York Daily 
Mirror Said It ! 



14 



PA'RIETY 



Wednesday, June 6, 1945 




great Picture. -B'khn Eagle 




ull of hot-blooded pulse. 

:% N. Y. World- Tele. 



M 




riginal.-A' Y. Post 

ichly human. — N. Y. Times 




edal for Paramou n t. — Time Magazine 

ntertainment that ranks high. - Wall St. Jour. 
eserves lots of screen time. 

—M. P Daily 

m Arresting.- N. Y. Sun 






est picture of the week. 

—Louella Parsons 



eaves you speech less. 

— N Y. World-Tele. 



-exceptional performances. 

• — N. Y. Times 




N 



atural! -/V. Y. Win 



vr 



ft 



MEDALS FOR "BENNY" 

From the Syndicates 
From the Magazines 
From the New York Critics 
From the Trade 

A N.Y. Rivoli World Premiere of 



N 



ew Lam our tops.— /V. Y. Mirror 



ou realize it packs a 

wallop. -B'klyn Eagle 




a ra mo tint s 

NEW PRIZE WINNER 





Starring 



oflflomy Lfimou 

iTUfifl of COfiDOVfl 

From the Story by 

JOHR STEIOBEGK 

and Jack Wagner 



with 



J. CARROL MUSH 

Mikhail Rasumny • Fernando Alvarado 
Frank McHugH 

Screen Play by Frank Butler, co-author of 
"GOING MY WAY" • Directed by Irving Pichel 



•VARIETY'S' LONDON OFFICE 
St. Murlin'a I'lure, I'ntriilgur Siiuitre 



PfiRIETY 



INTERNATIONAL 



IS 



Chi Bleats at B'way 



Continued Ironi page 1 



giving credit to Paul Bowles for in- 
cidental music i'or 'Jacokowsky and 
the Colonel' is about as accurate as 
the sign over Milwaukee's; Davidson 
theatre the week the play was -there, 
which read 'Original »N. Y. Cast'— 
pure sucker bait, because there; are 
if changes in the cast.' Maybe the 
loss of Mr. Bowles' music doesn't 
matter; but, .' considering Hie faith 
Chicago's subscribers' display, in the 
Theatre Guild (they, pay their 
money in advance for a blind date 
with playgoing). I rather think it 
does. ■ Ehnihating it means cutting 
down on the quality of the original 
article for which the tickets wore 
sold." 

Copeland C. Buf-g: pinchhitting for 
Ashton Stevens, who's on vacation, 
in Herald-American; "It ' is embar- 
. rasing for a Chicagoan with a New 
York guest to even mention theatre 
these days. If- one brings up 
'Jacobowsky" how at the Blackstone, 
there's'; a snobbish sniff: 'Saw it 
months and months ago. my dear' 
. After a play has run for a year 
in New York and business begins to 
fall off it is shipped here. with faded 
scenery, and generally, an inferior, 
cast." . . _•_ 

Irv Kupc'ihet. Times: •Chicago's" 
legitimate theatre operators are con- 
siderably perturbed about the The- 
atre Guild's handling of local book- 
ings. Four times ill recent months 
the Guild has ordered shows out of 
towns while they were still doing 
veil at the boxoft'lce. Latest is 



ances; $20,000 second week: $23,000 
third; $25,000 tfourth; $23,000 fifth, 
and $24,000 sixth, when it moved 
back to N. Y. "Jake." meanwhile, 
opened May .14. getting a fine $17,500 
to start, $18,000 in second stanza, and 
$18,500 in third" and fourth-^-and it 
could have. hung. on. Instead,- it's 
folding. Saturday (9), a week beyond 
the subscription; period. No excuses 
about commitments this time: it's 
just folding. 

could have hung on. It. was due to 
fold Saturday (».), a week, beyond the 
subscription period, but it's gone on 
a week-to-week basis' instead. 



RANK PLANS 1. OFT/ 
OF OWN IN ENGLAND 

London. May 25. 

J. Arthur Rank has decided lo is- 
sue his own March of Time, Before 
leaving for. Canada and U. S. he in- 
structed his executives to line up 
the best Fleet Street writers and 
newshounds to be put on the staff,' 
and be in readiness to start work 
when he returns. ' 

Understood that it will be a month- 
ly, with Castleton Knight, now in 
charge of- Gaumoht-British newsreel. 
as manager of this new venture. 



Full-Scale Production in England 
Planned Shortly By Paramount 



French Pix Costs 
Up 500% Postwar 

Film production costs in France 
are "now 500'.' to 600% greater than 
pre-war. according 19 French reps 
. Theatre Guild officials are con . i i» ^e U. S. French, film stars, direc- 
eemed. about the situation in Chi- j tor* and writers are asking and gct- 
eago. Someone, they feel, is trying j ting five times as much with result 

that budget for a top French film 



Theatre Guild Suspects 
Dirty Work in Chicago 



to destroy their subscription system 
and put in a rival one. Someone, they 
say." has turned Claudia Cassidy. 
di-anw-critic-of-tlTe poVveTfuiTChica-giT 
Tribune. against them. Without put- 
ling the finger on anyone, the Guild 
acknowledges a campaign against it. 
expressed in such; 'ways as press at- 
tacks from Miss Cassidy. and in vari- 
heard from 



now runs over 20,000,000 .francs 
< $30(),0p0-if-the.-f-ranp-is,,accepted .. at 
legal exchange rate of 2c.) Pre-war 
cost of. a similar picture was around 
3-4.000,000 francs, ' - 
Reported that Maurice Chevalier, 
ous accusations heard from the j who was figured at around 300,000 
Windy City. francs per film before the war, is 

Latter include the charges that the ! now asking 1.500.000 francs per. pic- 



MANY YANK PIX NOW 
SHOWING IN PARIS 

During the week . of May 16, 21 
first-run picture houses, ill' Paris 
were, showing American films,, six 
held French films, one. British and 
one Russian. :<- ■ • ■", , • :■ ' 

Four Parisian theatres were show-" 
ihg "Goodbye Mr. Chips" simultane- 
ously. "Pacific Express" was play- 
ing at the Paramount theatre. "Air 
Force" at the Cameo. "Giinga Din" 
at the Max Linder and Maibeuf. and 
"Pride and Prejudice" at the Lord 
Byron, .'-.'■■' '■■;'., 

During the first week in May some 
30. Metro films were hooked; into 35 
houses. 



Patrons of First-Run 
Argentine Pix Houses 
Squawk Over Dubbing 



•jacobowsky,' which drew raves j Guild-' is taking advantage of its 15.- lure 
from the critics and support from 000 Chicago -. subscribers'. .by cutting ; : Production problem 



quality of casts in New York suc- 
cesses scnl» there, and that it is 
"blackjacking" legit-goers into be- 
coming Guild subscribers by closing 
down runs at the height of their 
grosses. Apprised of these "charges." 
Guild officials deny them vehement- 
ly and cite arguments to disprove 
them. 



theatregoers, yef. is closing June 9 
The same procedure was followed in 
the case of 'Sing Out. Sweet Land.' 
'Othello,' and 'Cherry Orchard.' .'*'• 
More .labs 
These aren't all the jabs, by any 
means. There were plenty of others- 
previous to the week in which these 
appeared, mostly on the order of 
Herb GralTis' dig in his review in the 
Times last Wednesday (30) of "Life 
with Father." which, made its third 
local bow the day before, to wit: 
"Most of the casi is considerably 

above the grade of hams New ¥0rkj Cuiw explains its action by stating 
usually ships to the frontier." ' -!„„, musica j nad run ihere 14 monl | ls 
There have been recurrent : imfl Ulat othel , oiUes were "shriek- 
squawks along the same line, of ' fm . it xhov eou i dn - t find a 
course, in years past— all old ^\''J ; suitable cast for a third company. 

and they had other cities to satisfy 



however, is 



down on production expenses and not merely the monetary outlay but 



111 , getting elementary . materials. 
Cost of a set of blankets may be 
40,000 francs i$800l and producer 
might be w illing to spend the money 
to buy or borrow the article but the 
price • is hypothetical- when such 
articles are unobtainable. 

Despite difficulties, how eve r. 
French studios now have approx 



Pi'Uing the national company of j imately 28 productions under way. 
Oklanonia!" out of Chicago. Jan. 6.. | Around the end of May there were 
• while it was still doing capacity : seven new films in preparation. 14 
business, is thought to be the basis j shooting and seven in the cutting 
for much of the wrangling. The ; rooms; 



to observers of show , biz in Chi 
Brickbats at this particular time, 
however, which give every evidence 
"of continuing, are regarded as bad 
omens for legit attractions when .the 
boom days pass. They're certainly 
not good for the b.o. right now— and 
it's not just the columnists, whose 
beefs alone would seem to indicate 
the need tor a public relations ofl'i- 



But .'their main reason for taking 
"Oklahoma!" out of Chicago at its 
height, say Guild officials, is that 
they intend bringing the show back 
there next year and every year, 
They plan touring it perennially. 
Us Record 
Ordinarily, the Guild keeps a show 
in a town as long as biz warrants. 



cer to plug the interests of Broad- j They feel they've sent Chicago four 
way producers here. Customers fine plays this year, three of their 
themselves are registering kicks, J osvn. "Jacobowsky and the Colonel." 
verbally and vox-pop-wise. j "Othello" and "Sing Out Sweet 

Maybe Chi was spoiled by getting ; Land." and the sponsored "Cherry 
the "premiere" (or was it merely a I Orchard.'' Where their subscription 



NOT EVEN V-DAY SLOWS 
UP ARGENTINE CENSORS 

Montevideo. May 15. 
Not even the fall of Nazism in 
Europe has quite changed the atti- 
tude of Argentine censors whose job 
it is to pass on anti-Nazi pix and 
Allied newsreels. Although pictures 
like "The Confessions of a Nazi Spy," 
"Hitler Gang." "Hitler's Children" 
and others have been approved, even 
at this late date they have not been 
allowed to pass without cuts. In gen- 
eral the excuse given is that atroc- 
ities are too harassing for the public 
and that most- of them show detail: 



Montevideo. May 15. 
The huddles over Spanish dubbed 
Hollywood pictures continue ; to 
make front-page items in Argentina, 
and opinions as to their probable 
success 'or failure continue to be 
conflicting. General opinion seems 
to be that these pictures can only 
make a hit in outlying districts, 
mainly subsequent-runs. Patrons of 
the deluxe theatres in big cities who 
are in the main now feel that if they 
must accept their screen fare in 
Spanish, they would rather have 
the genuine Argentine. Mexican or 
Spanish article, than these artificial 
accents ' Of Mexico and Central 
America from the lips of their fa- 
vorites. 

Latest samples of this technique 
viewed here are not rated an im- 
provement on earlier attempts. 
Apart from their disappointment in 
not being able to appreciate the 
complete performances of players 
already familiar, these patrons say 
it is disagreeably quaint to hear 



* Paramount plans to resume full- 
I ncale production in England soon 
wilh Hollywood stars and directors, 
according to David Rose, Par's man- 
aging director in, Great. Britain, now 
in N;: Y„ for homeoftiee huddles. 
Rose told "Variety" that he hopes 
to obtain a star and director on his 
present trip and start production in 
London this fall at the latest. " He 
explained that J. Arthur Rank had 
promised studio space. 

This would, be. a British quota pic- 
ture, of course, he said, since Para- 
mount will need some in this cate- 
gory soon. Hal Wallis was stymied 
in his efforts to produce one in Eng- 
land because, he was unable to get 
priorities on players and technicians. 
Rose plans to leave for the Coast 
June 20 and will check on available 
technicians and' players while there. 

Rose could see little difference 
between the revised monetary quota 
and the old one. The principal 
change under current conditions ' is 
that the British government expects 
all American distributors to fill their 
quotas from now on, unless they can 
r prove there " is ho available studio 
i space. ' '."•'.■■■ 



SIRITZKY IN FRANCE 
TO REGAIN CIRCUIT 

. .'Leon • Siritzky, refugee from 
France during the war years, was 
due to arrive in Paris last week to 
discuss procedure under 'which he 
will regain the circuit of 75 theatres 
he owned prior to the German in- ■ 
vasion and which, since liberation of 
France, have been under govern- 
mental control. He sailed on an 
American boat directly to an un- 
named French port, accompanied by 
Mrs. Siritzky. Delay in' obtaining 
clearance on which he had worked 
for some time was occasioned by the 
fact he wanted to take his wife 
along. . . . 

Prior to leaving the States Siritzky 
was advised by cable by his attor- 
neys, in, Paris that the provincial 
French government was prepared to 
discuss the return of the theatres to 
what to. their ears is an uncultured j him. Houses, including several built 



tryout?) of "Glass Menagerie." Any- 1 list is for three weeks, they We kept j of tortures or mass executions. The 
way. payees just areirl accepting ex- j some plays in Chicago for four' 
plaifations that transportation prob- weeks, and more, 
lertis are responsible' for the seedv 1 Nn Other organization tries to do 
appearances of so many of the j as w *" wlUl its . road companies, say 
widely publicized Broadway casts 'Guild officials, as they do. They, au- 
and sets, or in producers' claims that SWI>1 " ^aiges of cast changes for the 
N. Y. casts aren't interested in tour- ' l 0 i ,d b >- PO»>M«K out .that some New 



g in these days of booming biz on I Y '"' k > c ' tol ' s w " n ' 1 u ' uri " g - «', hi,e : Nazism 



Advisory Committee on Movie Con- 
trol, a municipal department, checks 
to see. that these anti-Nazi pix. even 
the mildest, are classified as "unfit 
for children ■ under .Hi." This rules 
out any of the coming generation 
from really learning the. truth about 



.others get grabbed off by the films. . However, the pictures of the hor 
I The Guild points out that Macobow- . rors of concentration camps got. a 
; sky ' retained its leads. Louis Cal- .. p| . 0|)t0 -. £,. een ]j,, h t f m m President 
, hern and Oscar Karlweis. while On < EdelnHn. Farrell. himself. Ter- 
tour, and that other cast changes r ib| 0 storv told bv. these films seems 
were made long before the show | tn h;ne ma! , 0 a dcep impression on 
left New York. In "Sing Out. AI-. j Far j-eU. who overruled customarv 
lied Drake had left the show we'll' .• objeMiojW -'.or 'ibnfcrtiriilp board, and 
; before its New York close, and the ordered release 'wilh(>ut ahv:cu(«; 
Guildites claim they re being black- | Guild made up for it for the road , ' Th( . democratic-minded people of 
jacked into joining through he ,„,„.. hv «i v i„g Burl Ives four more Argentine since have been lining up 
method of chopping of), runs -at Uie sonus to sing.. •'• ,; ■' four-abreast to view these films of 

height ot their grosses. : | Tn citing this season's plays. Guild (-j. e) . ma - n sac lism. Although the Ar- 

Ihis past season, it s poniled out. ;j officials point out that they got um- : . „ ( ; nlm( , |,j, P sj^' ei1 | attended the pri- 

formly good notices from every W|le ,, f these films, other 

■ '. cabinet . ministers declined., as did; 
the: chief of Argentine's : Army statf,. 



Broadway. 

Guild Being- Sniped 

The Guild, in particular, is being 
sniped af. with many of their 15.000 
. Chi subscribers' accusing Guild di- 
rectors of using them for suckers by 
cutting dowu on production expenses 
and quality of casts, while non- 



only four of the five plays-promised" formly good notices from every 
Chj by the Guild materialized. These.: Chicago critic, except Miss Cassidy. | 
were "Cherry Orchard." ''Sing Out." J They claim She picked on little 



Gallician voice, issuing from what 
purports to be an aristocratic British 
lady of ancient lineage. To Argen- 
tine minds Gallician accents recall 
Spanish peasants of the poorest and 
most illiterate class, from whom 
domestic, servants have been re- 
cruited in Argentina for a century. 
This make.s the Hollywood dubbed 
versions ludicrous and incongruous, 
so. they contend. 

It is also felt that, these dubbed 
pictures lose in emotional quality i 
and human interest by elimination j 
of the natural, voices, of actors' who ] 
play iii .them. 

Another part of this question is 
Its effect, on Inter-American rela- 
tions. Many view the Hollywood 
incursion into the field of their own 
language with an unfriendly eye. 
Some circles arc urging an already 
overly Nationalist, government to 
take protective measures. 



"Othello" and "Jaebbowsky." /'First- .' things, such as:;s;oine cast eHanse,*. in- % GVner.Tl' vVnii .dt r-Beeie who shruUued 



named ran for the three-week sub- plays', or the fact' that intermission, 
script ion' period only.' Opening last • music for "Jacobowsky" was omitted 
Oct. 2 'with take of $14,200 in the first ; I'i'om the tour: ..-Miss. Cassidy/s con- 
week and closing Oct. 21 with $16.- i sislent attitude has been pointed out 
900.. Grosses .wore upward, in other '•to'.-lh.em" by many well-wishers. :', ■ 
words, but. still it was pulled out. I As to charges of trying ; to- force 
Guild being accused of using this people to. become subscribers, Guild 

' officials say that is ridiculous, You 



gimmick to drive ..home the point 
that the only sure- way of seeing a 
Guild play is to join the Guild. - 

"Sing Out," which, opened March 
31, ran- for the necessary, three 
Weeks, plus- One, getting $21,000 a 



: can't dragoon peojjle that way. ..They ; 
i point out they have 90.000 sub- . 
1 spriliers throughout Jlie'.cuunlry.' and ! 
. don't have .to high-pres.-ui e anyone-. • 
They feel the Chicauu "charges" , 
week for the first two. $2X000 fnrthe ; ff-<mv^rhiin houses envio.is : 

third, and $28,000 in the fourth. giv-' ,,r llu ' (,U,M awi 't> «^scnplion list, 
ihg every indication of .doing'beller . vbtttt'I} Tfl PA^RT 4 ! 

it Jl stayed. But it moved out lifter] '-.. -.' IvKLlLK 1U rAillo 
a month. "Commitments elsewhere;'-' Roherl. A. Kreier. Cpii.titie'iHitl .K11- 
said (hp Guild. ' rdiiean tiiiinager for 20lh.-Fox.. is en ! 

•'Othejlo" stayed a little" longei and route to Paris via Stockholm, 
got $15,000 for the first live perform- 1 He will headquarter in Paris. 



off the:, viewing by -saying:, "British 
Propaganda;.. . . bah!''- 
. Hitler and Mussolini have already 
made their, exit 1 unless, der Fuehrer 
iV not really dead,- but hiding in the 
Patauoni'iin '-.pa'tnpir. as some Argen- 
tiiios believei;..bui Ciiapliu's "Dictn- 
tor," approved for release. , won't 
jh-eehi iln'il next ".'eel;. . . ; •'. 

3 MOT'S GET ARGENTINE OK 

three March of Time is.-.ue.". pre- 
viou-'ly deemed too antitNazi.-'hiiVe 
been okayd for showing in Argen- 
tina, according to 'word, received by 
rtie.liard.de- Roelieinont; M. of T. pro- 
-liicer. ... . '.-■-' : - 

Tiic. arc "What to Do. Will, . Cc- 
: nijit.iy,"- "Portugal- Europe':. C'r-i-v- 
|ro;i'l.-" and "Underground KPi»ort." 



Current London Shows 

London'. June 5. 
"Arsenic & Old Lace," Strand. 
"Millie Spirit," Duchess. 
"Desert Rats," Adclphi. 
"Gaieties," Sayille. 
"Gay ravilion," Piccadilly. 
"Gay Rosalinda," Palace. 
"Happy & Glorious," Palladium 
"Honeymoon," York's. 
"Irene,"' II is Majesty's. 
"Ladv Edinburgh^ Playhouse. 
*' Laugh Town Laugh," Sloll. 
"Love in Idleness," Lyric. 
"Madame Louise," Garrick. 
"Night and. Music," Coliseum. 
"Night Venice," Cambridge 
"No Medals," Vaudeville. 
"I'iiimma Hatlic," Adclphi. 
"I'ci-k-A-Boo Parents," Whitehall'. 
"Perchance to Dream," Hipp. 
"Private Lives," .Ypoll.o. 
"See How They llun,'" Comedy, 
"Shop Sly Corner," St! Martin.-'. 
"Skin of Our Teelh," Phoenix. 
"Strike II Again," Wales, 
"Sweeter Lower," Ambassadors 
"Three's Family," Wlliter Gcbl.' 
"Three Waltzes," Princes. 
"Tomorrow World," Aldwych. 
"While Sun Shines." Globe. 
'Wind or Heaven," St. James. 
"Years Between," Wyndhani" 
"Yellow Sands," Westminster 



by Paramount in the late '20s which 
Sirjtzky took over, are located in the 
leading keys of France and mostly 
are first-run. Included in the prop- 
erties taken .from him when the 
Germans marched into Paris is the 
famous Moulin Rouge theatre- 
Cabaret. 

The Siritzkys and their two sons, 
Sammy and Joe. came to this coun- 
try shortly after the Nazi invasion 
of France and took over the Squire, 
N-. Y.. girind house 011 8th avenue and 
43d. which had been closed for sev- 
eral years. They did so well with 
reissues - at this theatre that they 
also acquired the old Majestic, 
Brooklyn, which was also closed and 
instituted a similar policy there. 

Siritzky's sons plan remaining in 
the exhibition business on this side. 

Bids Invited in Wash. 
For Alien Film Prods. 

Washington, June 5. 
Bids have been invited by the 
Alien Property Custodian for rights 
to' American control and distribution 
of foreign films seized during the 
war. 

The first hatch consists of 47 Ger- 
man and Austrian features, and three 
shorts, made by Tobis. Bavaria. UFA, 
Terra, Klagemann and Siegal, 
Among- the, features are "Inter- 
rne/./.o." "Congress Dances." "Five 
Millions. Heir Wanted," '-Youth of 
Today," "The. Coral Princess," "The 
Night, with the Kaiser." "Robert 
Koch," "Winter Storms" and "Gypsy 
Baron." 

Bids will call for a percentage 
against a guarantee. Handling; the 
project for the Alien Property 
Custodian is.V.itali.s Chalis. 



Archibald With Rank 

George Archibald... head of the' 
British, Informal io.r. .Sen ices. is. re- 
ported at work for J. Arthur- Rank 
as head of the latler's independent 
producer group, . ... 

Archibald is expected to step out 
oi his Government post any day 
now, to devote. his full t i me lo the 
Rank organization. 



IS 



PICTURE GROSSES 



Wednesday, June 6, l«fi> 



B'way Uneven; 'Spirit' Medium $21,000, 
lay Ahead* $15,000, 'Valley' Sock 123G 
On 5th, TkiU -Lcmbardo Fat 78G, 2d 



Broadway continues variable, with 
the current week's gross total down 
considerably due, in part, to a large 
majority of holdovers. Bad weather 
Also is hurting, 

Only three new shows opened dur- 
ing past week, two first-runs plus 
"And Now Tomorrow" on second- 
run at the State. Criterion last FrU 
day (1) brought in "That's the Spir- 
it." It isn't doing well enough at in- 
dicated $21,000 on eight days to be 
held over. Another new one of past 
week was "The Way Ahead," which 
started at the little Victoria, Satur- 
day (2). Will get an estimated $15,- 
000, good. State is stout at around 
$29,000. House has Yyette, Frank 
Conville and Dr. Marcus on stage; 

Music Hall, now in fifth week with 
"Valley of Decision," • continues to 
get the lion's share of the business 
going to holdover attractions with a 
probable sock $123,000 on the cur- 
rent round. Holds over, with no 
date yet set tor Hall's next film, 
_ '.'.Bell for Adano." - -, 

.'■ • Though ;noTTn"the~hishei' brack- 
ets on pace set since opening, "Pil- 
low to Post," at Strand, which has 
the Shop Fields .orch on stage, is 
rather steady at a probable $42,000 
or better, good, this week,' its sec- 
ond. Capitol is very strong with 
"Thrill of Romance" and a stagebill 
including the Guy Lombardo orch, 
Joey Adams and June Havoc, first 
. holdover-week looking $78,000. 

Two major combo houses bring in 
new shows today (Wed.). The Roxy 
opens "Where Do We Go From 
Here?" with Tony and Sally De 
Marco, John Boles, Roddy McDowall 
and Jackie Gleason in person. Par- 
amount brings in "Out of This 
World," with Allan Jones. Gd Lamb, 
Eileen Barton and the Jerry Wald 
band on stage. 

Estimates for This Week 
' Astor (.City Inv.) (l.H0;'60-$1.25) 
—"Enchanted Cottage" (BKO) (6th 
wk). Blowoff will be about $30,000, 
nice, while last week was same. 
Picture a big money-maker here. 
"Wonder Man" (RKO) opens Fri- 
day (0). 

Capitol (Loew's) (4,820; 60-$1.20) 
—"Thrill of Romance" (M-G), Guy 
Lombardo- orch, Joey Adams and 
June Havoc (2d wk). Looks very 
strong $78,000 on initial holdover 
session, and goes another. First 
week with aid of Memorial Day was 
sock $89,800. 

. Criterion (Loew's) (1,700; 60-$L25) 
—"That's the Spirit" (U). On dis- 
appointing side at $21,000 for 8 days 
and won't go further. "Counter- 
Attack" (Col), on 9 days beyond first 
.week, dropped to $20,000, only fairly 
good. 

Globe (Brandt) (1,416; 6O-$1.20)— 
"Flame Barbary Coast" (Rep) (2d 
wk). Off considerably at $12,000 
though .first week was sturdy $18.- 
000. "In Bag" (UA) in Saturday (9). 

Gotham (Brandt) (900; 60-$1.20)— 
"Molly and Me" (20th) (2d-final 
wk). Failed to pull here, this week 
looking only $7,000 or near, while 
first was $8,700. both light. 

Hollywood (WB) (1,499: 50-$1.20) 
—"Corn Is Green" (WB) (10th wk). 
In lower brackets but still profitable 
at $16,000 or close. Last week was 
$16,900. Holds. 

•Palace (RKO) (1,700; 60-$1.10)— 
"China Sky" (RKO) (2d wk). Will 
be about $18,000 this week, fairly 
good, and holds. Initial week was 
sturdy $25;000. 

Paramount (Par) (.3,664; 60-$1.20) 
—"Out of This World" (Par), with 
Allan Jones, Gil Lamb, Eileen Bar- 
ton and Jerry Wald orch on stage, 
opens here today (Wed.). "Salty 
O'Rourke" (Par), Charlie Spivak 
orch, others, on final six days, plus 
one show yesterday (Tues.), was 
good .$50,000, same as fifth week, 
with aid. of holiday. House last 
night (Tues.) put on monster bene- 
fit show in connection with 7th War 
Loan's Major Glenn Miller Day. 

Radio City Music Hall (Rocke- 
fellers) (5.945: 60-$1.10)— "Valley of 
Decision" (M-G) and slageshow (5th 
wk). Still mighty, looking a smash 
$123,000, while last week, with aid 
of holiday, went to. sensational $128,- 
000. Holds indefinitely.- • 

Rialto (Mayer) (594; 40-85 V— 
"Body Snatcher" ( RKO) (2d wk). 
Doing well enough at $8,000 or' over 
this work to hold a third. First was 
big $11,400. 

Kivoli (UA-Par) (1.092: 76-$1.25.) 
— "Medal for Benny" (Par) (3d wk). 
Not big but okay at $22.000 -on sec- 
ond week ended last night 'Tues.), 
and holds. TeeofI seven days was 
$26,000. , 

Roxy (20th) (5,886; 60-$1.20)— 
"Where We Go From Here?" (20th), 
with Tony and Sally DcMarco. John 
Boles, Roddy McDowall and Jackie 
Gleason in person, opened hore" to- 
day (Wed) after, five weeks of "Dia- 
mond Horseshoe" (20th), Count 
Basie orch and Jerry Lester, finale 
being stout $68,000; fourth week, 
$67,000. 

State (Loew's) (3,450; 43-$1.10)— 
"Now Tomorrow" (Par) t2d run), 
with Yvctte, Frank Conville and Dr. 
Marcus on stage. Looks about $29,- 



'Horseshoe' 23iG, Port 

Portland, Ore., June 5. 
"Diamond Horseshoe" looks stand- 
out of new entries in two spots. 
"Salty O'Rourke" still is smash on 
second week. 

Estimates for This Week 
Broadway (J. J. Parker) (1,900: 
40 - 80) — "Delightfully Dangerous" 
(UA) and "Identity Unknown" 
(Rep). Mildish $9,500. Last week. 
tt "Guest in House" (UA) and "Utah" 
000, strong. Last week, "Here Come'i (Rep), good $10,500. 



Waves" (Par) (2d run), plus Pancho 
orch and Kitty Carlisle, finished 
well at $26,000. 

Strand (WB) (2,756; 60-$1.20)— 
"Pillow to Post" (WB) and Shep 
Fields orch. Though not on big 
side, stqady at $42,000 or better this 
week, while first was $48,700, good. 
Holds. • 

Victoria (MaurciO (,720; 70-$1.20) 
— "Way Ahead" (20th). Initial week 
will be about $15,000, nice for ca- 
pacity and remains. Final three 
days on sixth week for "Dillinger" 
(Mono) was $5,800. Fifth was strong 
$17,500. 



'O'Rourke' Smash 
17G in Okay K. C. 

• Kansas City, June 5. 

Grosses at the firstruns here are 
steady despite uncertain weather. 
Top newcomer is "Salty O'Rourke" 
at the Newman. Not far behind is 
"Without Love," at the Midland. 
Estimates for This Week 

Esquire, Uptown and Fairway 
(Fox-Midwest) (820, 2,043 and 700; 
40-60)— "Diamond Horseshoe" (20th) 
(2d wk). Hot $15,000 after socko 
$20,000 initialer. 

Midland (Loew's) (3,500; 45-65 )— 
"Without Love" (M-G) and "Escape 
in Fog" (Col). Sturdy $16,000. Last 
week, "Tomorrow World" (UA) and 
"Eve Knew Apples" (Col), mild 
$11,000. 

Newman (Paramount) (1,900; 46- 
65)— "Salty O'Rourke" (Par). Smash 
$17,000. Last week, "Affairs Susan" 
(Par) (3d wk), nifty $9,000. 

Orpheum (RKO) (1,500; 46-65)— 
"China Sky" (RKO) and "Guy, Gal 
and Pal" (Col). Tall $12,000. Last 
week, "Body Snatcher" (RKO) and 
"Brighton Strangler" (RKO), so-so 
$9,200. 

Tower (Fox-Joffee) (2,100; 39-60) 
"Man in Half Moon St." (Par) and 
"Identity Unknown" (Rep) with 
Mary Lee and stage revue. Neat 
$11,000. Last week, "Song of Sarong" 
(U) and "Remember April" (U) with 
vaude, $10,000. 



'Without Love' Bof f 45G, 
'O'Rourke' Big 21G, Both 
2 Spots, Hub; 'Susan' 24G 

Boston. June 5. 
'Salty O'Rourke" is going strong 
at Paramount and Fenway and 
"Diamond Horseshoe" is holding up 
well at Keith Memorial in second 
week. After trying out a first-run 
policy with "Tomorrow the World," 
the Normandie. could stand it only 
one week and has returned to a 
comic feature house, called Laff- 
movie. Tremont is struggling'along 
with "Tomorrow," rated hardly a 
happy choice to start its first-run 
career, 



United Artists (Parker) (900; 40 
80)— "The Clock" (M-G) (2d wk) 
Okay $8,500. Last week, strong 
$12,000. :'. 

Paramount (H-E) (3,000; 40-80) 
"Diamond Horseshoe" (20th) and 
"Escape in Fog" (Col). Smash $16,- 
000. Last week, "Practically Yours" 
(Par) (2d wk) and "Bluebeard" 
(PRC), $9,000. . 

Oriental (H-E) (2,040; 40 -80)— 
"Diamond Horseslroe" (20th) and 
"Escape in Fog" (Col). Good $7,500. 
Last week, "Salty O'Rourke" (Par) 
and "A Guy, a Gal" (Col), $6,000. 

Orpheum (H-E) (1,800; 40 - 80)— 
'Salty O'Rourke" (Par) and "A Guy, 
a Gal" (Col) (2d wk). Great $10,500. 
Last week, terrific" $14,000: ~ 

Music Box (H-E) (1,000; 40-80) — 
"Practically Yours" (Par) and "Man 
in Half Moon St." (Par). Fair $4.- 
500. Last week, "3 Caballeros"- 
(RKO) and "Cowboy and Lady" 
(FC) (reissue), average $4,000. 

Playhouse (H-E) (J, 200; 40-80)— 
"Song to Remember" (Col) and 
"Circumstantial Evidence" (20th) ' I2d" 
wk). Mild $3,500. Last week, about 
same. - 



Chi Steady; 'O'Rourke' Great $35,( 
In Bag -Davis Big 32G, Patrick' 16G 



Estimates for This Week 
Boston (RKO) (3,200; 50-$l. 10)— 
•Honeymoon Ahead" (U) with Cootie 
Williams orch, Ella Fitzgerald, Ink 
Spots, others, on stage. Average 
$20,000. Last week, "Eve Apples" 
(Col) with Gene Krupa orch, Bob 
DuPont, others, $19,000. 

Fenway (M-P) (1,373; 40-74)— 
'Salty O'Rourke" (Par) and "Bull- 
fighters" (20th). Satisfactory $7,000 
Last week. "Horn Blows" (WB) and 
"Chicago Kid" (Rep), $6,500. 

Majestic (Shubert) (1,500; 40-74)— 
Col. Blimp" (UA). Cool $5,000 for 
second week. Last week, $8,000. 

Metropolitan (M-P) (4,367; 40-74) 
—"Affairs Susan" (Par) and "Molly 
and Me" (2Qth). Good $24,000 or 
near. Last week, "Salty O'Rourke" 
(Par) and "Bullfighters" (20th ) (2d 
wk), nice $18,000. 

Memorial i RKO) (2,900; 40-75) — 
"Diamond Horseshoe" (20th): and 
"Scarlet. Clue" (Mono) (2d wk). 
Bright $22,000. Last week, $28,000. 

Orpheum (Loew) (2,900; 35-75)— 
"Without Love" (M-G). Wow $27.- 
000. Last week, "Keep Powder Dry" 
i M-G) and "Boston Blaekie Sus- 
picion" (Col), $25,000. 

Paramount (M-P) (1.700; 40-74)— 
"Salty O'Rourke" (Par) and ••Bull- 
fighters" (20th). Robust $14,000, 
Last week, "Horn Blows" (WB) and 
"Chicago Kid" (Rep), $12,000. 

State (Loew) (3,200: 35-75)— 
"Without Love" (M-G). Great $18,- 
000. Last week, "Keep Powder Dry" 
(M-G) and "Boston Blaekie Sus- 
picion" (Col), $14,000. 

Translux (Translux) (900: 20-74) 
— "Scarfacc" (UA) and "Murder 
Times Square" (Col). Nifty $5,500 
for reissues. Last week, "Phantom 
42d St." (PRC) and "Return of Vam- 
pire" (PRC), $5,500. 

Tremont (T & N) (2,200; 44-85)— 
"Tomorrow World" (UA). Sad $4,000. 
Last week, only about $10,000, far 
below expectancy. 



'VALLEY' TERRIF 
17G, LEADS CINCY 

'..-'- Cincinnati, June 5. 

Downtown houses are having a fat 
round this week. Of three new- 
comers, "Valley of Decision" is lead- 
er and whammy, with "Where Do 
We Go From Here," okay. "Call of 
Wild," a reissue, looks big. 
Estimates for This Week 

Albee (RKO) (3,100; 44-70) -- 
"Where Go From Here" (20th). Okay 
$13,000. Last week, "The Clock" 
(M-G), hefty $17,000. 

Capitol (RKO) (2,000; 44-70) — 
"Valley of Decision" (M-G). Ter- 
rific $17,000, best here in many 
months. Last week, "Dorian Gray" 
(M-G) (2d wk), all right $5,000. 

Grand (RKO) (1,430; 44-70) — 
"The Clock" (M-G) (m.o.). Trim 
$6,500. Same last week for "Affairs 
of Susan" (Par) (2d run). 

Keith's (United) (1,500; 44-70) — 
"Call of Wild" (20th) (reissue).' Big 
$8,000. Last week, "Without Love" 
(M-G), fourth downtown sesh, oke 
$4,000. • 

Lyric (RKO) (1,400: 44-70)— "Dia- 
mond Horseshoe" (20th). Fourth 
front-line week; Good $4,500. Last 
week, "Betrayal from East" (RKO) 
and "Pan-Americana" (RKO), dull 
$4,000. 

Palace (RKO) (2.600: 44-70) — 
"China Sky". (RKO). Satisfactory 
$12,000. Last week, "Patrick the 
Great" (U), $9,500. 

Shubert (RKO) (2,100: 44-70) — 
"Affairs of Susan" . (Par). Third 
downtown stanza. No complaints at 
$4,000. Last week, "Diamond Horse- 
shoe" (20th), m.o.. $4,500. 



'Bell' Loud 1 7 J G, Monti 

Montreal, June 5. 
. "For Whom «'eU Tolls" is socko 
currently but others are mild. 
Estimates for This Week 

Palace iCT) (2,700; 35-62)— "To- 
night, Every Night" (Col). -Slim $7,- 
500 after $13,000 opener. 

Capitol (CT) (2,700; 35-62)— "Mur- 
der, My Sweet" (RKO) and "Pan- 
Americana" (RKO). Fair $10,000. 
Last week, "Hotel Berlin" (W-B) and 
"Big Show-off" (Rep). Big $11,000, 
second session; ' 

I.oew's (CT) (2,800; 35-67)— "Bell 
Tolls" (Par). Strong $17,500 or near. 
Last week, "Bernadette" (20th) (2d 
wk). solid $14,000, 

Princess (CT) (2,300: 35-62)— 
"Hangover Square" (20th) and 
"Headlines" (Mono). Neat $6;500. 
Last week, "Maytime." (M-G) (reis- 
sue) and "Circumstantial Evidence" 
(20th >, $6,500. 



Indpls. Up; 'Love' Boffo 
16G, 'Susan' Fine 12iG! 

Indianapolis, June 5. j 

Biz here is staging a nice upsurge ! 
this week despite the release of more | 
than 4,000 employees by Allison, first I 
major cut-back here. "Without Love" 
has caught on at Loew's for an ex- 
tended run to lead the town. ' Af- 
fairs of Susan" at the Indiana and 
"Horn Blows at Midnight" at the 
Circle both are above recent aver- 
ages. All but "Horn : Blows" '-reflect 
brisk Decoration Day trade. 
Estimates for This Week 

CHrcle (Katz-Dolle) (2.800; 32-55) 
—"Horn- Blows" (WB) and "Be. 
I rayal from East" ( RKO): Oke $11.- 
000. Last week, "Sudan" (U) and 
"Remember April" (U), brisk $10,500. 

Indiana (Katz-Dolle) (3.300; 32-55) 
—"Affairs of Susan" (Par). Fine 
$12,500. Last week,' "Royal Scandal" 
(20th) ,and "Molly . and . Me" ,i20lh) 
only $8,500. . . . 

Loew's (Loew's) (2,450: 35-55)— 
"Without Love" (M-G). Socko $lfi,- 
000 and holds. Last week. "Naughty 
Marietta" (M-G) (reissue) anil 
"Gentle Annie" (M-G). lair $9,700. 

Lyric (Katz-Dolle ) (1,600; 32-55 )— 
"Vampire's Ghost." (Rep) and '•Phan- 
tom Speaks" (Rep). Nice $7,000.1 
Last week. "Salty O'Rourke". (Par). [ 
nitty $5,-500 on m.o. - 



'Conrage'-Horne 
Huge 40G, Frisco 

San Francisco, June 5. 
Memorial Day holiday gave biz a 
real hypo and two midweek records. 
Golden Gate, with Lena Home and 
stage layout, is boosting to terrific 
session. Other was the Fox, with 
"Diamond- Horseshoe," also strong. 
No other downtown offerings are" 
sensational. . 

Estimates for This Week ,' 

Fox (F-WC) (4,651; 55-85)— ""Dia- 
mond Horseshoe" (20th) and "Bull-, 
fighters" (20th). thumping $36,000. 
Last week. "Salty O'Rourke" (Par) 
and "Chicago Kid" (Rep), fine 
$34,000. 

Paramount (F-WC) (2,646; 55-85) 
—"Bring on Girls" (Par) and "Great 
Flamarion" (Rep) (2d wk). Brisk 
$22,000. Last week, same bill 5 days 
and ••Horn Blows" (WB) and 
"Three's Crowd" (Rep), moderate 
$24,000. 

Warfleld (F-WC) (2,656: 55-85 >— 
"Salty O'Rourke" (Par) and "Chi- 
cago Kid" (Rep). Fairish $25,000. 
Last week, "Without Love" (M-G) 
and "Identity Unknown" (Rep), 
$20,000. 

St. Francis (F-WC) (1.400; 55-85)— 
"Affairs of Susan" (Par) and "For- 
ever Yours" (Mono). Okay $10,000. 
Last week, nice $14,000. 

Stale (F-WC) (2,133; 55-85) — 
"Flame Barbary Coast." (Rep) and 
"Earl Carroll Vanities" (Rep) (2d 
wk) good $11,000. Last week, mod- 
est $15,400. 

United Artists (Blumenfeld) U,- 
207; 40-85)— "Blood on Sun" (UA) 
(5th wk). Neat $13,000, Last week, 
good $14,000. 

Orpheum (Blumenfeld) (2.448; 40- 
85)— "Patrick the Great" (U) and 
"See My Lawyer" (U). 2 dav.s and 
"Wuthering Heights" (UA) (reissue), 
5 days. Strong $16,500. Last week, 
"Heights" solo, ordinary $11,500. 

Golden Gate (RKO) (2,844; 60-95) 
—"Two o'Clock .Courage" (RKO) and 
Lena Home, stage show. Sock $40,- 
000. with stage layout responsible. 
Last week, "Betrayal from East" 
(RKO) and stage show, neat $29,000. 



_ . ' Chicago, June 5. 

Business continues on an even keel 
despite tough competition from war 
exhibits along State St. "Salty 

0 Rourke" is leader tor straight films 
with socko $35,000 at the State-Lake 
Horror combo of "Body Snatcher" 
and ' Brighton Strangler" should do 
snappy $10,000 at the Grand, while 
"It s in the Bag" and Johnny Davis 
band at the Oriental looks wow 
$32,000. "I'll Be Seeing You" has 
set an all-time record at Roosevelt 

K ?,', n 5 v iut0 ^ s J?, tfj wet * tomorrow' 
(Wed.), and still is strong. 

Estimates for This Week 

Apollo (B&K) (1,200; 55-95)— 
"Song Remember" (Col) (8th wk I, 
Slick '$13,000. Last week, bright 
$15,000. <5nt 

Chicago (B&K) (3,900; 55-95)— 
"Bring On Girls" (Par) t2d wk) 
with Joan Merrill and Dave Apollon 
on stage. Big $43,000. Last . week 
strong $49,000. " ' > CCK ' 

Garrick (B&K) (900: 55-95)— 
"Thundcrhcad" (20th) (2d wk). Brisk 
$13,000. Last week, robust $15,000 

Grand (RKO) (1,150; 55-95)— 
"Body Snatcher" (RKO) arid "Brigh- 
ton SI rangier" -(RKO). Snappy $10 - 
000. - Last week, "Enchanted Cottage" 

1 RKO ) and" "Song Sarong'«-(U) -( 4th- 
wk). 5 days, and "Snatcher" (RKO) 
and "Strangler" (RKO), 2 clays 
pleasing $7,000. . ...... 

Oriental i IroquoisTi 3,240:" 44-95)^T 
"It's in Bag" (UA) and Johnny Davis 
orch on stage. Boff $32,000. Liist 
week. ••Delightfully Dangerous" 
(UA) and Connee Boswcll heading 
vaude. sturdy $27,000. 

Palace (RKO) (2,500; 55-95)— 
"Patrick the Great" (U) and "See 
My Lawyer" (U). Okay $16,000. Last 
week, "Salome" (U) and "Honey- 
moon Ahead" (U) (2d wk). 3 days, 
and "Patrick" (U) and "Lawyer" 
(U). 4 days, trim at same figure:. 

Roosevelt (B&K) (1,500: 55-95)— 
"Be Seeing You" (UA) (5th wk). 
Snug $18,000. Last week, stout 
$22,000. 

State-Lake (B&K) (2,700; 55-95)— 
"Salty O'Rourke" (Par). Socko 
$35,000. Last week. "Diamond Horse-- 
sItoc" (20th) (3d- wk), (i days, and 
"O'Rourke" (Par), 1 day, smart 
$28,000. 

United Artists (B&K) ( 1.700; 55- 
95 )— ''Without Love" i M-G ) (4th 
wk). Steady $20,000. Last week, , 
$24,000. I 

Woods (Essaness) (1.200: 55-95)— I 
"Earl Carroll Vanities" (Rep) and 1 
"Chicago- Kid" (Rep), 4 days, and 
'Vampire's Ghost" (Rep) and "Phan- 
tom Speaks" (Rep), 3 days, pert 
$17,000. Last week. "Ghost" (Rep) 
and "Phantom" (Rep) > 2d wk), 
sweet $15,000. 



St. Louis Better; 'Love' 
Wham 24G, 'Salome' 
Solid 15G, 'Patrick' 13G 

' ■ St. Louis, June 5. 

Memorial Day biz accelerated b.o. 
turnstiles and grosses are up cur- 
rently. "Without Love," running solo 
at Loew is, is standout. "Salome" and 
"Honeymoon Ahead" is second with a 
solid session.. 

Estimates for This Week 
Loew's (Loew) (3,172; 30-60)— 
'Without Love" (M-G). Wham $24.- 
000. Last week. "Tomorrow I he 
World' (UA) and "A Guy, a Gal" 
(Col ). $14.000.. . .,.' : ■ 

-Orpheum (Loew) (2,000: 30-60)-^ 
•Keep -Powder Dry" (M-G) and 



'Rmmaniiel" (UA) (2d wk).' Will 'acid 1 J'ght. $3,000. 



'Copilot' High $15,000 
Mpls.; 'Scandal' Rugged 
12G, 'Sudan' Modest 8G 

Minneapolis, June 5. 
With "God Is My Co-Pilot" greas- 
ing the turnstiles, Radio City again 
tops the field currently. It's the ace 
attraction, outdistancing its closest 
competitor, "A Royal Scandal." at 
the State.. The high-grossing "Af- 
fairs of Susan" is strong leader of 
the holdovers. 

Estimates for This Week 
Aster (Par-Singer) (900: 15-25)— 
"High Powered" (Par) and "Hitch- 
hike to Happiness" (Rep). Okay 
$2,200 in 6 days. "Phantom Speaks" 
(Rep) and "Ten Cents a Dance" 
(Col) open Friday (8). Last week. 
"Bluebeard" (PRC) aiid "Leave to 
Blondie" (Col) split with "Phantom 
42d St." (PRC) and "There Goes 
Kelly" (Mono), $2,400 in 8 days. 

Century (P-S) (1,600: 44-60)— "Af- 
fairs of Susan" (Par). Moveover 
from Radio City Where it '.was sen- 
sational on first week. Still strong 
at $7,000 or over. Last week, "Dia- 
mond Horseshoe" (20th) (m,o,), okay 
$5,500. -. 

Gopher rp-S) (1,000; 41))— "The 
Bullfighters'' (20th). Light $2,500. 
Last week, "Zombies on Broadway.".. 
(RKO), $3,000. 

Lyrio i P-S) (1,200; 44-00 "> — "Na- 
tional Velvet" (M-G) (3d wk). Sec- . 
ond downtown week. Good -$5,000.; 
Last week, "In Bag" (UA) (i)i.o,), 



Grey Sets Costly Trio 

Hollywood, June 5. 

Three top-budget productions are 
being lined up by Harry Grey to fol- 
low his current picture, "Love, 
Honor and Goodbye," at Republic. 

Trio consists of "Rio de Janeiro," 
starring Tito Guizar, "Calendar 
Girl" and "Hit Parade of 1945," 
featuring radio personalities. 



•S(i.500 to fine $8,100 in first stanza 

Ambassador (F&M) (3.000; 50-00) 
-■•Salome'^ i U) and "Honeymoon 
Ahead' i U). Nice $15,000. Last 
week; "3 Caballeros" (RKO) and 
Zombies Broadway" (RKO), $11,000 
fox (F&M) (5.000; 50-60)— "Pat- 
rick the Great" (U).and "Sec My 
Liiwyer V (UV- -Average; $13,000. Last 
week. Diamond Horseshoe" (20th) 

^Missouri (F&M) (3,500: 50-60)— 
Diamond Horse.-hne" .(20th) and 
»i Caballeros" (RKO). Good $10,000 
Last- week. "Salty O'Rourke" (Par) 
and "Horn Blows" ('WB). $.7 000' 
St. Louis ( F&M) (4,000; 40-50)— 
j Its a Pleasure" < RKO ) and "Thun- 
i derhearl" (20th). Neat $4,000. Last 
I week. • Tobacco Road" (20th) and 
1 i'J';,' 1 '™ nI Wrath" (20t.h) (reissues). 

I ^,»,.|U0. 



Orpheum (P-S) (2,800: 44-60)— 
"Sudan" (U); Fairish .$8,000 indi- 
cated. Last week, "Salome, Where 
She Danced" (U), $7,800. 

Radio City (P-S) (4,000: 44-<i0)— 
"God Is Co-Pilot" (WB). Fine bally 
helping this to big $15,000. Last 
week, "Affairs- of t Susan" (Par), huge' 
$-17,000, way over hopes.. 

Stale (P-S) (2,300; 44-60)— "'Royal- 
Scandal" (20th). Trim $12,000 for 
this Well regarded film. Last week, 
"National Velvet" (M-G) (2d wk), 
neat $9,000. 

Uptown (Par) (1,100; 44-50)— 
"Keep Powder Dry" (M-G). First 
uabe showing. Fine $3,000. Last 
week, "It's a Pleasure" 'RKO>, 
S2.800. 

World (Par-Stcffes) <350: 44-80) - 
"Salome" (U) (m.o.). Looks only 
$1,800. Last week, "Maryland" 
(20th) (reissue), $2,000. 



Wednesday, June 6, 1945 



P%!RIETY 



19 




M G M s ZIEGFELD FOLLIES" 




IS THE BIGGEST EYE-FULL OF 




to 



PICTURE GROSSES 



Wednesday, June 6, 1945 



'Flame' $31,000, 'Post' 58G, Both Good, 
In Three L A. Spots; 'Susan,' 'Cottage' 
Each 33G, Both 2 Spots H.O., Bangup 



Los Angeles, June 5. ♦ 
Firslrutis arc dominated by hold- 
overs and/ three new lineups. Lat- 
ter, while good, ■'. . are not sock. 
Helped by Memorial Day opening, 
"Pillow to Post" is heading for $58,- 
UOO in three theatres while •'Flame 
of -Barbary Coast," also in three, 
looks okay $31,000, which is slightly 
above average. "Identity. Unknown. 1 ' 
-with Wall y Brown and Alan Carney 
on stage, will .do $24,500 at the Or- 
pheum. 

Second sessions of "Enchanted 
Cottage." in two spots, and "Affairs 
df Susan." also two. will do sturdy 
$33,000 apiece. "The Clock" is slow 
$25,000 in third stanza, three houses. 
; Estimates for This Week' ji 
Carthay Circle (FWC) (1,518; 50- j 
$1) — "Diamond Horseshoe" (20t!iH 
and "Escape in Fog" (Col). Brisk! 
$8,000. Last: week, "Sign of Cross"] 
(Par) (reissue) (6" days), dull $1,700 
■and pulled Memorial Day to give j 
"Hpi'seslioe? 4-house spread. 

Chinese: (Grauman-WC) (2.048:- 50- 



Estiraatea Total Gross 

This Week. .... . . ... ..-..SMMM 

■ '(Based on 15 ilietmes) ■ 

Total fsross Same Week 

Last year... ......... .$488,900 

r, (Bused oh 15 theatres)' 



'Cottage' Big 2CG, 
Cleve.; 'Love' 21G 



• Cleveland. June 5. 
"Enchanted Cottage" and "Without 
Love' are strongest newcomers this 
week. Strength shown by "Affairs 
o.f Susan" 'also is a highlight, still 



'O'Rourke' Salty $14,500 
In Omaha; 'Affairs' 9 «/ 2 G 

■ . Omaha, June 5. 

"Salty O'Rourke," at the Orpheum, 
best here, will hit a smash figure. 
Estimates for This Week 

Orpheum iTristates) (3,000: 16-60 
—"Salty O'Rourke" (Par) and 
••Honeymoon Ahead" (U). Terrific 
$14,500 or over. Last week, "Naughty 
Marietta" (M-G) (reissue) and "Halt 
Moon St." (Par), $8,500. 

Paramount (Tristates) (3.000: 16- 
60)— "Affairs of Susan" (Par). Solid 
$9,500. Last week, "Diamond Horse- 
shoe" (20th). boff $11,500. 

Brandeis (RKO) (1,500: 16-00)— 
Split holiday week with "Body 
Snatcher" (RKO) and "Brighton 
Strangle*" (RKO), 3 days, and .re- 
issues ol "Prisoner of Zenda ' (UA) 
an'<l "Garden of Allah" (UA), $7,500 
in 10 days. 

Omaha (Tristates) (2.000; 16-60)- 
"Diambnd Horseshoe" (20th). Okay 
$8,000. Last week. "Between . 2 
Women" (M-G) (m.o.), fine $9,500. 

Slate (Goldberg) (865: 15-50)— 
"Great Flamarion" (Rep) and 
"Utah" (Ren). About $2,500. Last 
week, "Be Seeing You". (UA) and 
"Circumstantial Evidence" (20thX 
$2,400. /•:-■/. 

'SUSAN' TORRID 15G, 
SEATTLE; 'FLAME' 14G 



New Pix Perk Det; 'Horseshoe' Hot 37G, 
'Roughly' 25G, 'Happiness'-Vaude 23G 



_$l..)~-.:!HorseshOe-' - J.20th)u _and ,"Es--Lbeiug.bigUou.lhu:d..do.w.iitO\v:ii:ses„si.i>n,;, 
cape" (Col) Cidwk). Smooth. $8,500. • nioveoier to the O'.iio.- ' 



Last, week, bright $15,000. 

Downtown (WB) (1,800: 50-$D— 
"Pillow to Post" (WB). Good $23.- 
000. Last week, "God Is Co-Pilot" 
(WB) (4th wk-5 days), okay $10,000. 

Egyptian (FWC) (1,538: 50-$l)— 
"Clock" (M-G) (3d wk). Light 
$6,000. Last week, only 6 days due 
to bond show, $7,400. 

Four Star (UA-WC) (900; 50-$D— 
"Tomorrow World" (UA) and "Power 
Whistler" (Col) (2d wk). Hefty 
$4,500. Last week, $6,400. . 

Guild (FWC) (968; 50-.$l )— "Flame 
Barbary Coast" (Rep) and "Earl 
Carroll's Vanities"- (Rep). Fancy 
$7,000 or over. Last week, "Tomor- 
row World" tUA) and "Power 
Whistler" (Col), good $7,700. 

Hawaii (G&S) (1,100; 50-$D— 
"Bociy Snatcher" (RKO) and "Brigh- 
ton Strangle!" (RKO) (4th wk). 
Finales at $3,500. Last week, steady 
$4,500. 

Hollywood (WB) (2,756; 50-$U— 
"Pillow to Post" (WB). Modest $19,- 
000. Last week. "God Is Co-Pilot" 
• WB) (4th wk-5 days.), closed at $5,- 
400. 

Los Angeles (D'town-WC) (2,097: 
50-$l )— "Clock" (M-G) (3d wk). 
Slow $14,000. Last week, $17,800. 

Orpheum <D"town) (2.200; 65-85) 
— "Identity Unknown" (Rep) with 
Wally Brown and Alan Carney on I 
stage. Good $24,500. Last week. 
"Thoroughbreds" (.Rep) -with Lena 
Home, Jimmie Lunceford orch on 
stage, new house record at $44,000. 

Panta&es (Pan) (2,812; 50-$D— 
"Enchanted Cottage" (RKO) and 
"Two O'clock Courage" (RKO) (2d 
wk). Nice $16,000 after strong $23,000 
opener. 

Paramount (F&M) (3.389; 50-$l ) — 
"Affairs Susan" (Par) and "Three's 
Crowd" (Rep) (2d wk). Okay $20.- 
500. Last week, big $31,600. 

Paramount Hollywood (F&M) ( 1.- 
451: 50-$n— "Affairs Susan" (Par) 
(2d wk). Rousing $12,500. Last week, 
husky $18,300. 

Hillstreel (RKO) (2.890: 50-80)— 
"Enchanted Cottage" (RKO) and 
>'• "Courage" <RKO) (2d v.k), Trim 
$1 7.000 attoi' good $22,600 first week. 

Kit/ ( K-WC ) ( 1.370; 50-$l V- 
"Clock" i M-G ) .(3d wk). Only. $5,- 
000. Last week. 37.000. 

State ( Loews- WC ) ( 2,4.04 : 50-$I ) 
— "Diamond Horseshoe" (20th) and 
"Escape in Fog" (Col) (3d wk). Neat 
$16,000. Last \veek. hefty $24,200. 
- jrniteil Artists (UA-WCi (2.100 
' f>0-$l I 4- "Flame, 



Key City Grosses 

Estimated Total Gross 

This Week ... , ' . • . $2,658,400 

(Boxed on 24 cities, 184 tliea- 
trest cfiicjltf tiisi 'runs, including 
N. V.) 

Total Gross Same Week 

Last Year , . , , ;■'. . . . $2,372,300 
(Based on 22 cities, 180 theatres) 



'Flame' Bright 

in Pitt. 



Estimates for This Week 
Allen (RKO) (3,000; 44-65)— "Ber- 
nadetle" (20th). At pop scale, good 
$8,000. Last week, "Tarvtan Amazons" 
i RKO ), belter at $10,000. 

Hipp (Warners) (3.700; 44-65)— 
"Coiuiter - Attack" (Col). Lively 
$16,000. Last week, "Royal Scandal" 
(20th), just $13,000. 

Lake (Warners) (44-651— "Tarzan 
Amazons" (RKO) (in.o.l. Ordinary 
$4,000. Last week. "Diamond Horse- 
shoe" 1 20th) (m.o.). trim $5,000 for 
fourth week downtown. . 

Ohio (Loew's) (1.200; 44-65)— 
"Affairs of Susan" (Par). Strong 
$8,000 on m.o.. third week downtown. 
Last week, "In Bag" (UA), thin 
$4,500. * ,"■• 

Palaee (RKO) (3,700: 45-65)— 
"Enchanted Cottage" (RKO). Great 
$20,000. Last, week, "Sudan" (U), 
light $10,000. 

State (Loew's) (3,450; 44-65)— 
"Without Love" (M-G). Strong $21.- 
000. Last week, "Dorian Gray" 
(M-G), $20,500, 

Stillman (Loew's) (2.700: 44-65)— 
"Dorian Gray" (M-G). Moveover 
still strong at $9,500. Last week. 
"Affairs Susan" (Par) (m.o,), boil'o 
$12,000. 



'Pillow' Lofty 14G In 
Oke Prov.; 'Tarzan' Fat 
15G, 'Powder' Hot 176 

Providence. June 5. 
Sirand theatre's observance of its 
30th anni highlights a fairly active 
week here. Metropolitan, . which 
switched from week-end stage and 1 
screen policy to carry "Dillinger" on I 
full week, is doing nicely. Also 
peppy are Strand's "Affairs of Su- 
san": Majesties "Pillow to Post." and ) 
Loew's State's "Keep Your Powder 
Dry." 

• Estimates for This Week : 
A I bee i RKO ) (2,100; 44-60)— "Tar- 
zan Amazons" (RKO) and "Pan- 
Americana". (RKO ). Swell S15.000 



Seattle. June 5. 
••••"-Affairs -of -'Susan* -■is-r-standout- 

currently, with, smash session, - but 
"Flame of '.Barbary Coast" is only a 
step behind. "Without Love" also 
is sturdy. - • 

Estimates for This Week 
Blue Mouse (H-E) (800: 45-801— 
"Unseen" (Par) and "Wonderful 
Crime" (RKO) (m.o.). Okay $5,000. 
Last week, "Practically Yours" (Par ) 
and "It's in Bag" (UA), swell $5,700 
in 8 days on m.o.. .. .. > 

Fifth Avenue <H-E) (2,349: 45-80) 
—"Affairs of Susan" (Pur). Smash 
$15,000. Last week, "Unseen" (Par) 
and "Scared Stiff" (Par). $9,500. 

Liberty (J-vH) (1.650; 45-80)— 
'•Brewster's Millions" . (UA) and 
"Crime Doctor's Courage" (Col) 1 2d 
wk). Big $10,000 after strong $12.- 
300 last week. 

Music Box (H-E) (850; 45-80) ■ 
"Diamond Horseshoe" (20th) (3d 
wk). From Paramount. Fine $7,000. 
Last week, "Keep Powder Dry" 
(M-G) (3d wk), $4,800. 

Music Hall (H-E) (2.200; 45-80)— 
"Road to Morocco" (Par) and '"Sun 
Valley Serenade" (20th) (reissues). 
Modest $6,000 in 8 days. Last week. 
"Wonderful Crime" (RKO) and "Be- 
trayal From East" (RKO). thin 
$4,000 in 6 days. 

Orpheum (H-E) (2,600; 45-80)— 
"Flame Barbary Coast" (Rep) and 
"Carroll's Vanities" (Rep).' Strong 
$14,000 or near. Last week, "God Is 1 
Co-Pilot" (WB) (2d wk). $8,400. I 
Palomar (Sterling) U.350: 30-$D— i 
"Cisco Kid Returns" .(Mono) and j 
"Fashion Models" (Mono) plus Cal 
Schram's Hillbillies 'on stage. Oke | 
$10,500. Last week. "Song of Sarong" 
(U) and "3 Is Crowd" (Rep) plus 
vaude. thin $8,000. 

Paramount (H-E) (3.349: 45-80)— 
"Without Love" .(M-G). Sturdy 
$14,500 or over. Last' week. "Dia- 
mond Horseshoe" ( 20th ) (2d .Wk-t. 
great $9,000. 

Roosevelt (Sterling) (800: 45-sSOV- 
"Co-Pilot" IWB), ' From Orpin-urn. 
Good $5,501). Last week. "Sudan" 
i.U) and 'Remember April" ( U ) (3d 
wk), good S4.100. 

Winter Garden (801); 25-50 )—' Boll 
Tolls" ( Par) (3d- run). Fair $4,000 



Pittsburgh, June 5. 
Everything got. off to., a ' terrific 
holiday start on Decoration Day. 
most of the pix being re-scheduled 
to open that day. "but biz dropped 
generally 24 hours later. One ex- 
ception was "Without Love" at Pcnn. 
"Flame of Barbary .Coast", also is big 
enough to hold -a! the Fulton.- - • — ^~ 
Kstimates for This Week 
Pulton (Shea) (1,700; 40 -651— 
"Flame of Barbary Coast" (Rep). 
Hit close to $3,000 opening day, 
which insures near $10,000. big. 
Holds over second week. Last week, 
second of "Dillinger" (Mono), 4 days. 
$4,500. 

Harris (Harris) (2.200: 40-65)— 
"Tomorrow' the World" (UA). Sat- 
isfactory at $10,500. Last week. 
"Patrick the Great" (U), under 
$8,000. 

Penn iI.oew's-UAv (3,300; 40-65)— 
"Without Love" (M-G). Socko $2tv- 
000, maybe better. Sure of second 
week. Last week, "Keep Your Pow- 
der Dry" (M-G). around $19,009. 

Rite (WB) (800: 40-65)— "Affairs 
of Susan" (Par) (m.o.). This comedy 
doing well at all spots and on lirst- 
run windup looks okay $8,200 at this 
small-sealer. . Last week, "Belle of 
Yukon" (RKO) (m.o ), $2,000. 

Senator (Harris) (1.750; 40-65)— 
"She Gets Her Man" t'U) and "Power 
of Whistler" (Col). Around $2,900, 
stout. Last week, "Stage Door Can- 
Iteen" (UA). $2,500. 

Stanley (WB) (3.800: 40-6 5)— "Pil- 
low to Post" 



Detroit, June 5. 

Fresh bills are coming along at a 
faster pace here and biz continues to 
perk up. Too spot will go to the 
Fox with "Diamond Horseshoe." 
Also on the bright side of the street 
are the Michigan- with "Roughly 
Speaking." Palms-State with "Belle 
ot the Yukon" and "Tarzan Among 
Amazons." 

Estimates for This Week 

Adams (Balabalv) ',1,700; 60-85)— 
"Salome, .Where She Danced" (U) 
(2d wk) ancl"Honeyil)ooii Ahead" 
(U). Former moved from Fox, okay 
$9,000. Last week. "Royal Scandal" 
(20th) (2d wk) and "Song Sarong" 
(U). trood $10,0.00. 

Broatl way-Capitol (United Detroit) • 
(2,800: 60-85)— "Affairs Susan" (Par) 
(2d wk) and "The Informer" (RKO ) 
(reissue). Fine $15,000. Last week. 
"Murder, My Sweet" (RKO) and 
"Having Wonderful Crime" iRKO i, 
$11,000. 

Downtown (Howard Hughes) 1 2-.. 
800; 60-85)— "Hitch-Hike to Happi- 
ness" (R'ep) plus Renfro Valley Barn 
Dance and Deep River Boys on stage. 
Good $23,000. Last: week, "Let's Go 
Steady" (Col) with Johnnie John- 
ston, others, on stage, dandy $24,000. 
. Pov (Fox-Michigan) (5,000; 60-85) 
—"Diamond Horseshoe" (20th)--autl— 
"Power of Whistler" (Col). Wham 
$37,000. Last week "Salome". (U) and 
"Crime Doctor's Courage," great 
$31,000. 

Madison (United Detroit) (1.800; 
60-85)— -"Meet Me St, Louis" (M-G) 
and "Suspect" (U), Returning for 
nice $5,500. Last week "Now To- 
morrow" I Par) and "Doughgirls"' 
(WB). $5,800. 

Michigan (United Detroit) (4,000: 
60-85)— "Roughly Speaking" (WB) 
and "Cisco Kid New Mexico" 
(Mono). Fat $25,000. Last' week, "Af- 
fairs Susan" (Par) and "Zombies 
Broadway" (RKO), choice $26,000. 

Palms -State (United Detroit) 
(3.000: 60-85)— "Belle Yukon" (RKO) 
and "Tarzan Among Amazons' 
(RKO). Robust $16,000. Last week, 
"Objective Burma" (WB) and "Trou- 
ble Chasers" (Mono) (2d wkC One 
$13,000. 

United Artists (United Detroit) 
(2,000: 60-85)— "The Clock" (M-G) 
and "Sporting Chance" (Rep) (2d 
wk). Near great $17,000 after socko 
$22,000 in first week. 



(WB). Farce got the 
works from crix but ought to make 
the $12,000 murk. Last: week. "This 
Man's Navy" (M-Gi. helped by Dec- 
oration Day. $13,500. 



Last week. "Keys Kingdom" (20th) 



Last week, "Suspect" (U) and "Song land "Gets Her Man" (U), ditto 
I Sarong" (U). average £11.000. ■•'] 
I Carlton (Fay-Loew) 11,400;. 44-55) ' 
I —"Diamond Horseshoe" (20th) (3d; 
downtown wk). Nice $5,000. • Last, i 
week. "God Is Co-Pilot" (WB) (3d 
■ downtown wk), $4,500. 
! Pay's (Fay ) (2.000: 44-55 )— "Flying I 



Barbary 



(Ren) and "Vanities" (Ren), Sturdy 
$14,500. • Last week. "Tomorrow | 
World". (UA) and "Power Whistler" ■ 
(Col), good $13,500. 

Uptown ( F-WC )(1 .790: 50-$l )- 
"Diamond Horseshoe" (20th) and 
"Escape in Fog" (Col) (3d wk). Nice 
$5,000. Last: w<?"p1.-. solid $9,500. 

Wilshire (F-WO (.2.296: . 50-SD— 
"Flannr Barbary Coast" (Rep) and 
"Vanities": (Rep). Robust $9,500. 
Last week. Tomorrow World" (UA) 
and "Power Whistler" (Col). $10,300. 

WiHer n (WE ) 1 2.400: 50-$l )— "Pil- 
low to Post." (WB). Good $16,000, 
Last week. "God Is Co-Pilot" (WB) 
(4th wk-5 days ). closed at $4,000. 



Tigers" (Rep) (reissue) 
Coast." | on stage.' Sturdy $7,000. 



'Love' Bright $20,000 

Balto; 'Patrick' 12G 

Baltimore, .Tune 5. 
'■Without Love" is pacing the field 
and vaude ! this session, with "Patrick the Great," 
Last week. I at Keith's, making next best shuw- 



It's Pleasure" (RKO) and vaude. 
$6,000. ••• 

Majestic (Fav) (2.200: 44-60) -- 
"Pillow 10 Post" i WB ) and "Fog 
Is.'and" i PRC I. Big $14,000. Last 
week. '•Diamond Horseshoe" (,20th) 
(2d wk). brisk $8,000. 

Metropolitan (Snider) (3.100: 44- 
55) --. "Dillinger" . 'Mono) and 

"Rhythm Roundup" (Col). With I (2d wk) plus vaude. Holding nicely 
switch from week-end stage-film 1 at 814:000 after boff $18,400 onener. 



ing. 

Estimates for This Week 
Ceutnrv (Loew's-UA) (3.000: 20- 
6Q)--"With0ut Love" I M-G). Lead- 
ing town at .robust $20,000. Last 
Week, "Tomorrow World" (UA). 
fairly steady $15,200. 

Hippodrome (Ranpaport) (2,240: 
20-741— "Enchanted Cottage" (RKO) 



SCANDAL -CORIO NICE 
$25,000, D. C. TOPPER 

Washington, June 5:, : 
' Combo of "A Royal Scandal" and 
Ann Corio on. the stage at the Capi- 
tol will' lead the parade this week. 
Kstimates for This Week 
Capitol (Locwi (3,434; 44-72) — 
^ "Royal Scandal" 1 20th ) "with Ann 
'Corio on stage. Headed for. a nice 
i $25,000. Last week. ■Tomorrow the 
i World" (UA). with vaude, brisk 
I $23,000. 

| Columbia iLoew) (1.234; 44-72) — 
i "Dorian Gray" (M-Gi. Sturdy $9,000. 
i Last week;- "National Velvet" (M-G). 
' S8.000. 

I Karle (WB). (2.240: 30-90)--"H:tv- 
! ing Wonderful Crime" tRKO' with 

Barry Wood and Patsy: Kelly, on 
'stage. .' Fine $23,500. Last. week. 
1 "Counter-Attack" (Co!) with vaude, 

$20,000. 

j Keith's i RKO) . 1 1.800: 34-66) — 
j "Tarzan Amazons" (RKO). Mild sur- 
I nrise at sturdy $14,000. Last week, 
i "Salome, Where She Danced" lU). 
| ditto. .'. '■ ■.."' 

Metropolian iWBV (1.800: 44-72)— 
! "Rough.lv Speaking" iWB) (2d wk). 

Stout. $12,500 after strong $17,000 

opener. 

Palace iLoew) '2,778; 44-72) 
"Diafnond . Horseshoe" 1 20th) (2d 
wk). Fancy $14,000 after first week 
$20,000. 



'Love' Rousing $13,000* 
Col. ; 'Sudan' 10G, 4 Days 

Columbus. June 5. 

"Without Love," at the Ohio, is 
snappy, while. "God Is My Co-Pilol," 
loolcs boff at Grand. 

Kstimates for This Week I 

Broad iLoewY.) (2,50.0: 40-65)-- 
"Bo>rnad.etie" i'20th). Pop-priced 
date, disappointing $4,500, Last 
week, "Sign of Cross" (Par) (re- 
issue) end "Sing Song Texas" (Col), 
$5,000 in 6 days. 

Grand (RKO) (1,140; 40-65) - 
•God Is Co- Pilot," (WB) and "Holly- 
wood Vine" (PRC). Boff $9,000. 
Xast . week; "Diamond Horseshoe" 
(20th) and 'Circumshmiial Evidence" 
(20th ) 1 2d wk). $4,500. 

Ohio (Loew's) • '3,074; 40-65) — 



policy, looks rousing $17,000. v Last 
week. "Chicago Kid" (Rep) and 
Roddy McDowall heading stage show 
for 3-day . weekend run; snappy 
$6.000. . •'.-- ; -..:■'•.•.■' ■■-•.",'"'..•-.'. ,"'' 

State iLoew) 1 3.200: 50-60i— "Keep 
Powder Dry" (M-G) and "Booked oil 
Suspicion" i Col): Solid $17,000. Last 
week. "Flame Barbary Coast"- (Rep) 
and "Emmanuel" I UA), $14,500. 

Strand (Silverman) (2;00t*: 50-60) 
— "Affairs of Susan" (Par). Opened 
Monday i4). Bill opens house's 30th 
anniversary. Last week. "Salty 
O'Rourke" (Par) (34 wk). strong 
$8.0.00 after big $10,500 on second. 

"Without Love" (M-G 1 ),."' Solid'.$13,- 
000. Last week. "Dorian Gray" 
(M-G). $11,000 in 6 days. 
'Palace (RKO) (3,000: 40-851— 
"Sudan" rUi and "Phantom 42d St." 
i PRC). Okay $10,000 or over lor 4- 
day weekend. 'Pati-Americanv" 
•i RKO i plus Glenn Miller Modern- 
aires and "Asylum of Horrors" on 
stage, fair $7,000 in 3 days. Last 
week. "God Is Co-Pilot" iWB). sock 
$.12,000 in 4-day weekend. 



at $14,000 after boff $18,400 opener 

Keith's (Schanberger i (2,460; -20- ■ 
60)— "Patrick the Great." IV h Draw- 
ing well at. $12,000. Last week,! 
"Salty O'Rourke" (Par) (2d wk). 
nice $9,800. ' '-.: ■ 

Mayfair ( Hicks i . (980: 25-55)— 
"Bullfighters" 1 20th ). House aver- 
age at $4,000. Last Week. "Flame 
Barbary Coast" (Rep) (2d wk), neat 
$3,800. . . 

New (Mechanic) (1.680: 20-60^— 
"Diamond Horseshoe" (20th") (4th 
wk). Okay $5,500 after nice $6,200 
:o. third, ; 

Stanley (WB) i3,280:-^Miv65)— 
"Horn Blows" (WB).- .Uneventful 
$11,000. La,-,) week, "Bring On 
Girls" (Par) (2d wk), big $12,600. 



ERR0L TO START SERIES 

■ Hollywood, June 5. 

Leon Errol . starts June 10 on a 
iteW program of six two-reel com- 
edies fyr the 1945-46 slate at RKO. 
George Bilson produces and Hal 
Yates directs. 

l-.dgar Kennedy starts a like num- 
ber of comic short's in early July/ 



'Where Go' 21|G, 2 Spots, 
Denver; 'Susan' 15G, 2d 

' : • », :,■. ■ Denver, June 5. 

"Where Do We Go From Here" 
looks top coin-getter at Denver and 
Esquire. "Patrick the Great" also 
is nice at two spots, while "Affairs 
of Susan" will do nearly as well on 
second , week as on opener at Den- 
ham. :.'■'■; 

Kstimates for This Week 

Aladdin (Fox) (1,400; '35-741— 
"Sister Eileen" (Col). Good $6,000. 
Last week. "Diamond Horseshoe" 
(20th). and "G.I. Honcynioon" 
(Mono), after a week at each Den- 
ver. ; Esquire, Webber, big $8,000. 

Hfliliam (Cockrill) (1.750; 35^70)— 
"Affairs of Susan" (Par) (2d wk), 
Big $15,000 after fine $16,000 on first 
week. •. ... - 

Denver (Fox) (2,525: 35-74)--- 
"Where Go From Here" (20th) and 
"Scarlet Clue" (Mond), day-date 
with Esquire. Sturdy $18,000 for 
Fre<l MacMuri'ay starrer. Last, week 



'Powder' Robust $18,500 
Leads Buff.; Imitation' 
Plus 'Heaven' Big 16G 

Buffalo. June 5. 
i . Best bet this week is "Keep Your 
; Powder Dry" at the Buffalo, but 
■ "Imitation of Lite" and "East Side of 
Heaven," two reissues, are surpris- 
I ingly strong at the Lafayette, doing 
as well as some new films. 

Kstimates for This Week 
Buffalo (Shea) '3.500: 40 - 701-- 
"Kcep Powder Dry" (M-G) and "Es- 
cape in Fog" (Col). Stalwart $18.- 
500. Last week, "Between 2 Women" 
(M-G I mid "Gentle Annie" (M-G), 
hefty $18,000. 

Great Lakes (Shea) (3,000: 40-70) 
—".Without Love" (M-G) (2d wk ). 
Bright $12,000 after boff $19,000 last 
week. 

Hipp (Shea) (2.100: 40-70) -"Be- 
tween 2 Women" (M-G) and "Gentle 
Annie" (M-G) (m.o.i.' Fair $7,500. 
Lust. week. "Roval Scandal" < 2(1lh) 
and "Bullfighters" . (M-G) (2d wk), 
only $3.300 ■ in 4 days. 

Lafayette (Basil) (3,300; 40-70)-- 
'•Imitation ot Lite" (U) and "East 
Side Heaven" iU> (reissues). Rous- 
ing $16,000. Last. week. "Fighting 
Guardsman" (Col) and -"Tahiti. 
Nights" (Col), soft $7,500. 

20th Century (20th Cent) (3,1)00: 
40-70)--"Flame of Barbary .Coast" ' 
(Rep) and "Big Show-Off" (Rco>. 
Fancy $13,000. Last week. "Dillin- 
ger" (Mono) and "G. 1. Honeymoon 
(Mono). $14,000. 

Whistler'" (Col), also Esquire and 
Webber: sad $8,000. . .. 

Esquire (Fox) (742: 35-74)— "Go 
From Here." (20th) and "Scarlet 
Clue" (Mono), also Denver. Big 
.$3,500. Last week, "IifcBag" <UA) 
! and "Power Whistler" (Col), also 
Denver and Webber, sad $2,000. 

Orpheum (RKO) (2,600; 35-74'-- 
"China Sky" I RKO) and "Pan- 
Americana" (RKO). Fast $16,000. 
Last .week. "Between 2 Women' 
(M-G) and "Escape ill Fog" (Col), 
big $16,500. ' 

Paramount (Fox) (2,200: . 35-7.4 V— 
"Patrick the Great" (U) and "Iden- 
tity Unknown" (Rep), day-date with 
Webber. Stout $8,500. Last week. 
"Delightfully Dangerous" (UA) and 
"Docks of N. Y." (Mono), good 
$8,000. 

Rialto (Fox) (878; 35-74)— "Dia- 
mond Horseshoe" (20th) and "G.I. 
Honeymoon" (Mono) (m.o,). Fine 
$4,500. Last: week. "Flame Barbary 
Coast" (Rep.) and "Eve Knew 
Apples" (Col) (m.o.). fair $2,500. 

Webber (Fox) (750; 35-74)— "Pat- 
rick the Great!' (U) and "Identity 
Unknown" (Rep), day-date wiln 
Paramount. Big $3,500. Last week 
"It's in Bag". (UA) and "Power At 
Whistler" (Col), also Esquire *W 



'In Bug" (UA) and "Power of Denver, poor $2,500. 



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HOUSE REVIEWS 



P^RIETY 



Wednesday, June 6, 1915 



Concert Vnrieiies 

Bill)/ Rose tico-act wiuctesUdttt at 
Ziegield, N. Y„ $1.20-$4.20 lop: 
iopeJliiifj, Jtme 1. 19451, emcecd by 
Deems Taylor With Snltci Puppets, 
Eddie Mayehoff, Rqsario & Anloiiio, 
Nestor Chayres, Imogenc QO(d, 
Jerome Robbius Bullet i music by 
Morton' Gould; decor and costumes; 
''CM Kent; with Robbius. Janet Reed, 
John Krita, Micliael Kidd, Muriel 
Bentley. Rozsika Sabo, Bettinu 
Rosay. Erik Kristen; Tibor Ko:iuri til 
piano), Kulherine Dunham Co. 
(Vieciity, Estrada and Mender, 
drummers: Vuncye /likens. Talley 
BecUtV, Eddy Clay. LuVerne French, 
Tommy Gome:. Lcnwood A/orris, 
Roger Ohorclieito. Lucille Ellis. 
Sytvilla Fort, Dolores Harper. 
Riehardena Jackson, Ora Leak, 
Gloria Mitchell)'; Imogene Coca with 
Wm. Archibald Albert Amnions, 
Pete Johnson & Sidney Ccnletf. Zero 
Mostel; Orchestra, Pembroke Daven- 
port; matinees Sat. arid Sun; 



Hollywood." A dramatic bit on the 
flash-back story ot a nurse when she 
receives a telegram about her soldier 
husband doesn't quite jell. Winds. up 
with "In Those Old Gay 90 Shows.", 
garbed in ruffled costume showing 
blue garters and. frilly patitiis, to 
good response. 

Gale's monolog. "The First Plane 
Ride." is plenty funny. Success of 
his vpcai numbers is in his play on 
gags— for instance, assertion that lie 
can sing in any language brings one 



Si ate, X. V. 

Yvette, Doctor Marctts, Stairatone 
Revue <4), Frank Conrille & Co. (2), 
Harry Stetjen, Don Dorsey; -And 
Now Tomorrow" (Par). .- 



.Yvette, blonde, ■vivacious and per- 
sonable, rates headlining honors on 
current Loew's State bill, holding 
down the four spot and cashing in 
oh a wisely-chosen routine compi'is- 
.June Is BustitV Out All Over," 



in., 

"All the Things You Are." "Wanna 
hilarious chorus each of "Ochi Clior- j Get Married" and encoring with "I'll 



Billy Rose's "Concert Varieties*' is 
a pretty good neo-vaudeshow. It 
could have been a sock as was obvi- 
ous to impresario Rose when he 
dickered for Al Jolson and public- 
ized the unlikely importation of 
Maurice Chevalier to headline. But. 
as is, it's a corking first-half but lets 
down after Kafherine Dunham and 
her great Afro-Cubano terpers re- 
open the second half. What follows 
are all nitery excerpts, and that 
goes for virtually the entire show 
because almost all, with the excep- 
tion of eonferencier Deems Taylor, 
Salici's "Puppets and' Jerome :Ro6bins 
Ballet, are alumni of the saloon cir- 
cuits. ' ■"..■'■ 

.In sequence, after Miss Dunham 
uncorks her three corking Brazilian, 
Mexican and Martinique rhythms, 
are a reprise of Iniogene Coca with 
William Archibald as the "faun." in 
a travesty of the Debussy creations; 
Albert Amnions and Pete Johnson, 
boogie-woogie pianists, flanked by 
Sidney Catlett on the drums. "Big 
Sid" (it says in. quite big letters on 
his traps) gives out with trick 
jazzique on the skins, in alternation 
with the Steinway mayhemists. Like 
Miss Coca, the three colored lammis- 
ters from Local 802 are also fixtures 
at the Cafe Society Uptown and 
Downtown. : . 

Zero Mostel, who was cradled in 
Barney Josephson's Downtown bistro", 
has been seen to better advantage. 
He's striving for new material, as 
with that Deems Taylor-Musical 
Courier-opera star interview i that 
satiric slug for. three pages of ads is 
almost libelous) but it doesn't quite 
come off. Rosario & Antonio 
with their superior Latin terps and 
Nestor Chayres, the Mexican tenor, 
who are prominent in the forepart, 
are reprised, making for a tedious 
finale, despite their distinctive artis- 
try. The dancing pair, who went 
from the Waldorf-Astoria to a couple 
of film opportunities, and Chayres, 
who was first heard at the Havana- 
Madrid, N. Y., cafe, and now 
has several radio shots, thus over- 
stay their welcome. 

The first half zings. While Deems 
Taylor is manifestly no Holtz, Fay 
or Jessel as an emcee, he does give 
it a nice tongue-in-cheek approach 
as he first brings on the clever 
Salici Puppets which later disclose 
their four real-life manipulators. 

Eddie Mayehoff is another saloon | 
comic whose material governs his 
impact. Rosario & Antonio's Span. [ 
ish and Fire Dance numbers are 1»- 1 
terrupted by Chayres' tcuoring, and 
thence Miss Coca's satire on "It" 
the I. J. Fox theme song hokum, etc. 

Jerome Robbius' "Interplay" bal- 
let by Morton Gould, based on his 
American Concertette. feature's the 
young ballet-master. Janet. Reed and 
John Kriza ' and a supporting corps 
of five.. It's a gay. active terpsi- 
chorean creation and makes for a 
strong first act finnle. 

Rose's "Concert Varieties" was 
primed as a summer stopgap for his 
Ziegfcld theatre, and as such suf- 
fices. Current bill ' runs until June 
30 only. Abel. 



nia" and "Alouette." then some dou- 
bletalk Chinese, a Polish joke and a 
quick, skillful switch to the next act 
before anybody can yell for more 
BerhU. 

A fast-moving roller-skating learn 
of four femmes, The Pin-Up Girls, 
closes the bill. 

Sixteen-piece house orch under 
Lou Schrader on stage to back- 
ground acts. . Swif, 

Palace, Columbus 

ColiinibMs, May 29. 
Glenn Miller Afodernnires ,<4>, 
Blair & Dean, Beu Berk Asylum oj 
Horrors (6). Henry C'mcioni House 
Orch (ioif "Pan Americana" iRKO). 



Be Seeing You." Latter garners best 
milt crop of the lot, with "Married" 
also running strong in this depart- 
ment. 

Songstress, who has long since dis- 
carded her Frenchy emphasis, is iiot 
spotted to best advantage in vaude. 
her particularly inlime talents being 
more suited for lush backgrounding 
provided by class niteries or hotel 
dinc-danceries. However, overall 
impression is good. Her introes are 
brief and well-handled, allowing the 
gal to sell herself and upcoming 
songs before actually going into the 
numbers, her looks and nifty gown- 
ing also .being 'a- factor. 

Familiar hokum dished out by 



the peckers. Miss Dare's scant cos- 
tume comes oft easily under the ad- 
ministration of the bird's trained 
beak. Charlie Newman lends back- 
ground, music with bonga drum and 
harmonica. 

Freddy Stewart tenors "Every 
Time I Fall in Love," a medley of 
nop .numbers, "My Heart Sings" and 
"I Pleaded" for okay but not sock 
results at opening matinee. New- 
man, in a solo turn, uses his har- 
monica and drum on "Tico Tico." 
"Bolero." "Eager Beaver" and "Back 
Bay Shuffle." rating good hand. Mar- 
tell Twins, tap team, open show with 
some standard footwork. Brog. 



National, JL'vllle - 

„ • Louisville, •W.tife 1. ' 

Billy Eckstine's Orch (17), with 
Sara Vaughn! Holmes & Jean, Slim 
Thomas, Shorty McConuell. Fats 
Novarro, Gene Amnions, Dexter 
Gordon, and Sunny Stilt; "Phan- 
tom of 42nt4 St." (PRC). 



Pleasant variety of fun and music 
make for a strong hour show this 
Week. Blair and Dean tee off with a. 
pair of refreshing and novel dances. 
Their pace is zippy and gets the 
audience in the proper mood for 
things to come. 
' Ben--Becu-miiedy-.jugC^ 
steals the show. His routine is solid 
and pleases everybody. - . 

Modernaires are the hcadliners 



Quite a lineup of bandmen on the 
stage this week. 18 in fact, counting 
Billy Eckstine himself, 5 sax, 4 trum- 
pet. 4 trombone, and of course, 
rhythm section consisting of drums, 
Doctor Marcus, with his botched-up \ guitar, bass and piano. Band goes in 
card tricks, sees him through the l heavily for the jive, obviously ap- 
ncxl-lo-elosing spot, with an and- j polling to the jitterbug element, 
participation gimmick, in which five Eckstine. recovered from a siege Of 
servicemen swap hats on and off one strep throat, fronts for the band in a 
another's knobs, proving a -lifcsaveC i mocfest way. His forte is baritone 
GIs compete for cigarcts and chip in j .singing, which he makes most effec 



a laughable windup for the doc's I t i vi , together with playing of valve 
turn, lie also uses a gal for a card trombone, a colorful instrument of 
md balloon trick, combining sOn\c.| unusual tone quality. Most of the 

tunes Eckstine sings are his own 
conipdsitions, numbers'" " siieh" ."as" 
"Rhythm of. the Riff." ''Lonesome 
Lover Blues,'' "1 Slay in the Mood 



will) other 

K^nsfinse to' liiii- i^taiiit^furUi^itltls 
sequence. 

Frank Conville clowns and dances 
with' nifty-looking Sunn>* Dale. but. 



and provide the on y vocal intei tide , nothms ,. ca „ y happens unless he's 
on the program. They smg Lu'labv ^ enough to get an audience in 
of Broadway. There I ve baict u ■ hjs f , ay . d age which w ili go over- 
Again" and "Accentuate the Pom- \ b * A Sov a Charlie Chaplin imita- 
live,'! Their most amusing is an i jon Best hit is a wres tling-danciitg 
original interpretation of Juke Box \. h]f . &e lleal . clo . se , w ith the gal prov- 
Salurday Night." . : . ■• jn« a good toil for the antics. How- 

The second half of show is. the eV j ome ot Coiiville's stuff needs 
-Asylum of Horrors, a highly en- , 0 f laundering, 
tertaining offering- similar in pai t to. S i,0 W -closer is the Stairatone Re- 
Olsen k Johnsons "Hellzaipoppin. j nie . tnree tappers and a male 
The act runs 30 minutes and whams . ^ wind lninfrs up by cavorting on 
Jack Baker as Dr. Silkm. puts 




most of the monsters 



Sti(«: 



Leifur.' manager of the act, _. : .P lays | excitement. As dancers the femmes 



pfove to be well-drilled and cos- 
tumed, but loo much reliance is 
placed on the musical staircase gadg- 
et, which doesn't quite hit the mark. 

Harry Steffen. playing a 16-string 
electric guitar, which he also plucks 
for locomotive, airplane, etc.. effect?, 
holds down the deucer, with. Don 
Dorsey, flashy trapeze artist, on to 
open the? show. Both are reviewed 
more extensively under New Acts. 

Do'iiii. 



Ilinw, Balto 

Baltimore, June 3. 
Doodles Weauer, Daum Bros. (2), 
Joe, Lou & Arline Cates, DeMarco 
Sisters (5), Felice Ma Orch il2); 
•The Enchanted" Cottage" (RKO) 
(2nd iok>). 

Brief but pleasant layout moves 
along nicely, paced in screwball 
style by Doodles Weaver as emcee 
and doing turn on his own. Brings 
on Joe Lou and Arline Cates for a 
swift and appealing opening of skill- 
ful hoofery. Vets handle theniselves 
well in single and ensemble tapping 
and precision duet by two males 
proves a real bell-ringer. . 

Dawn brothers follow with whis- 
tling, winding up with the bird flir- 
tation" standard with the Arnaut 
Bros., and delivered here in identical 
stvle and business. Weaver scores 
with comic impressions, vocals and 
general clowning. ,'• ' 

DeMarco Sisters punch out a clicko 
songtest. Give out with guitar-ac- 
companied versions of "Saturday 
Night," "You Belong to My Heart," 
"Hitsem Kissem." and impressions 
of the Andrews, Ink Spots and Merry 
Macs, all in a smooth selling and 
highly professional style which earns 
a series of recalls. : .: 

Felix Itila house orch provides nice 
backing for the acts. 

Biz pretty good. . . Burnt. 



for You" and "If That's the Way 
You Feel." All are socko. 

Band gives out with the rhythm on 
"Second Balcony Jump;" a tune for 
the jitterbugs, and giving ample op- 
portunity lor the side men to show 
their . stuff, particularly Shorty Mc- 
Connell and Fats Novarro, trumpets, 
and Gene Amnions. Dexter Gordon 
and Sunny Stitt. sax. Number is 
overlong, but registers high on the 
dial. -.. 

Crew opens and closes \v.ith«theme< i 
"Jelly Roll Blues." an effective must- | 
cal signature. Combo is solid, and 
Eckstine is sure-fire in the vocal de- 
partment. 

"Slim" Thomas, • dancer, clicks 
nicely. He also takes time out to 
catch his breath by telling a few 
gags, all clean, but hardly punchy 
enough. Then goes into a Bill Rob- 
inson pattern of steps, and closes 
with original lap rhythms, off to a 
solid hand. 

Sara Vaughn, sepia vocalist, has 
plenty s.a, and gives out with a well- 
rounded, resonant voice. Puts per- 
sonality into "Man I Love" and "Not 
Yet. Baby." . ■•■ . . 

Holmes and Jean, mixed team, of- 
fer a fast routine during .which the 
male does some amazing stunts with 
cigarets. balancing a glass of water, 
and the like. Gal goes in for some 
needy . stepping, while the male 



Tower, K. C. . 

Kansas City, June 1. 
Mary Lee, Polly Jenkins Si Plow- 
boys (3). Hoioard Fuller & Sister. 
Billy Henderson, Carroll Calvin, V«( . . ... ..... ... 

Will ams. Tou>er Orch (9) Willi Hay j brings the turn to a fast finish with 
lr „.hZ --Ma n in. Half Moon Street" lus solits and forward somersaults. 



E»H«>, |»hillv 

Riiifarfglpfiin, Jmle 1. 
Jean Parker. The Pin-Up Girls 
The Chords. The Graysons, Alan 
Gale, Lou Schrader Orch; "Having 
Wonderful . Crime"' <RKO). 



Hughes; "Man in Half Moon Street 
(Par) and "Identity Unknown 
(Rep). 

Headlined by Mary Lee from the 
films, the current layout at the 
Tower plays well and rales high m 
entertainment values. 

House, orch starts show with new 
arrangement of "You Are My Sun- 
shine" by Ray Hughes, 88-noter. who 
also lakes the vocal. Val Williams 
is m.c. 

Howard Fuller and sister, bal- 



all winning a solid hand. 

This is the final stage bill.. for the 
summer. * House -goes straight pics 
until sometime in August. Hold. 



10,000 Theatres 



< oMfiv.'dl from page 4 



Northwest, was here for the bond 

"kicko.fT" and told, the folks the 

need for the dough to beat the Japs, 
ancmg duo, offer a flashy routine to . , H . , bi ', 

----" response PaH* Jpnkins iindi Helen Hayes >poKe at uie oig meel- 



iood 



Polly Jenkins and 
her Plowboys. combo of accordion, 
harmonica and bass,, contrib "Polly 
Woily Doodle," "Little Sir Echo" 
and other like tunes. Highlight of 
act is "Bells , of St. Mary's" played 
on cowbells. . 

Billy Henderson, blackface comic, 
gets laughs aplenty with his gags 



mg. 



Capitol, Wash. 

... Washington. June 1. 

Ami Corio, Harrison & fisher. 
JiilHiiv Leeds, .Skating Earles, Snm 

Jack 'Kaufman's House Orch. Hilton Night" winner,. docs a rope tap num 



! V 



Slosser. "A Royal Scandal" (20th) 



Memphis' Steam-Up 

Memphis, June 5. 
A two-week campaign, willx a 
daily downtown sales drive from 10 
In the morning until 10. at night, will 
and%arwiik'''some o'f'his 'material' f be lhe local film industry's principal 
might, be . laundered to good advan,- ■ contribution to the Seventh Wat- 
tage. Carroll Garvin, "Discovery ! Loan Drive. - : 

Big push is to climax with the 



Sam Jack Kaufman's house orch 
opens show with a ''Viennese" med- 
ley with Lynn Alison -vocalizing. 

A routine show tills 55 minutes of I Tne " the co,lsole rises and Mil ^" j Nobody,: 
the vaude time between pix at 'the I Slosser ' puts' :the' audience in good liked her. 



I C In the closing slot, Mary Lee-reg- j louring military spectacle, ••Airborne 
isters with a brace of songs which ! Attack, ' June 16-17, at Municipal 
include "Sunny Side of the Street." I Airport, with admission . limited to 
j "Plains of Montana" and "It Had to | holders of E bonds purchased at a 
Be You." She also does an imprcsh | movie house or film exchange, 
of Judy Canova singing "I Ain't Got i 



Earle. 

Alan Gale takes over as m.c. froth 
the start, which is a - new twist in 
routining for this house. A highly 
personable performer. Gale; a local 
product, comes out best after ail 
scores arc tallied. • ; . ' '-' 

The Graysons. acrobatic mixed 
duo, start things off' with some fancy 
balancing and a flash twirl for a fin- 
ish that draws a solid mitt. 

The Chords follow with fhrough- 
lhe-mike imitations of sounds: at- 
tributed to name bands, emphasis on 
sax and trumpet themes. After 
"Flight of the Bumblebee" in .solo, 
where, chief difficulty seems to be 
inability to land precisely • on the 
right note, an almost socko biljbilly 
number by. the nair comes as a sur- 
prise. Clowning personality of team 
shows to best advantage in free-and- 
easy Ozark style; the boys get in a 
lot of variety and laugh-getting 
horseplay, 

Performing with more animation 
•than the usual Hollywood personal- 
ity of similar stature. Jean Parker 
gives a cute patter song, "I Love 



Full house al first show 
Earl. 

mood with his humorous lyrics. 
Ann Corio, with special lyrics. - Or|lll«nm, I.. A. ■ • ,: 

sings a song -telling why she can't do ... ,, „ Los Angeles, June ). .. 

... ,„, - . c , i Wally Broton & Alan Carney, 

a striptease. Then a song about Y „ette Dare, Freddy Stan-art. 
Hollywood and her addiction- . to Charlie Newman, Mariell Ticins, Al 
jungle pictures. On for a brief pat- | l ;,V n " s House -Orch MO) ; "Identity 



Iter with Jimmy Leeds and then a 
modified striptesic,. taking off her 
skirt and removing her gloves with 
zippers. Gets over solidly with 
Jimmy Leeds helping Out on the in- 
troduction and on gab.' . ' .'■ 

Harrison and Fisher give th'e ball- 
room dance teams a satirical spoof- 
ing, catching the spirit of burlesque 
in some of their numbers. The 
Argentine samba as a classical team 
would do: it took them off a wow. 
Jimmy Leeds proves adept on two 
harmonicas. His line of patter is 
good and registers for laughs and 
applause. Skating Earles sell their 
act well. After the usual spins and 
pirouettes they invite the audience 
up to share in their twirling. Vol- 
unteers add to the merriment. 

Arke. 



UuK-notcu" (Rep). 



Wally Brown and Alan. Carney, 
lately known as film comics, have 
returned to their old stage trade for 
a week at the Orpheum here. They 
arc still good vaudcvillains. Boys are 
on both for singles and: as a team 
in the closing spot. Their work rales 
plenty . of laughs. Brown's single fea- 
tures his broken-up. chatter and a 
song, while Carney wrap's up a num- 
ber of comic imitations, for his solo 
chore. Closing spot finds boys comi- 
cally advising on how to get into 
pictures. They also work witW 
Freddy Stewart on an imitation of 
the Ink Spots singing "If I Didn't 
Care" at the midw_ay spot. 

Yvette Dare, assisted by her 
trained macaw, docs a showmahjy 
staged strip that offers plenty for 



Court Square, in the heart of town, 
is the scene of the daily 12-hour 
bally, with continuous concerts, 
demonstrations and talks,- both by 
civic leaders and military' personnel. 

Col, Howard Waugh, of the War- 
ner zone, reported at the industry's 
War Bond luncheon at the Variety 
club, that every theatre and film ex- 
change in . town has already taken 
from $1,000 to $5,000 each ot the E 
bonds, joining Waugh's own "Thou- 
sand. Club" Well in advance of the. 
actual drive.. 

Jimmy Gillespie is. handling -pub- 
licity. ' - ; • " . 



Oriental, Chi 

Chicago, June j 
Johnny "Scat"- Davis Orch uti) 
with Sunny Morgan, Louise Douglas 
Christine Forsythe, The Albius i2)' 
Harry Savoy; "Ws in the Bag" \XJA)\ 

A band playing three numbers, be- 
tween -which arc sandwiched three 
singers warbling seven songs; (wo 
dance acts and a comedian, adds up 
to a poorly balanced bill, but that's 
what's on tap here this week. 

Johnny Davis' new band, just two 
weeks old and playing the first thea- 
tre date, is still a bit -ragged but a 
few more performances ought to 
smooth things out, Composed of 
three rhythm, five saxes and seven 
brasses (four trumpets and three 
trombones), the outfit is on the loud 
side with a little too much volume,, 
so much in fact that at times the 
singers cannot be heard above the 
brasses but' its a fault that is easily 
remedied. Aggregation, as yet, hasn't 
developed any particular style, prob- 
ably because of newness, but seems 
to have plenty of bounce and rhythm. 

Show gets underway with band 
playing its theme song. "Hooray for 
Hollywood" and then swings into a 
torrid rendition of "I Got Rhythm'' 
featuring drummer. Tony Soave, 
whose nifty skin beating gathers 
healthy response from the pew- 
holders. Sunny Morgan steps from 
behind his sax to baritone "Close As 
the Pages in a Book" and "Night 
and Day" for mild reception and 
Louise Douglas, Davis distaffer fares 
well with vocals of "St. Louis Blues" 
and "Sentimental Journey.'' Sing- 
ing continues with Davis socking 
over "One Meat Ball" in his typical 
scat style, with a little trumpet toot- 
ing to boot and follows with a cycle 
of "love songs" comprising "Sheik 
of Araby." "If I Could Be With You." 
and "Can't Give You Anything But 
Love Baby" all' Davis standby?, to 
almost stop the show. Band winds 
up its chares with "Deep River." 

Harry Savoy is boffo with a smart 
line of comedy gab. delivered with a 
perfect sense of timing. Material 
brings loud guffaws from the payees 
and although it veers to the blue 
occasionally the audience eat -it . up. 
Has to beg off. 

Christine Forsythe, tall tapper, 
pleases with a variety of tap 
rhythms, with twirls, and the Albins 
garner some laughs with their bur- 
lesque ballroomanlics. best of which 
is the ballroom dancers' nightmare, 
to .click. :■■ Morg. 



IIKO, BoHton 

Boston, ./line 1. 
Cootie Williams Orch tl5-.L The 
Ink Spots. Ella Fitzgerald. Eddie 
Vinson. Coke & Poke; "Honeymoon 
,4hf(i(l" iU). 



Cootie Williams and his dancing, 
playing, singing boys snagged a -tor- 
rent of real cheers with their lusty 
frolic, which had a fully perceptible 
background of good, brassy jazz. 
This all-sepia show had a part-sepia 
audience that went wild, and Ella 
Fitzgerald and the Ink Spots added 
frenzy to pandemonium. 

Opening number, "House of Joy." 
sets 'em pretty. Eddie Vinson,, 
shaven - pated, dead - panned sax- 
vocalist, does some hot stuff on 
"Thines Are Not What They Used 
to Be." 

Ella Fitzgerald has plenty of. 
weight with "Saturday Night" and 
brings down the_hou.se as. usual with 
"A Tiskef, a Tasket." Williams fol- 
lows with a new torch song. "Mood 
for Coot," which registers for sock 
results. 

Coke and Poke contrib usual slap- 
slick stuff. Comedy is pretty trans- 
parent and some jokes unintelligible, 
but audience was in mood fop any-, 
thing. Their parody dance of ball- 
room jive killed the gallery. 

With his dual voice and expres- 
sive hands. Bill Kenny leads the Ink 
Spots, two singers and two guitarists 
clicking right from start. "1 Lose a 
Friend Tomorrow." new offering, 
has confused lyrics but seductive 
rhythm. Miss .'Fitzgerald teams with 
Kenny for "Into Each Life Some 
Rain Must Fall," for more applause 
dividends. Whole show is .torrid, 
entertainment. Dame. 



Apollo. IV. V. 

Teddy McRae Orch (17), Loumcl! 
Morgan. Trio, Pops & Louie, Big Bill, 
Billy Mitchell, Line (12); " Rough, 
Tough and Ready" (Col). 



Indiana's 1'lans 

Indianapolis. June 5. ■ 
A total of 335 Indiana film exhibi- 
tors are pledged to participate in 
free movie day for the "Mighty 7th" 
War Loan drive, Don Rossiter, state 
exhibitor chaiiw»an for WAC, has 
announced. The Indiana committee 
also has arranged 64 bond premieres 
and 47 children's bond shows for the 
drive tC dale. 



. Nothing distinctive about talent 
collection of this Harlem vauder, 
although .better routining would im- 
prove the gait and saleabilily of the 
individual turns. Curiously enough, 
the standard acts, Loumell Morgan • 
Trio and Pops and Louie, are the 
chief sufferers. 

The Morgan outfit, with highly 
listenable material comes on lop of 
a profusion of band numbers thus 
losing some of the drive it would 
have had ordinarily, while Pops and 
Louie lose a lot of their effect com- 
ing at the end of an overlong bill. 
It's still a swell act, however. • 

The orch numbers by Teddy .Mc- 
Rae contain a lot of disonartce not 
written into the music and arc also 
guilty of overlong arrangements. 
However, they're okay in the show- 
backing department. 

Balance of the bill has Big Biil 
and Billy Mitchell, both New Acts, 
and a line whose numbers are pretty 
slipshod. 

Fair business when caught. Jose. 



There's a £i?CW in 



your future! 



■4 It will happen in peacetime— when 
P|? the tasks that now face America 
have been accomplished. Then a smart, 
new Ford will be waiting for you to 
drive it. 

. . . Trip after trip you'll go in ease and 
style. It will be so smooth and gentle 
riding— such a joy to handle. 



Here will be a car that's big and 
sturdy —plenty of room in front and 
back It will be smartly styled. And for 
all its fleet and eager power, you will 
find this new car thrifty in the time- 
honored Ford tradition. ^ V ■ • : 
. . That's how it will be. And when the 
'go ahead" is flashed, we'll be ready to 



start production plans. Meanwhile, 
the full Ford resources are engaged in 
helping to speed the final Victory. 

FORD M 0 TOR C OMR A N Y 




"THE FORD SHOW". Brilliant singim stars, 



After sensational first week 
at Lafayette Theatre, Buffalo 

"...FINE ENTERTAINMENT, SEEN AGAIN OR FOR THE FIRST TIME" 

says BUFFALO COUMSR EXPRESS 




Watch these early engagements... Bijou Theatre, Springfield, 
Mass.* Century, Rochester; Paramount, Syracuse; Colonial! 
Dayton; Missouri, St. Louis; Grand, Columbus. 

NEW PRINTS AND NEW ACCESSORIES NOW AT YOUR EXCHANGE 



Wednesday, June 6, 1913 



PICTURES 



25 



Charlie Reagan on His 25 Yrs. With Par 
Keynotes Cd/s 3d-of-a-Century Drive 



Next month marks the 33d year at ♦ 
what' started out as Famous Players 
and is now Paramount Pictures. Inc. 
In celebrating the occasion, Par will 
hold a third-of-a-century sales drive 
Aug 26 to Sept. 29. it was announced 
Thursday (3D by Charles M. Rea- 
ean v P- in charge of distribution, 
si a luncheon tendered him on his 
25th anniversary as a film salesman, 
all those years with Pa- - 

He added that the third-of-a-cen- 
tury celebration would be without 
fanfare but. that advertising in con- 
nection 'with it would begin this 
month in tradepapers and magazines 
with the keynote to the public being 
33 years of serving entertainment. 
The theme will stress what Par has 
contributed to the industry. 

Two or three broadcasts are being 
arranged as a kickofV on the pictures 
that will be released between Aug. 
26 and Sept. 29. They are "Incendi- 
ary Blonde," "You Came Along." 
"Out of This World," and two re- 
issues. "Northwest Mounted Police" 
and "This Gun For Hire.'' Reagan 
announced. Also, a special trailer is 
being prepared built' around various 
- awards- given-Par-.-last year such_as. 
the Oscars vot£d "Going My Way" 
and on pictures that will be sent on 
release for tour or five months to 
■ come. .-, . .-• 

Allen Usher. Par's district sales 
manager at Chicago, and M. R. 
(Duke) Clark, who holds the dis- 
trict post at Dallas, have been chosen 
by Reagan to tour the country, start- 
ing this month, to lay plans for the 
forthcoming third-of-a-century cele- 
bration; Usher will handle the east- 
ern part of the country, Clark the 
west. 

It was in July. 1912 that Adolph 
Zukor brought to America from 
France a four-reel picture. "Queen 
I.'lizabeth." starring the late Sarah 
Bernhardt, and formed Famous 
Players to sell it. Four years later 
the Jesse L. Lasky Feature Play Co. 
was merged with Zukor' s company, 
organization then becoming known 
as Famous Players-Lasky. In later 
years, when Par expanded by going 
Into the exhibition field, Paramount- 
Publix was set up.- Following bank- 
ruptcy in the early '30s the company 
reached its present title of Paramount 
Pictures. Inc. 

- More than $250,000 will be spent 
to advertise "Incendiary Blonde" 
alone. Since Par is making its third- 
of-a-century pitch mainly to the in- 
dustry, the majority of the money 
to be spent in connection with the 
celebration will go to the trade- 
papers. National release dates have 
been set up on the pictures that will 
figure during the drive. . They aro 
"Out of This World." July 13: "One 
Exciting Night." July 27: "You Came 
Along." Sept. 14: "Incendiary 
Blonde," Aug. 21; and the two re- 
issues, "Northwest Mounted Police" 
and "This Gun For Hire" both on 
Aug. 26. , 



Townley Gets New Ticket 

Hollywood, June 5. 
Jack Townley returned to RKO. 
after a long vacation, undev a new 
contract calling for double services 
as producer and writer. 

Pact contains a clause permitting 
Townley to step in as director if he 
feels that way. 



Balaban Bros.-Perry 
Acquire Downtown, Del., 
From Howard Hughes 

Detroit, June 5. 

The Downtown theatre, which 
Howard Hughes leased in 1943, has 
been purchased by Harry and Elmer 
Balaban. It gives the Balaban cir- 
cuit two houses in the . loop and, 
under present plans, both the Down- 
town and the Adams will- be jointly 
operated by Charles C. Perry, pres- 
ent manager of the latter. 

Hughes p urchased the lease on the 
XiowTit6^\m' > ' - ^jnfi5pt'^ih^eT"Il "was' 
converted into an unsuccessful 
downtown nitery. early in 1943 for 
the .purpose of finding a releasing 
outlet for his Hays-banned "The 
Outlaw." The film, however, never 
got beyond the oil man's West Coast 
theatre but the house was converted 
successfully into a policy of stage 
shows and pix from the lesser dis- 
tributors. ' , '_{ ■ V v .'. 

While the loop houses dabbled 
only occasionally in vaudeville, the 
DoVntown during the past two sea- 
sons built itself well into the black 
under the management of George 
MeCall, Perry announced that the 
current policy of the Jiouse would 
continue for the present with the 
likelihood it would revert to a 
straight picture policy in the fall. 

It puts the ownership of all loop 
houses here in three baskets. With 
the Balabans now taking over two, 
the Fox-Michigan operates the huge 
5.000-seat Fox. and United Detroit 
Theatres enjoys a live-house advan- 
tage, with the Michigan. UA. Palms- 
State. Broadway-Capitol and Madi- 
son. 

The 2.900-soat Downtown was 
originally tagged the Oriental "alter 
it Was built in 1927 by Miles Amus. 
Corp. It closed in May. 1930. 'and 
reopened in August of the same year 
as a, key house in the local RKO 
chain. Still later it was turned into 
the Detroit Casino, the nitery at- 
tempt which washed out and left 
the theatre dark for three years 
until Hughes took over. 



While Censorship Off 
OWI Can Still Hold Up 
U. S. Film Shipments 

While the Office of Censorship has 
discontinued film censorship for im- 
port and export, effective June 9, 
the Office of War Information still 
controls shipping facilities to libe- 
rated and other areas abroad and 
may still control the export of U. S. 
films to some extent, according to 
all indications. .. -•- 

Lester Cowan stated recently that 
while the Office of Censorship had 
approved "Tomorrow the World" for 
showing in liberated areas, the OWI 
did not accept the film for shipment 
overseas to those territories. Despite 
Cowan's protest that Byron Price, 
censorship director, had okayed 
"Tomorrow," OWI officials refused 
to accept the. film for shipment. 

OWI. which has been operating 
under the Psychological Warfare 
Division of SHAEF, has been select- 
ing for shipment those films consid- 
ered . most useful in furthering the 
Allied cause for showing in liberated 
countries. Thus, wherever OWI con- 
trols Shipping, such films would be 
if i vgn priority;' and ntWs wr>nld be' 
held up regardless of the Office of 
Censorship. ■ .■"*-:'. 

Elimination of censorship on film 
exports, however, makes available 
for export a number of U. S. pic- 
tures which have been held up by 
the Boards of Reviews at Los An- 
geles and New York to many areas 
where transportation facilities are 
not dictated by the OWI. 

Warning has been sounded by 
Government reps that voluntary 
censorship may be imperiled by 
careless selection ot films for export, 
and the. Office of Censorship may in- 
tervene in such instances. Mean- 
time, all film's for import or export 
will again clear through the U. S. 
Customs Department, with censor- 
ship applying chiefly whenever 
moral issues are concerned. 

Film Boards pf Review in Los 
Angeles and New York are being 
discontinued. • 



Gov't Sets Forth 15 Points on Which 
It Will Rely in Suit Against Majors 



Borzage's Next at Rep 

Hollywood, June 5. 

Second production by Frank Bor- 
zage at Republic will be "That Man 
Malone." story by Borden Chase, re- 
cently purchased from RKO. John 
Wayne is slated to star. 

Filming starts when Borzage com- 
pletes his first Republic production, 
"Concerto," to be made in Techni- 
color, starting July 1. . 



Joe Blumenfeld Still 
Wants to Play Selznick 
Pix; After 'Spellbound' 

San Francisco, June 5. 

Joe Blumenfeld has made formal 
application to United Artists' local 
blanch for the right to play the 
David O. Selznick film. "Spellbound." 
at his United Artists theatre here, in 
a move to prevent the pix being sold 
away to Fox-West Coast or any 
other circuit for a firstrun playdate, 
~1fe"T6"sl "I'll Be Seeing" You" some 
months ago to P-WC when Selznick 
entered into a separate deal with the 
circuit for screening. He .protested 
the sella way because he has the 
right to UA first-runs locally. 

Complaint never reached court, 
because Selznick claimed "You" was 
a Vanguard ' production by Dore 
Schary, and that his distribution deal 
with UA only called for personal 
productions. 



♦ The Government answer^ to fur- 
ther interrogatories, propounded by 
the producers-distributors, pursuant 
to the court order dated May 11, 
1945. were filed in N. Y, Federal 
Court last week. Government sets 
forth some 15 points on which it wilt 
rely in its suit against the major 
companies, answers and information 
going to all eight distributors. 

Eight states and 183 towns are 
listed where the Government ex- 
pects to prove a monopoly, i n that 
defendant film distributors prevent- 
ed unaffiliated theatres tgotn com- 
peting. 

The Government expects to show 
that in each instance where an un- 
affiliated theatre has. been prevented 
from competing . with a defendant 
circuit or theatre, this has resulted 
from the use of the defendant's cir- 
cuit buying power. Details of the 
manner in which; .such' unaffiliated 
theatre were discriminated against 
are set forth'. 

The Government expects to show- 
that the defendants have acquired 
and are maintaining a monopoly in 
the exhibition of motion pictures as 
•follows, according to slate, number 
©flowns ■'and-company: : ;•' :' — 

State Towns Companies 
Alabama 10 Paramount' 



Par. 20ih-Fox 
Paramount 
20th-Fox. Warner 
20lh-Fbx. Par, 
All 5 Companies 
Paramount ';''■• 
Paramount 



De Toth Adieus Stromberg 

Hollywood, June 5. • 
Andre De Toth and Hunt Strom- 
berg Productions dissolved their 
contract by mutual agreement? Un- 
derstood the director will freelance, 
with a one-picture chore for Hal 
Wallis in the offing. 

Currently. De Toth is in Palm 
Springs, recuperating from a throat 
infection. 



5 Majors in Chi Up 

Backroomers 10% 

Chicago. June 5. 
• Five exchange!; — Metro. Universal. 
20th-Fox. RKO and United Artists- 
have kicked in with 10' i increase to 
service department employees (film 
inspectors, shipping clerks and postal 
clerks)- so far in Chi. Minneapolis. 
Milwaukee and Indianapolis, War 
Labor Board-approved raises being 

-retroactive to Dec. 1, 1942. leaving 
Paramount, Columbia and Republic 
yet to pay off. 

Sam Lamasky. business rep of 
IATSE Local B-45, service dept. 
union., also advised WLB has just 
approved union's old contract, nego- 
tiated by IATSE headquarters. N. Y., 
and running from Dec. l.» 1942 to 
Nov. 30. 1944, and that he's now ne- 
gotiating for a new one. running 

•"'from Dee. 1 or last year to Nov. 30. 
1946. 

Volume of business and help short- 
age was responsible for almost all 
backroom help pitching in and work- 
ing Decoration Day (30 i. scale for 
same being time-and-a-half, 



Ferry Joins Lesser As 
'Canteen' Talent Aide 

Hollywood. June S.- 
Sol Lesser, before leaving for 
Europe, inked Felix (Fete) Ferry, 
onetime producer of Parisian revues, 
as talent coordinator for the forth- 
coming picture, "Paris Canteen." 
While Lesser is in France, Ferry will 
remain in Hollywood to round up 
American talent, later going over- 
seas to arrange for British and 
French stars t'o appear in ••Canteen." 

In recent years Ferry has been as- 
sociated with the Hayward-Deverich 
agency, 'j 



Sterling Adds Trio in Northwest; 
Other Briefs From Bistrib Keys 



Seattle, June / 5. 
John Danz. president of Sterling 
Theatres, announced acquisition of 
three new theatres . in Kelso and 
Longview. formerly operated by" 
Wm. G. Ripley. They are the Co- 
lumbia and Longview. both in Long- 
view, and the Kelso, in Kelso: W. T. 
Allen. Jr., former suburban theatre 
owner of Tacoma. will be manager. 
Extends the Sterling list to 22 the- 
atres, two in Dallas. Ore., and the 
others in Seattle. • .'.-,. 

Dan Putman. Jr.. named manager 
of the Bay. at Manette, operated by 
Evergreen ' Theatres. . - 

Russell Brown, former manage! ol 
D & R. theatre. Aberdeen, trans- 
ferred to Portland, where he will be 
manager ot Liberty (Evergreen)- 



Arthur Shulman. 
set deal. 



Berk & Kfumgold 



P-T Slates 7 Pix for Par 

_-. . Hollywood. June 5.". 

Bill pine and Bill Thomas will 
turn out' seven features as their 
1945-40 program for Paramount' re- 
lease. First picture on the new 
schedule is expected to roll before 
the end of this month. 

Double-Bill producing unit has two 
years to go on its releasing contract 
with Paramount. 



Buffalo Drive-In Pards 
Feud, Ask Receivership 

Buffalo. June 5. 

Controversy between partners of 
the Niagara Drive-in has resulted in 
an order by Supreme Court Justice 
Hinkley here directing appointment 
of receiver.- Mr. and Mrs. Louis 
Walters of Cleveland sought to com- 
pel co-partner James S. Driscoll of 
Erie. Pa., to dissolve the partnership 
and sell the assets Driscoll con- 
tended such .action would result in 
irreparable loss a iid asked that he 
be permitted to cany on the theatre 
for the summer season. He further 
denied an allegation (hat he had. re- 
fused an accounting and stated that 
he was willing to pay $32,500 to his 
partners, for their share in the en- 
terprise. ' 

Interest in alien property films 
has beeiv expressed from time to 
time by .Hollywood producers be- 
cause of live value of the . stories 
involved. '. 

Judge Hinckley appointed Elmer 
C. Winegar, local manager of Telc- 
noWs. as receiver under bond of 
$10.0(10 to manage the drive-in dur- 
ing pendency of action. 



Yoimgstown, O., .$700,000 Project 

Youngstown. O.. June 5. 
City Planning Commission ap- 
proved .$700,000 community shopping 
center here, to include two theatres. 
Peter M. Weilman. owner of several 
houses in Mahoning Valley, is appli- 
cant lor new project. 



D. C. Variety's" $1«;000 m 3 Mos. 

Washington. June 5. 

With the single i'.em of more than 
$6,000 topping the list, the Tent No. 
Ill has donated close to $10,000 to 
charities in the first -quarter of 194 a, 
an all-time high for a three-month 
period. . - ', 

Tent got $Gi509.12 from matinee of 
the "Ice-Capades." coin going, to 
Washington Boys. Club Foundation. 

Other disbursements included 
more than $1,200 for hospital and 
medical bills for 'seriously ill wife 
of a Fellow Barker; $275 for a... 15- 
week' course of canitorium treat- 
ment for an industry member,: and 
$100 to the "Litlle Sisters of the 
Poor." Meanwhile Rudy Bel'ger. 
chairman of the Welfare Fund, has 
disclosed individual gifts of $100 
each from two. associate., barker,:;, 
and $500 from a third. 

Col. Rudd's Citation 

Gol. A. G. Rudd. who recently, re- 
tired from the Army, to resume; his | 



Too Gruesome? 

Providence. June 5. 
•RKO Alboo management had tn 
yank one ol the most gruesome dis- 
plays ever seen hereabouts on a 
coming pie. this week, when after, 
two .days in .the lobby, lire iit-pt'etors 
spotted M and ordered it pulled out. 
Animated display was the brain- 
child of Hollywood to lend a little 
more horror to "Body Siiatchcrs" 
which opens at Albee Wednesday 
1 6 i. Life-size wooden figure ol' Kar- 
lolV is shown, wa'sl-deep in a -grave, 
lifting body, of woman out of it. At- 
tracted: considerable attention until 
inspectors made -their weekly rounds 
and discovered it: 

Ruling pointed out that it flit down 
the size of the exits and, therefore 
was dangerous. Dave Levin, man- 
ager, tried to hire a stoic or window 
downtown, but all wore filled up. 

Jack Vivian Quits Maleo 

jonesbord, Ark.. June. 5. 
•Tack Vivian resigned as manager 
of Mateo Theatres, and will take his 
A M en Bros. Shows on road again 
this season. 

Vivian disbanded his -show at. end 
of 1942 because: ot transportation 
troubles, , 



Arizona 13 

Arkansas 17. 

California 55 

Colorado 1.6 

Connecticut 15 

Florida 41 

Georgia 16 

Plaintiff would , show that such 
monopolies have been acquired and 
maintained by use of all the illegal 
actions alleged in the complaints. -■■ 
Government also would show that 
all producer-exhibitor defendants 
have acted in concert with each 
other in acquiring and maintaining 
these monopolies. 

The information obtained and re- 
lating to facts occurring since plain- 
tiff filed its answers to interrogator- 
ies addressed to the original com- 
plaint incVude information disclosed 
at trials, of Crescent, Schine and 
Griffith suits in 1941-1944 and 1945, 
respectively: information as to 
change in defendants' corporate ' 
structure and \o theatre holdings 
since 1939. and film distribution data 
to be furnished by defendants pur- 
suant to agreement with plaintiff; 
facts disclosed by files of film code 
authority of NRA: facts relating to 
individual theatre holdings as may 
be. elicited, by further pre-trial ex- 
aminations or furnished by defend- 
ant 1 -: and motion -picture industry 
statistics covering reports by' de- 
fendants and subsidiaries to stock- 
holders and to SEC. tax returns filed 
by defendants, reports of .Depart- 
ment of Commerce. 

The summaries are complete as to 
names of theatres, exhibitors, dis- 
tributors and particular defendants 
involved, as is the data supplied to 
the Government by the complainant. 

Gary Cooper Hits Road 
To Bally His Newest Pic 

Gary Cooper is set for a series of 
personals.^ starting June 20.'. In con- 
nection with opening of "Along 
Came Jones." which he produced for 
International Pictures. He'll appear 
at the Maeslic, Dallas. June 20; 
Metropolitan, Houston. 21: Majestic, 
San Antonio. 22: Ma.ie.-tic. Fort 
Worth. 23. He, is also, slated for an . 
all-south radio broadcast .emanating 
from Dallas, on June 24. 

"Jones." has been booked into • 
around 100 theatres in Texas week 
beginning June 20. and in 40 theatres 
in Oklahoma , the following week. 
RKO has set . general release for 
July l. 

Bob O'DonneH of Interstate han- 
dled the four-city tour arrangements, 
foi Cooper. - 



New House for 'Charleston. S> C. 

D. Ireland Thomas, in associatioi 



directing the activities of the Army 
Emergehcv Relief and Personal Af- 
fairs Di vision , of the Second Service 

C T>, m ,rr| d '>v- 1 s made •bV ? Afe'f6r «i»V' ^aBkci.'wl^.-sij'ii operate two' other 
era- T A Te v ? commai, S i «" Second Ave have taken 

Second Service Command, at Gov- a .long-term lease on the T oiks, a 
htand on Memorial Day .30 ., house at 12th Si^OdtojdATO 

House seat's 1,200. and will be con- 



Folks. N. V., Changes Hands 

Maxwc'IT Wnllach and . David | 



ernors 



Fclilman Oels Strand, Newa k 

: '-Strand.- 600->eat Newark. N. J. 
theatre, goes to Lucian T, Fclufnnti 
on a Inng-lerm lease. •House, h::- 
been operated lor last 10 jcars b> 



verted into a film, theatre, with mod- 
' ernizat.on to be done as soon as con- 
silium's penhit.' Theatre will be re- 
named the Stiiyvcsant. Deal handled 
I Ijv Berk &• Kri'mqold. .-"•' 



SPU Seeks Pay Hike 

Hollywood, June 5> : 
Screen Players Union, through its 
business representative. Mike Jeffers, 
submitted demands to major studios 
for a daiiy rate of S16-.50 for extras 
1 and 'substantial increases fur special 
work.. :. ' ' :•'.'-'■' ' 

Understood cdunter-proposaU Will - 
be submitted by the producers to 
farm a basis for negotiations. • 

Drive for a closed shop agreement 
with major film stud : «s has been 
started by the SPU . which has a 
similar contract with at! the inde- 
pi hdeni prodtteers. 



PftfttETr 



m..lir« Mlay, June <"», 1945 




ALL AMERICA KNOWS the hard-hitting 
• But nobody knows it as well as we 



Wednesday, June 6, 1945 



nrnrr 



17 



100.00 Orchid from YOU 



hard-selling job you Exhibitors have done during the past six War Loans. 
, understand fully how much of your time and energy went into that vital 

work— and is now going into the Showmen's Seventh. 

• As citizens, we thank you for the tanks and planes and 
guns whose purchase your tireless sales-work made possible. 

• As motion picture producers and distributors, we thank 
you for the credit and honor your efforts have reflected 

on the industry were all part of. 

ease let us know in what way we can 
help you. As in the past, our management men, our 
field men, our ad and publicity men are at your service. 
When you want em, say the word. Meanwhile, the word 
we say to you is: CONGRATULATIONS! 




COLUMBIA PICTURES CORP. 
METRO -GOLDWYN -MAYER PICTURES 
PARAMOUNT PICTURES INC. 
RKO-RADIO PICTURES, INC. 
TWENTIETH CENTURY-FOX FILM CORP. 
UNITED ARTISTS CORP. 
UNIVERSAL PICTURES COMPANY, INC. 
WARNER BROS. PICTURES, INC. 



28 



PICTURES 



PAriety 



Wednesday, June 6, 1943 



Gl's Build Brit. Pix 



Continued horn page 1 



don't want the business." he said. 
However, as president of the British 
Motion Pictures Producers Associa- 
tion, whose members are strongly 
pro quota, Rank was obliged to sup- 
port quota restrictions. 

Hank further- stated that 1. If Brit- 
ish pictures ate not successful in 
the U. S. it is "our fault," not that 
of American audiences. \ . .': ' 
. 2. He has no . complaints about 
his raw film allocations in the U. S. 
and that he understands the dif- 
ficulties of supply here. 

3. British producers are not plan- 
ning to set up a Production. Cade 
Authority similar to that of the Hays 
organization. ; '[■; 

4. Picture business in England is 
expected to decline from the current 
high levels but will remain much 
higher than pre-war. 

5. There will be a substantial mar- j room fjlms in British schools, Rank 
kct for British and American . films j stated that such projectors would 



out of British circuits, Raiik slated 
that he knew of no such regulation 
being proposed. He said that there 
had been proposed a plan for creat- 
ing a trusteeship so -that control of 
British, circuits would never go out 
of British hands. He considered it 
unlikely, however, that such a. law 
would be adopted since no such reg- 
ulation applied to othet industry 
and he did not believe that special 
laws wdilld be approved .specifically 
for one industry. ■'. 

Regarding a . drop in b o. receipts 
as an aftermath of the war. Rank 
said that picture business had no 
other amusement competition dur- 
ing'the war; that racing, football and 
other amusement facilities, as well 
as other factors, would contribute 
to a decline in business. : 
More Educational 
Outlining increased use of class- 



on the continent. 

C. British production costs are too 
high' and will have .to come clown: 
Rank stated that he plans to pro- 

■duce -i ' rom 20 to 30 pictures annually. 

"costing- " from • 150.000 " to """450,000" 
pounds, He also said he hoped Tor 
an interchange of American and 
British stars, with possibility that 
American producers, directors and 
technicians would also be used for 
British production.-. 

Rank denied that the British 
Board 6f Trade had set aside from 
20.000,000 to 25.000,000 feet of raw 
film for his use to print up pictures 
for distribution in the U. S. 

He noted that the Hays office pro- 
duction code is not much different 
from the general British production 
practice, although there is no such 
code in England and none is con- 
templated. There is a censor, how- 
ever, and British producers are 
fully aware of the censorship bar- 
riers. 

Questioned about recent reports 
that there was a move under way in 
England to force American interests 



likely be subsidized by the British 
Government. He anticipates a 
greatly increased use of films . in 
schools postwar. 

Reconstruction of bombed theatres 
or "building of-new— theatres- js--un- 
It4cely in the -immediate future. 
Rank said it was likely that some 
of his blitzed flour mills would be 
rebuilt first. ".; ■»■' 

Theatre construction in Canada, 
via Odeon Theatres of Canada, is be- 
ing planned. Sites in Toronto and 

| Montreal • are being selected. Rank 
also plans a small studio in Toronto 

I for the production of children's films 
and educational shorts. 

Rank-MPPDA 
Importance of the free flow of 
films into all countries of the postwar 
world because they are able to pro- 
mote international understanding was 
stressed by leaders of the American 
and British 'film industries at the 
dinner given in honor of Rank., by 
Will H. Hays, head of the Motion 
Picture Producers & Distributors 
Assn.. at the Waldorf-Astoria hotel 
Mondav (4* night. 



New York Theatres 



BETTE DAVIS 

In Warner Brov Hit!. 

"THE CORN IS GREEN" 

With • 

John DALL • Joan LORRING 
Nigel BRUCE • Rhys WILLIAMS 

IVayot 51 st St HOLLYWOOD 



Ida Lupino • Sydney Grccnstreet 
William Princ* 

In tViirnrr Urns, (lit ! 

: , TILLQW__TO_PO&'K 

IN PERSON 

SHEP FIELDS 

AND HIS ORCHESTRA 

EXTRA 
BORRAH MINEVITCH'S 
HARMONICA RASCALS 

B'way & 47th St. STRAND 



r "OUT OF THIS WORLD" * 

A Vamliiuuitl, Vic-lure 
In Person 
AI.I.AN .lONKS - <ilT. LAMB 
KII.KUN HAKTON 
■HiBllV AVALII ami "BiiimI 
BUY BONDS HERE 



ItAIHII 

CITV 



MUSIC HALL 

"THE VALLEY 
OF DECISION" 

Spectacular Stage Productioni 



Ifp^i ON .SCOTi EX- 
Td.urs..- .lune ' 
SjM*ii<-ei\ 
TK.WV 
Klltllllrilip 
IlKI'ltl «\ 

in ai-c.-M's 
"WITHOUT 
LOVE" 



I.N PERSON 
HAPPY 

FELTON 

ADRIAN 

ROLLINI 
TRIO 



VAN JOHNSON 
ESTHER WILLIAMS 

M-G-M-, "THRILL 
OF A ROMANCE 




r 



NOW AT ROXY 



PALACE 



B WAY & 

47th St. 



PEARL BUCK'S 

"CHINA SKY" 

Kit mini ph Scott, Kltth Warrick 

An '.RKO Radio I'iciuie 



SPOTLIGHT 
ON CONGRESS 




DAVIO 



A 

two tints 
nut 



WK 50th 
Ctnlury.Fo* 
• titan 



^ VICTORIA 



»'woy * 46lh S'. _ 



m MEDAL 
FOR BENNY 



A Paramount DIVOI IB'wuy * 4sth St. 
Picture T . waB, pb9ri Often 9:30 a.m. 



RANK'S SOCIAL WHIRL 
IN CANADA AND N.Y. CITY 

Following the: annual meeting of 
Odeon Theatres of Canada, Ltd.. J. 
Arthur Rank and his party left To- 
ronto last Thursday (31) lor a week- 
end at the Seigncury Club. Monte- 
bello, Quebec, as guests of D. C. 
Coleman, president of the Canadian 
Pacfic Railway, who is a director, of 
Odeon. "' « 

Rank/accompanied by G. I. Wood- 
ham Smith, his legal adviser, John 
Davis, theatre operator, and Barring- 
ton Gaifi, left Montebello for N. Y. 
over the weekend. During his con- 
ferences with Paul N; Nathanson. his 
partner in Odeon of Canada. Rank 
confirmed plans for expansion : of 
this Canadian circuit and also an- 
nounced the formation of a new dis- 
tribution company within Canada, 
in partnership with Nathanson, to 
be called Eagle-Lion of Canada. 

Rank plans to stay in New York for 
about two weeks, then leaving for 
the Coast. He stops over, in Chicago 
and Minneapolis en route 

He was guest of the Motion Pic- 
ture Producers It Distributors of 
America at a dinner Monday (4) 
night, was hosted by United Artists 
at a private dinner last night (Tiles'), 
will be given a luncheon by the In- 
dependent -T-heatre-O wner.s. Associa-.- 
tion of N. Y. tomorrow (Thursday), 
and is slated to be the guest of the 
Universal directorate tomorrow 
night (Thurs). Circuit heads have 
been invited to attend the ITOA 
luncheon meeting. 

Rank met Nate Blumberg. Presi- 
dent of Universal, in which Rank is 
the largest single stockholder, for 
the first time in N. Y. last Monday 
(4) morning, about two hours after 
Rank trained in from Canada. This 
is Rank's first visit to America. / 



U. S. Pix in 'New Deals' 



Continued from page 3 



Rank's Associates 



Continued from page 3 



PAR BUYS WACKY TOME 

• ■ Hollywood. June 5. 

Paramount bought Janet Van 
Duyn's novel, "I Married Them," re- 
cently published by Howell Soskln, 
for fall production. 

Story deals with a sane girl who 
marries into a family of eccentrics. 



his exploratory discussions in the 
U.S. 

Selznick. Goldwyn? 

While Rank denied negotiating a 
deal with either Selznick or Samuel 
Goldwyn, these producers and Rank 
have much in common in their fu- 
ture planning. Selznick. like Rank, 
is looking ahead for a distribution 
unit in the U. S. Rank, if deciding 
that American pictures arc necessary 
to follow through on extensive plans 
to secure a substantial slice of the 
worldwide market (including U. S.I, 
might need a- top' American produc- 
tion unit. Rank also is ink-rested in 
securing a U. S. distribution unit of 
his own although, as Ban ingion 
Gain (Rank's financial counsel), ex- 
plained on his last trip here, such a 
move is considered impractical be- 
cause of shortage of manpower and 
other facilities at this time. (Eagle- 
Lion Films, Rank subsid in the U. S.. 
headed by Arthur W. Kelly, has been 
serving mainly to set distribution 
through other companies here.) 

Through Rank, producers such as 
Selznick and Goldwyn could secure 
financing for extensive production as 
well as distribution in Great Britain 
and elsewhere. A t'ieup with Rank 
might also serve as a Hedge against 
restrictive quota legislation. 

For the moment. Rank pointed out. 
the raw film shortage in the U. S.. 
precludes any definite production- 
distribution expansion in the U. S. 
This also applies to acquisition of a 
showcase theatre in New York, which 
Rank said he had under considera- 
tion. He stated he had no plans for 
the acquisition or construction of 
theatres throughout the U. S. Rank 
said there would scarcely be any 
need for a showcase theatre if he 
had no pictures to show. 

Rank set seven pictures for dis T 
tribution through United Artists with 
three additional pictures to be se- 
lected by UA, as previously reported 
in "Variety." Of these, two have 
been released — "Col. Blimp" and 
"Mr;. Emmanuel." Rank said that he 
has raw stock in England for print- 
ing up two black and white pictures 
to be distributed by UA in the U.S. 
For the rest, the British operator 
said he had no : raw film available 
at thisjime. although he expects that 
.supplies will be more plentiful be- 
fore long. ■ 

"The Way Ahead." which Rank is 
releasing-in the U. S. through 20th- 
Fox, was printed up in England and 
the prints shipped here. 



work to stimulate native French pro- 
duction. 

' Tension Eases 

Indications, according to latest re- 
ports, are fftat there is less tension 
in Franco-American film relations 
and that the U. S. foreign depart- 
ment heads in France are meeting 
with fewer obstructionist tactics in 
their efforts to set up a workable 
system for the film trade. 

Jean Painleve, incidentally, has 
resigned his post as head of the film 
division of the French Ministry of 
Information, although whether this 
development has any direct relation 
to the more favorable 1 atmosphere 
which currently reported is un- 
known. No one French government 
rep, it. is believed, has been formu- 
lating film policy. Motion picture 
business appears, rather, to be al- 
most everybody's business — every- 
body in the French government, that 
is.. Thus the resignation of any one 
official would scarcely reflect any 
basic change in general policy. (The 
shakeup in the French cabinet in- 
cluded removal of Francois de Men-- 
thon. Minister of Justice: Pierre 
Henri. Teitgen.JMinisteL- Ot._Iilfor.ma-, 
tion, and Paul Ramadier, Minister of 
Supplies.) 

Proposal to follow the British 
quota system may find acceptance in 
France, because of the impetus to 
French production and French film 
business in general which such a' 
plan implies. 

The British Idea 

. Under the British monetary quota, 
placed in effect by the British Board 
of Trade in 1940. one British feature 
of not less than 7,000 feet was to be 
produced or acquired for every 100,- 

000 feet of American feature film 
imported and the labor cost of such 
films were to be not less than three 
pounds (approximately $12 U. S. 
funds) per foot or approximately 
021.000 pounds per film. (Recently it 
had oeen propsed that the monetary 
labor quota be increased by 50 r n so 
that such films are to cost not. less 
than 4!_ pounds per foot or around 
30.000 pounds per picture). 

However, since 1940, it became ap- 
parent that under wartime condi- 
tions Britain could provide neither 
the studio facilities nor the man- 
[lower, nor.-ihe materials required 
by the American companies to meet 
their quota obligations. Therefore a 
new* amendment of the quota law 

1 November, 1942) provided that an 
American company may fulfill its 
obligation by producing one or more 
British pictures for which the .sum 
of 75,000 'pounds in labor cost would 
be spent. 

This 75.000 pounds labor cost was 
to be spent during each quota year 
ending March. In the event that a 
company spent less than 75.00.0 
pounds during a quota year it could 
make up the balance of the labor 
cost by spending the difference dur- 
ing the next year in addition to the 
following year's obligation. 

Also, instead of making up the 



balance of the labor costs during the 
following year a company could 
purchase the distribution rights to a 
British picture for the U. S. or other 
foreign countries and if paying the 
producer of a British picture at least 
20.000 pounds, 50% of the amount 
paid could be allocated to the com- 
pany's share of labor costs. ' This 
procedure, however, has been avail- 
able only to' company's not oper- 
ating in Great Britain under the 
monetary quota, such as United Art- 
ists, or if the rights are purchased 
through a British' subsidiary and 
subsequently assigned to New York 
home office account. 

Monetary terms for the French 
market are, of course, expected to 
be much lower than in Britain since 
cost of film production will be far 
less. 

Quotas 

Under the British quota system 
governing exhibition. 15% of all fea- 
tures and 20% or all shorts shown 
in England must be British-made. 

Despite the complicated issues iiir 
voived — film production and distri- 
bution. U, S. remittances, regulation 
of imports and exports, use of 
blocked balances for film - production:; 
and: . distribution in France— latest 
reports are thai U. S. reps in France 
now stand a better chance of setting 
up workable trading arrangements. 

The RKO deal with Pathe, for dis- 
tribution and production in France, 
and the J. Arthur Rank deal with 
French -Gnurnont (not affiliated with 
Gaumont-British), indicates that the 
need for practical trade agreements 
in the revival of the French film in- 
dustry will likely outweigh many 
other considerations. 



'HOT CARGO' COOLS HEELS 

Hollywood, June 5. 

Pine-Thomas set back production 
ol "Hot Cargo" from June 14 to laic 
September to avoid adverse weather 
in- Northern California. 

Substituted as the next starter is 
"They Made Me a Killer." 



National Screen's Two 
Sales Meets, East-West 

National Screen Service this com- 
ing week will hold two sales con- 
ventions, one in the east, the other 
for the u-esl. to be attended by h.o. 
execs headed by Herman Robbins, 
president, and George Dembow. v.p. 
over selling, in addition to district 
managers and others from the field. 

Teeing off will be a three-day 
meeting at the Waldorf-Astoria 
hotel. N. Y.. on Monday, Tuesday, 
Wednesday (11-12-13). to be fol- 
lowed by a meeting in Chicago on 
Friday. Saturday. Sunday (15-16-17). 
Robbins will preside at both sessions. 

Last year NSS held three sales 
meetings, including one on the Pa- 
cific Coast. 



Mrs. Koerner in Hosp, 
RKO Exec May Not Go 

Hollywood. June 5. 

Charles W. Koerner may call off 
the propsed European trip with the 
other film executives. 

Mrs. Koerner was taken to the 
hospital yesterday (Mon.) with seri- 
ous illness. 




1 -Kilty war correspondents say that 
next to letters, soldiers want fine 
razor "blades most. So... 



2-Sind both in a Personna Blade 

Letter. Ten smooth-shaving blades, 
plus room for photo and letter. 




A PERSONNA BLADE LETTER goes first- 
class mail .. . anywhere, any time... 
only 6/ postage ... no request letter 
needed. Personna Blades are rusr- 
res/sranr...made of finest premium 
aleet . . . hollow- ground for quick, 
slick shaves. Send him a Personna 
Blada Letter today ! 
Personna, 599 Madison Ave., N.Y.22 



PERSONNA 



Blap£ Letter 



Wednesday, June 6, 1945 



19 




WILD BILL 
ELLIOTT 




M* 6 *** 1 7 Shooting Stars 

in one SUM-flM HIT! 




DONALD 
BARRY 





THE SMAP^r??"?"! 



featuring 

with uai 



and 



W/LDBILL 



GEORGE "GABBY" HAvfc 



ALLAN 



ELLIOTT | Z D °NALO 

^^l2Sf ' B ***Y. LIVING 



SUNSET 

CARSON 



ROBERT 
WINGSTQN 



so 



RADIO 



Wednesday, Jmie 6, 19 15 



WOR Brusheroo Beefs on Arrivals 
Of War Heroes Cue N. Y. Confab 



Network and indie station special* 
'events chiefs meet in New York to- 
day (Wed. i to thresh out an im- 
passe with the War Dept. concerning 
''brusherdos" the broadcasters;- claim 
they've" been setting anent air in- 
terviews' with U. S. Army Generals 
returning to this country from over- 
" seas. :■,.'" -..< ' ■'■[ . 

WOR. N. Y.. news- and', special 
events head '.Dave Driscoll com- 
plained earlier this week to Gen- 
eral' Stifle's, director of" the War 
Depl.*s public relations bureau, 
that the web had been stymied on 
two.' occasions from airiny inter- 
views: first, on May 23 with General 
Hodges: second, last Saturday (2 1 
with. General Bradley. Driscoll orig- 
inally .squawked . to . Col. Ed Kirby. 
chief of the radio branch of 1he 
, Army's public relations unit, tatter's 
office replying that the "protest had 
been noted." 

,• Kirov's latest reply to Driscoll's cry 
. ol. ;;fiagrant_ discrimination a ns: 
'.'radio'.'-- was issued to the :''VaTi.eiy" 
• -cwresponcTent in Washington-' yes-* 
terclay (oi. Former pointing out that 
protests were unfounded, said that 
reps of both radio and the press 
were .present' . at General Bradley's 
interview, with complete authority 
to make public his remarks, and also 
that Driscoll. failed to make a dis- 
tinction between a press conference 
: and a radio broadcast, falling to note- 
the format of the latter which often 
includes ofiyhe-record reinarks and 
background material, not for public 
release. Kirby added that the news- 
reals were permitted, to cover Brad- 
ley's airport arrival, and radio reps 
with their mikes were permitted to 
b-; there at the same time. 

Kirby. in his reply, stated he feels 
that the points in question are: i. — 
whether. Gen.' Bradley was prevent- 
ed from broadcasting: 2— whether 
radio reps Were barred from the 
press conference, and 3. — whether 
radio reps were barred from the air- 
port. He added, too, that Gen. Brad- 
ley did broadcast over the entire 
Mutual network last Monday (4>. 

-lUO.g—i.npitWtpHj^ i s iwt.irimr-nrl - 



Andrews Sis Re-Signed 



Oh, Daddy! 

WNEW, N. Y„ is prepping a 
special Father's Day program for 
Sunday, June 17. 

Program will emanate from 
Women's hospital. N. Y„ built 
around description of scene in 
waiting room for expectant 
fathers. 



ByN-K;CBSShift S» Ug hlKBC Picks Up 

ndrews Sisters have been re- . 

M M For 
Waring Bally 



Andrew 

signed for the fall by N.ash-Kelvi- 
nator. but it's likely that the trio's 
'Eight ' to the Bar . Ranch' program 
will be shifted from its current Sun- 
day afternoon (4:30). spot on the 
Blue network to CBS if time can 
be cleared. Meanwhile, the group 
goes oft for the summer to Europe 
for the USO. , They leave around 
July 5 for sis' weeks. 

After returning from the conti- 
nent, the. trio goes into the N. Y. 
Paramount theatre with the ".Ranch" 
program as. a unit. They're getting 
S20.000 -weekly for the package. '. 



ing a pool broadcast for the arrival 
of General Eisenhower on June 19. 



Early Bowouts 
Traced to War, 
'Radio Fatigue 

Wholesale exodus of top network 
airers which got under way in full 
force last week is the earliest on rec- 
ord. Whereas in previous years 
shows stuck it out till late June or 
even into July, with an early Octo- 
ber return generally prevailing, this 
year's decision to scram in late May 
and early June with a late August 
and early September comeback lined 
up stems from a variety "of reasons. 

Chief factor is believed to be a 
whole new trend in listening habits 
developed through the war years, 
conditioned by the tempo of the war 
which found the periods of crises 
occurring in the late summer-early 
fall period and interest sloughing oil 
about this time of year. This has 
been reflected in the upsurge of 
sels-in-use in the early Sept. period 
and the diminished listening in late 
spring and early summer, witli all 
facets of radio— entertainment as well 
as news programs — Cueing their 
exits and entrances accordingly 
With the recent wholesale dropping 
off of sets-ihrtise the boys and gals 
are only too happy for the excuse to 
bow ; out before the embarrassments 
grow too acute and figure that they'll 
cash in on the early return next sea- 
son when they'll stand a better 
chance of garnering a respectable 
audience. 

Factor, too. in the early scramming 
has been the "radio fatigue'' that's 
been setting in. with more than one 
star and program guilty in recent 
weeks of embarrassing lapses that 
must have caused plenty of sponsor 
irritation. 



LaG.sWJZPreem 
Gets Good Press 

New York's Mayor Fiorello H. La- 
Guard ia added to his weekly radio 
reports aired each Sunday noon over 
Gotham's own WNYC last week (31 1 
when he presented first of a series 
of broadcasts over WJZ. Blue net- 
work flagship, which will be heard 
the last Thursday of each month. 

Idea has great possibilities inas- 
much as public response might re- 
sult in LaGuardia becoming a regu- 
lar network feature with commen- 
tary on politics, the' national scene, 
etc.; and. if Blue execs are on the 
ball, it might even be p.issible to 
psrsuade.tbe Mayor to chip. in a-reg> 
tilarly spotted television com men lary 
series. On him that would look 
good; . ' . >.'.'-." 

Half-hour program, last week dif- 
fered .1 i t tie . f ro m t h ose a i red by La - 
Gnardia on WrifYC.-allhough it did 
seem that he .acted, a little more sub- 
clued than, on his Sunday talks. .His 
•subject, niat.er covered acres of 
ground, ranging from mob execution 
of Italy's fallen premier. Mussolini 
• Mayor's- .comment was. "I -always 
knew that the yellow c og wasn't any 

. .good, that he Would' ruin Italy"; a | ouilook lor the show , may shape it- 
denijneiation of Democratic national 
chairman Eob Haonegan' tor admit- 
ting he ' was a, ".sooilsman." into a 
tirade - because . N.Y. taxpayers were 

.forced to pay for hall rentals so 
their children could graduate .from 
j ublie schools and on through , an 

• explanation of his scheme for. forti- 
fying the O.PA and wiping out the 
black market in meat. .;', ;i •■• '- , 

LaGuardia also told his listeners 
.- that all preparation ( had been made 
by the- City, lor the reeepHoh to Geiw 
DA'.'igiit Eisenhower on June 19. All 
the foregoing was relayed in the 
Mayor's own inimitable style and 

• W'jZers reported themselves, more 
than pleased with audience reaction. 

Initial r.ighl-t'ire brauclcasl -on the 
Bine network outlet resulted in 
ream? of publicity for the station, all 
the N.Y. dailies devoting important 
space lo the special event next-clay.. 
June 3, with proper credit to 'the 
station. 



GF, Kate Smith, 
CBS Huddling 

The Ted Collins-General Foods 
siuiLujon over- the Kate Smi'.h 
(ill-minute Sunday night CBS show 
(over which nobody appears very 
happy i was still in a complete state 
of flux as of yesterday. (TOes.) with 
plcnly. of dissatisfaction- on both 
sides, despite reports to the . con- 
trary. There's a. strong possibility 
thai by Friday-pf this week the fall 



If. fo lowing sk.edcl.ed. CP-Collins 
YoOin;. & Rubican- huddles.. '--' *".-:' : 

Mer.nuh.ile. it appears likely that 
The show will cut down, to :» hiilf- 
,'hci'ui ;iie,xt season.' moving into the 
7:30-0 o'clock segment and eliminat- 
ing: the Jack Benny- opposition. But 
i!s generally agreed the two-way 
clissatisfaction has just: about- reached 
the boiling point , where something 
tieliitile is about t-> p0p. ; . ■ ' . '■ • '■-/' 
i But ■' w.baHyer happens, that 'high 
raling i'donJinie show aiYd.ithe night- 
time .program remains .a one-package 
aft: fr, . .'-.-: 



NBC launched Fred Wnring's day- 
time scv.'c.- this week (Mon.i al'ler 
one of the- most concentrated ■ and 
intensive ballyhoo campaigns radio 
has seen in recent years. Figuring 
newspaper ad space, value of net- 
work i'.nd station time devoted to 
bally efforts.' promotion kits dis- 
tributed, mats. - pielures. plaitered 
announcements.' taxi and trolley ear 
..cards, di rcct mail e (Tofts 'and ' other 
gimmicks, it'll estimated': the lab" for" 
the Waring push reached the neigh- 
borhood of $100,000. 

Network officials were reluctant t'. 
reveal the bill for newspaper space 
used, but- it's figured the tab must 
have run close to $50,000. Airtime 
devoted to ball.yi.ng the new day- 
times if sold, would have netted 
over $37,451. This phase of the cam- 
paign included 101 station breaks 
and anr.ouncemen's on WEAF. N. Y„ 
three 15-minute shows, and as many 
live-minute programs on the same 
outlet: 2S4 station breaks and an- 
nouncements on WMAQ. Chicago, 
plus 10 five-minute programs; 142 
breaks and plugs on KOA.. Denver, 
in addition to a trio each of five 
and 15-minute shows. ■ Similar ac- 
tivities were aired by KPO. San 
Francisco; WTAM, Cleveland, -and 
WRC. Washington. Stations listed, 
ol course, are NBC M&O's. In all. 
Waring is being heard via 142 NBC 
outlets. 

Xcle. FM Used 

-Indicative of future procedure in 
promotions of*this type is fact that 
the network also plugged the new- 
comer with .ballyhoo aired' on 
WEAF-FM and NBC's television out- 
let. WNBT. " Latter approach was 
stymied somewhat inasmuch as the 
network was unable lo latch onto 
any suitable film subjects featuring 
(he .Pennsylvania ns, Tele drive, 
therefore,' had to be limited to spo- 
ken plugs before the. boxing broad- 
easts Friday nights on V WNBT and 
records played during test pattern 
periods. 

In addition to promotion campaign 
piloted by Charles Hammond and 
Jim Gaines. NBC's publicity staffers 
directed by Sid Eiges also pitched 
in during the past several weeks sup- 
plying dailies, mags and the tra:'e 
pre^s with mats, photos, biogs. etc., 
as well as preparing scripts for use 
On the . network's "Radio. Reporter" 
and other sustaicers. Eiges likewise 
gifted the nation's racliajeditors and 
columnists with an album of War- 
'.ng's recorded tunes. Routine press 
releases from Eiges' department have 
been carrying slugs at the baltonr of 
ciach page heralding Waring's return 
to the web and special clip sheet'.- 
and other materials also added to the 
drive. -'.... .. ■ 

.. In addition, many NBC a/filiales 
thi'oughoui the nation pitched in on 
their own hook to' rouse listener in- 
terest., but no estimate of .expendi- 
tures thus accruing to the campaign 
cc'uld be obtained. 



Stout, Watts for Brown 

Dick Wat s and Rex Stout, among 
o I hers, are set to pinch-hit for GB.S 
bobk critic John Mason Brown 
when, latter goes on vacation lor six 
«■<»>•!;< starting July 28.. 

Brown's prc/gnmi is hearil i' •< 'M 2 
to 2:l;'i p.m. tm Saturdays. 



General Mills, Swift Co. 
Eyeing Open 'B'fast Club' 

'"„'.. ' Chicago. June 5. 

With, the, purchase of., the last 15- 
minutCK of the "Breakfast Club",I'ist 
wcci; by the Philco Goi'p.. and the 
interest being shown in the: remain- 
ing unsold half-hour, there is a 
slrnng'.possiblity. that the entire liour 
Vvitl- bo sjjoiy-ored by the time .the 
show 1 .changes from six to' five times 
a weekm the fall: . 

Phiico. through . tire Hutchins Atlv. 
Co., has sime . a 52-week .'contrati 
for i'ie n:4,->-9. a. m. (CWTi ciuarler- 
houv starting Sept! 2, and the iirs.1 
ciua.ter. 3-(,:lS' a.m. ..(CWT'i, is se- 
riously being considered by General 
Mills. - Swill & Co.. which bankrolls 
i'\e l!:15-8:lo. a.m.' spot, is thinking 
of taking' over tlfe other J 3 mi.nules. 
P'lli' hour (!C -"Bre:.\kl'ast Chi!)" is 
now being hoat'd over appro-;:' ■■>(•- 1 >- 
jiliK- of the Blue'.- slalious. 

Vi • '.-' 



April Time Sales Total Cues Query, 
'Is Goldmine Running Out of Gold?' 

Estimated gross time sales for the four major networks for the month 
of April reveal some significant figures. The $15,028,980 total tor the 
month not only represents a sizable dip compared with the previous 
month's $16,063,831, but also adds up to a 4 r i drop in billings com- 
pared with the April, 1944. figures. Strangely, enough, only the Blue 
shows an increase (2'i V oyer the previous. April (those, wholesale .can- 
cellations in recent months won't make themselves apparent until later- 
in-the-year monthly breakdowns! while CBS, NBC and Mutual billings 
all showed, decreases for the month compared with '44. .-' '■-■"; 

On the cumulative side, estimated grass time sales for the first four 
months add up'to $63,690,415. representing' a 3%' boost over '44. '.with 
the Blue 19 r ; ahead, CBS breaking even with: a total of $22.477.0S4. 
compared with "$22,473,09.1 for the previous first four months. NBC 3", 
ahead of last year and Mutual nosediving 14'',., , , - 

. Ne t work G ross Ti me »Sa !es 





10*5 


1911 '■ 


Vil. 


Blue .... 


. . ..... -$3,228,432 


. $3,162,437. 


'■ -r 2 


t'ulumbia .... 


. . . .. ... " 5,278,327 


-V 5.054.4.:9 ■ 


, .-■ — 7 


Mutual ', .:.' 


1.538,329 


1.676.408 


— 8 


NBC 


4.983.842 


__5.i65.927 -'-"•'" 


V —4 




. , $15.028.98Q . ; $15,059,211 . '- : 


- - 4 




"FOR riltST i'OCK MONTHS ' tt, 






1945 :•'.';'- 


1911 


Pel. 


Bine .':>;'.;.., 


. .. . . . : , . $14,197,039 


$1 1.943,344 


. -1-19 


t <i 111 in ilia . . 


22.477.634 


22.473,093 : 


0 


Mutual 


; .... 5.S(i4'.274 « 


6.849,792 


— 14 


NBC .'••,'. ..... 


:■;•:■; ■'.;'-V.'v 21.ir.7.3U3 . 


20.518,833 


.-.'--;3 




$63,096,415 


$6 1. 73.1.1 14 


•: 3. 



U. S. Education Coime Points Way To 
Expanding Use of Radio in Schools 



Another Joan (Carroll) 
Teams Up With Haley 

With the Jaan Davis-Jack Haley 
combo splitting tip after this sea- 
son. Scaliest, occupying the Thurs- 
day night 9:30 spot on NBC, has 
found its new partner for Haley. 
She's Joan Carroll, touted in ad- 
vance as a comedienne with poten- 
tialities as a famine Bob Hope. .■'-. •' 

Trade interest is keen In gal. who 
played, two weeks at Loew s State. 
N., Y.. recently and has a vaude 
background, though never in pix or 
radio. Herb. Rosenthal, of MCA. 
spotted her while she was trouping 
.with a USO-Camp Sliows unil. with 
Sealtesl going along on an okay. 



Frank Stanton As 
CBS General Mgr. 

CBS board of directors at its meet- 
ing in New. York Monday . (4 > . paved 
the . way' for the -.anticipated "inner, 
sanctum" resh.' fling, as outlined , in 
last week's "Variety.'" with veepce 
Fiank Stanton being designated a.', 
general manager of the network. 
Thus Stanton moves up as' No. 2 man 
in ll-c CBS operational setups Willi 
exec, veep-ee Paul Ke ten currently 
at the heiin ciuring the absence -of 
prcsy Col. William S. Paley. Cen- 
cral manager post of nelwork was 
formerly held . by Keslen befnie; lal> 
tor Slejiped up as exec v. p. of -the 
network. , . •'' •■ '-," 

Elevation of Stanton as v.p.-g.m. 
of CBS the w-a^ aW. elected to. the. 
board on "Monday along, with' Joe 
Ream, vccpee-secrelar.y. and Frank 
K. -White. . vecpee-treasufer i comes 
as .no surprise to indusiry execs 
\v!io..have watched. S.lantbli's ii.-e.in 
the past lew years as a k-cv indusl.'s 
ligui e. lie has. played 'a particuiaWy 
doimiiant role in the " field of re- 
search. At 37 he's the youne.osi ma- 
jor exec in radio. 
. Consensus appears to lie that prexy 
Paley- Will ultinialety step into the 
berth of chairman, o£ the "board oi 
CBS ,Wi;h Ke-iei: taking e.ve; as 
prcsic'.cr.t. 



Guy Kibbees Replacer 

. .-"Alias .the Deacon,'" draniatic- 
comedy stanza starring film actor 
Guy Kibbee. was auditioned last 
week by the Woodbury Co. as a pos- 
sible replacement for its '■Hollywood 
Mystery- Time". Sunday night'-hair- 
hour. following Walter Winehell on 
the Blue. 

Jo 'in Lovelon. of Lennen & Mit- 
chell, agency on the account, di- 
rected, with Herb Little, Jr. and 
Dave Victcn .scrinliug. 



Schenectady, June 5; 
/Radio's horizons are. ever widen- 
ing, .because radio is "unsurpassed by 
few, if any. other media tor stimu- 
lating self-examinal ion and promot- ' 
ing the development of rationally . 
based ideas,"' Dr. John W. Stuc.e- 
baker. U. S, Commissioner of Edu- 
cation, declared in the feature ad- 
dress at. the Northeastern Radio 
Council conference held here. WGY, 
WSNY and WBCA. broadcast a num- 
ber of Cani'ereuCe programs, 'write' 
WRCB televised much of the two-, 
day 'meeting. Used in conjunction 
wii.h orthodox instructional materials 
and methods, radio is capable of ac-. 
celerating the learning process and 
frequently, of. increasing the reten- 
tive part. Dr. Studebaker said. 

In sehoo's where radio is used, 
there is a marked tendency for' ' 
teachers to become more acutely 
aware of the psycljo logical factors 
which condition the. effectiveness of 
[caching, according to Dr. Studebak- 
er. He advocated the establishment 
of school broadcasting stations. Dr. 
Studebaker cited Cleveland schools . 
as an example of the benefits derived 
from FM stations, operated by the 
school, system. -.The commissioner,- 
known as one of the foremost sup- 
porters of radio for and in education, 
frankly discussed the limitations that 
have kept the medium from reaching 
its peak effectiveness. 
• He listed the following: Difficulties 
in selecting programs for cla.ssronu 
use in' view of the. liniUed inrorma-.'. 
lion teachers possess as to educa'tiiih- 
a) broadcasts.- trouble in arranging 
class schedules for stuc'eiit listening; 
limited radio facilities in schools: im- 
.-uitab'tlity of many' education uro- 
grams to .specific, needs of s'chools; 
the horn oi the dilemma in which 
commercial operators find them- 
selves, because of .the .necessity to 
design, programs appealing to rela- 
tively targe audiences. , " ' 

Dr. Sludebaker's suggestions fur 
overcuming these handicaps iircliid- 
eri; Rebroadcasling of regilUu- cc.nu- 
mercial and sustaining programs, to 
sch{H)is: thrnhgb; : FJ.l educational ila- ; 
lions; expanded u-c of recbfdiug'- of 
stahdard radio . shows, and speeilic' 
educational programs produced by 
FM school stations. Dr. Siudcbii'.'cr 
wa- televised with Dr. W. Houarcl 
Pillsbur.v. Schenectady supcrintend- 
eut of schools and a strong believer 
in ra-'co . ns -part of - the currieulti r, 
on VVCGB tiie opening night off lie. 
C'onl'e ctice. .They ciiscus-'ed the l r .S.. 
Ol't-iee of Education,, its. history and . 
policies. . : '.'■ ■'':■• 

Dr. I. Keith. Tyler, Y.ireetnr ol O'.'.io 
State University Institute for E.luca- 
liotj by Radio, sptiaking oil the same 
morning; program with Dr. SUidc- 
ba!;er. "siaiec! thai "radio, -.'.not X>V' 
schools, is our greatest ccliicaliortil 
agency today.*' Be' e.xpres. c ed life 
ooin'iciii -thai radio, as a means of 
teaching, is superior to reading, be-, 
c..i'-<rtt reaches a greater number of 
fContit'ued on page. 39) 



Wednesday, June 6, 1915 



Uakiety 



RADIO 



SI 



NBC'S 100G SUN. N1 TE TREE RI DE 

Listener Survey Publicity Unfair 
To Talent Unless Inside Info Added 



Unrestrained 'Freedom' 

When one realizes the tremendous power that radio wields 
today, as witness those unprecedented audiences garnered by 
the succession of crises in the past few weeks, there's a fright- 
ening aspect in the potential dangers inherent in such a 
concentration of power. 

Perhaps never before has there been such a need for radio 
to be on its guard to prevent the misuse of its far-reaching 
influence. For freedom of speech as conceived by our fore- 
fathers and practiced in the nation's cradle days can no longer 
fit into our more complex and greatly enlarged society. When 
air time is for sale, freedom of speech can become a Franken- 
stein. It can, given a sufficient head start, destroy the 
democracy that gave it birth. In the town meetings of yore, 
each man spoke his beliefs and each had a chance to champion 
his cause; in a nation of 130,000,000 the simplified espousal of 
one of our basic freedoms becomes well nigh impossible. To 
further complicate its practice, beyond the mere magnitude of 
numbers/ there also enters the force within the hands of the 
bankrollers. '. ,-" 

Almost overnight, following in the wake of V-E Day which, 
to some, was the signal to~ call off a united stand, the rabble 
rousers, the fanatics, the crackpots and the hate-mongers have 
started to creep out of the woodwork. Insidious but purposeful, 
with a long-range plan shrewdly devised and not immediately 
apparent, and working under the guise of assorted titles and 
cloaks, they may so entrench themselves in radio that radio 
may find itself enmeshed in a stranglehold. One only has to 
look back to the days of Father Coughlin. Radio, caught in a 
vise, was like a man on a runaway horse, who couldn't dismount 
and had to hold on. The only difference this time is that the 
boys will be using new shibboleths. ' : 

Many a commentator and self-styled analyst with an axe to 
grind and particular hatred or blind spot could readily, by the 
daily opportunity afforded him on his bought-and-paid-for air 
time, spread poison. And some of the boys are well on the way. 

At a time when the code committee of the NAB is mulling the 
idea of opening up sale of time for controversial issues, the 
obvious dangers that could follow this apparently just procedure 
once more points up the need for stringent industry regulation 
as to "who" and "who for" shall go on the air. Maybe the answer 
would lie in the NAB setting up its own central organization to 
probe the sincerity, background and auspices of all who want 
access to the ears of the 130,000,000. But, In any event, it 
remains for radio to be alerted to an ominous threat to both 
its integrity and good intentions. 






Blue Collarites Follow CBS Lead 
Down Union Trail; NBC, MBS Next 



PROVES A POINT 

Sunday night is the liveliest- night 
in the week on NBC'S programm ing 
sked as it shapes up for next fall; 
What ivu'i Jack Benny, Fred Alien, 
Charlie . McCarthy, et al., but a 
glan< :5 at the talent-production cost 
eliarls. sho w , that it's costing the 
bankrollers'"plerity of coin to ride the 
gravy train and woo those audiences. 
That Sunday night program se- 
quencing on NBC aimed at achiev- 
ing a "stay tuned" technique adds up 
to a $98,000 talent-production nut for 
the 6 to 11 p.m. free entertainment 
vide, with Benny's $22,500, Aliens 
$20,000 and . Edgar Bergen's $15,000 
representing the night's top coin out- 
lay. Compare that with the $69,000 
for CBS Sabbath night shows (that's 
on the basis of Kate Smith's $13,500 
60-mirtute package staying put as is, 
with some element of doubt existing 
at (his early date) and it pretty well 
boils down to the fact that the audi- 
ence pull is commensurate with the 
amount of coin expended. • 

For with but very few exceptions, 
snaring a Top 15 Hooper audience or 
any respectable rating means laying 
it on the line — and right down the 
line, Sundays through Saturday. CBS 
looks all set to repeat on copping 
audience honors for Monday night, 
with its Lux "Radio Theatre" ($17.- 
500); Screen Guild Players ($8,500) 
and Joan Davis ($15,000), as the top 
coin shows, with the whole 6 to 11 
p.m. talent-production investment I reaction is inevitable so far as news- 
adding up to $57,000, as compared \ casts are concerned, is already re- 
with $40,000 expended via NBC on flected the newest . Hoopertings. 



NBC Band Parade 

By one of. those unusual quirks 
in summertime programming, 
NBC has what amounts to 120 
consecutive minutes of its own 
"Spotlight Bands" layout in the 
choice Sunday night 7 to 9 com- 
mercial time slots. The four- 
band sequencing was unwrapped 
as the summer replacement sked 
got under way Sunday (3): 

The Wayne King- orch occu- 
pies the 7 o'clock Jack' Benny 
hiatus time for Lucky Strike; 
"Fitch Bandwagon" had Henry 
Russell in the 7:30 slot (summer 
replacement show due in June 
24); the Spike Jones outfit Ts fill- 
ing in, along with Frances Lang- 
ford, for Bergen-McCarthy, with 
T. Dorsey in at 8: 30 in the spot • 
vacated by Eddie Bracken. ' 



Bad News Today 
For AD Gabbers, 
Hooper Reveals 

Further evidence that, now the 
war in Europe has ended, a terrific 



There's a salary adjustment stir* 
among white collar people in the 
N. Y. offices of, the four webs. Signs 
are clear that, before the whirl is 
oyer, a union will be formed in radio 
embracing, for the first time, Hack 
shooters and page girls, sleno.s and 
secretaries, and all other bib-and- 
tucker personnel not already 
wrapped up with the union label. 

First steps toward forming a sal- 
ary adjustment committee were 
taken at the Blue this Week. Doris 
Riker of the script department and 
Mike Colten of sales promotion cir- 
culated last Monday (4) an appeal 
to their "dear colleagues'' asking lat- 
ter to sign up /or membership on a 
salary committee, If the Blue em- 
ployees react the way those at CBS 
. did, chances are the salary commit- 
tee will have a sizable membership 
in no time at all. 

'.. The salary committee alible is a 
new one in labor relations. Under 
recent amendments to the labor 
act, and NLRB rulings, employees 
may form a "single purpose" com- 
mittee, without necessarily joining 
any union or starling their own. The 
"'single purpose" may be salary ad 
justment, or anything else. "Natch, 
said one CBS amanuensis to 



- Coke Hits Spots 

In connection with the Morton 
Downey musical cross-the-board 
campaign for Coca-Cola on Mu- 
tual the D'Arcy agency has plat- 
tered u series of 24 chain breaks, 
20 seconds in length, with 
Downey and his regular cast. 
Leah Ray. David Ross and Jim- 
my Lylell's". orch. Jerry Maia 
produced. 

More (hart 335 Mutual Outlets 
are lined up to use the spots for 
a total of more than 8.000 air- 
ings for the batch of e.t.'s just 
recorded. 



Sugar Shortage 
Cues Coke Spec 

With the impending sugar crisis 
(50% cut' is due about July 1 ). 
there is considerable - speculation 
within the trade as to how such ac- 
counts as Coca-Cola, with its basic 
j high I reliance on' the sugar ingredient, will 



Monday, night 

NBC's Tuesday night supremacy 
is backed by a $57,000 talent setup, 
including $19,000 for the. Bob Hope 
stanza, $10,000 for Fibber McGee & 
Molly, and $8,500 for Hildegarde. 
while the CBS outlay is less than 
half— $27,000. 

What Happens Wednesday? 

Wednesday night offers a striking 
exception to the case, for while JMBC 
is. represented by three of the Top 15 
shows — "Mi*. District Attorney." Ed-, 
die Cantor and Kay Kyser — its talent 
nut of $42,800 is vastly exceeded by 
CBS. where the. sponsors are layinn 
it on the line to the extent of $63,000. 
including such high-budgeted shows 
(assuming ihey stay put next season ) 
as Eversharp's "Let Yourself Go" 
($11,000); Old Gold's "Which Is 
Which'.'" '$9,500); Frank Sinatra 
($14,000) and Campbell Soup's Jack 
Carson show ($9,000). 

But take Thursday night, with (hat 
Bing Crosby-Dinah Shore-Burns & 
Allen- Abbott & Coslello-Bob Burns- 
Rudy Val lee combo, all expensive 
shows, and the 6 to 11 p.m. stretch 
looks headed for a $90,000 nut for 
NBC as compared with only a $27,000 
talent outlay on CBS. 

And with CBS back in the driver'? 
scat Friday night, with G> nil y Simms. 
Jimmy Durante-Garry Moore. Danny 
Kaye.-it's- a $62.000- entertainment 
setup as compared with NBC's $35,- 
500 bill of tare. Saturday is pretty 
much of an even-steven affair, with 
CBS's "Hit Parade" the top-budget- 
ed show ($11,500). Talent outlay for 
the night on. NBC is $24,000 "as com- 
pared with CBS' $28,000. .-' 



True, the latest Hooper report reveals 
that the sets-in-use have reached, a 
new low for the year, with all pro- 
gramming in general taking it on 
the chin, but the pastings inflcted 
on some of the top commentators 
and gabbers is generally regarded as 
the tipoff that the boys have already 
passed their peak. 

A run-through of the new Hooper 
chart offers some striking telltale 
evidence" as - to what's happened to 
the boys since V-E. when listener 
interest was at its peak and when 
three commentators (Walter Win- 
chell. H. V. Kaltenborn and Gabriel 
Heatter) hit the Top 15 in ratings. 
Winchell, of course, is still up there 
with the top-bfacketed boys, having 
only dropped 0.6 in rating, but as an 
illustration of what's transpired, take 
a gander at the other ratings. Kal- 
tenborn took a 4.8 nosedive to 14.2 
(previous rating was 19); Header 
wept off 6.3 to. hi t an 8.8 rating on his 
Thursday broadcast and down 2.9 for 
an 11.3 rating on his Tuesday show: 
Lowell Thomas dropped a full 5 
points; Drew Pearson dropped 4.1: 
the Miles "News of the World" 
dropped from 4 to 5 plus right 
across the board: Quiney Howe 
dipped 2.8; Raymond Grain Swing, 
Fulton Lewis, General Electrics 
"World Today" were all caught in 
the slough-off in newscast interest. 



♦ There's been no little squawking 
among those important personages 
in broadcasting — talent— as the pres- 
ent season comes to a close. And 
these beefs concern a practice that 
became popular not so long ago of 
giving widespread publicity to lis- 
tener yardstick statistics (hat for- 
merly were considered "inside stuff" 
for the industry to digest, mull over, 
discount at times and use for what 
was in them. , : ' . ' 

A few months ago, however, a 
large radio manufacturer started 
running results of the Hooper poll 
in a scries of national newspaper 
ads. Entertainment columnists also 
have been publicizing both .Hooper^ 
and Crossley ratings', so that the 
general public has been wised up 
to the fact that certain shows are 
in the "Top Ten." They also learn 
certain programs used to be in that , 
select circle and are no longer, or, 
that some never made it before but 
recently entered that select circle. 

Basis for the anvil chorus, ot.course^ 
is that the average listener has no 
concept of various facets that add 
up to a good rating. Night of the. 
week, what show you follow, what 
network you're on, -bow much of an 
(audience you "inherit," who you've 
I replaced, opposition on other webs, 
| habit factor in dialing, etc. 

It's no trade secret, for instance, 
that Jack Benny, switching sponsors 
from a breakfast food account to plug 
cigarets that are eonsiderjed "instru- 
ments of Beelezub" in Kansas and 
other benighted sections of the land, 
also was called upon last fall to lace 
the stiffest competish he's ever met 
since entering the network picture." — 
That ' he stood up under such a 
threatening parlay and still racked 
up ratings comparable to those he . 
gained for Jello and Grape Nuts — 
when he wasn't bucking Kate Smith 
and Drew P e a r s o n— establishes 
Benny in the trade as an A-l at*.' 

But it's true that as the winter 
traction in any league. »•'..- 
waned and 7 p.m. Sunday started to 
become an afternoon segment in . 
Dixie and other parts of the country, 
Benny's rating sagged— in fact he 
dropped out of the "big league," as 
far as Hooper's compilations . were 
concerned. : 
Public Not Help 
Reasons behind such a reaction 
are known in the industry but — and 
(Continued on page 36) 



exec, "we're not going to- all this 
trouble for'the single purpose of get- 
ting Venetian blinds." ■ The law pro- 
hibits dismissal for, or discrimination 
against employees forming the one- 
track committee. 

But (here's no doubt as to where 
that -track leads, again as judged by 
. developments at CBS. There, .(he 
salary committee has -enlisted . sev- 
eral hundred members in less than 
two .months.- Step number two- was 
formation of a sub-committee to 
make a survey of the salaries re- 
ceived by the committee cligibles. 
Next question is: "Now that we know 
We're not getting enough dough, 
what do we do about if.'" There's 
only one answer. 

Frank White, veepec-treas. of CBS. 
Pointed up the answer last week 

(Continued on page 36) 



be affected. It's considered likely 
| that such commodities will be hit— - 
but whether or. not to ■ the' extent 
that it will make serious inroads on 
the; tdvertising-promotion. setup, in 
radio as well as in other media,, ap- 
pears speculative. 

It's of particular interest to 'the 
trade at this time, because of the 
switchover Of the coke account from 
the Blue to Mutual, With the client's 
"Spotlight Bands" show teeing off on- 
MBS on June 18.; Iii recent years 
the coke account, with its approxi- 
mate $4,000,000 in gross billings, has 
lopped the Blue's books. 

Meanwhile, pending .straightening 
out of the : "Double or Nothing" 
switchover situation from its current 
Friday spot, the coke outfit has 
agreed to air "Spotlight" on a .Mon- 
day-Wednesday basis only . until it 
can move into, the Friday segment. 



STU ERWIN AS HYPO 
BID BY BALLANTINE 



NEW MARS CANDY SHOW 
HEADED FOR BLUE NET 



P&G Shifts As 
'Sheriff ' Scrams 

The scramming of the Pacific 
Borax "Death Valley Sheriff" show 
I from CBS to the Blue, leaving 
the Thursday njght 8:30-9 segment 
open, will relieve Procter & Gam- 
! ble of that Saturday night "double 
I feature" embarrassment which now 
i finds one P&G show competing with 
j another. The client's, : FBI in Peace 
and War." currently head in the 
Sat. 8:30-9 niche (with'P&G's "Truth 
or Consequences" on NBC as for the 
opposition), slated for shifting to the 



Mars Candy has pacted a deal with t Thursday nigln spot . 
the Blue network, client taking, over 
the Wednesday night 9 o'clock seg- 
ment currently occupied by "The 
Road Ahead," If latter show, a mul-.j 

, , , i.'tiple-sponsbred rehabilitation . pro- i 
acted for 



Smart Erwin has. been jw^. , ^ icks , . 

the Balla.ui.vc Monday -Bight show-.; l!iee '.^ pal . ate .- s t 0 yy) it'll be shifted 
on CBS in an effort to hypo interest ■ ■ g ^ olhc ,. wjse it ofr 
in the, program. Film comedian has i 
been set for a reported $1,000 a week. 
He bow* in next Monday ( 1 1 V. at 

uhich time Cameron Andrews | ^, h Half-hour dramatic 



it being too costly a production ' op- 
eration as a susf ainer, ' . 

Mars Candy bows in. some time 

checks out. Jay Blackton orch st«ys;| ■'. 

l>l Show . has . beon "a problem to : Advertising 
sponsor and agency, J. Walter ( count.. . 
Thompson, .which put in 



j P&G shift in turn is set to cue 
! some other changes, with the Nox- 
ema's "Mayor of the Town" program 
slated to .hove up, » half-hour from 
its present 8 o'clock slot into the 
8:30 niche and Tunis taking over the 
"Mayor" segment in the fall, with 
Its new. ''Beulah" show. letter . is . 
currently occupying the first half of 
the Lux "Radio Theatre" Monday 
night hiatus time... 



agency on the a'c- 



IV. illlSi.C- 

ccssfui bid lo snag Ginny Simms for 
Hie -spot, latter signing up for Bor- 
den's. Whether Erwin stays put 
through the fall or , client shop 



Y&R PREPS FRESHER' 

Splurge into nightime network 
programming .currently on tap for 
Pharmacraft on behalf of its de- 



iround for a new show will depend I odorant, Fresh, with Young & Rubi- 
on how ("hose Hoopers shape up. 



San Antonio. — Norman Ramsey 
has been added to announcing stall' 
at KABC, 



i cam, agency 
proached to 
j show, 
j Client previously 
I chiefly to spots. 



on the account, ap- 
clevelop a half-hour 



confined itself 



Niles, Prindle Switch 

To Sunday Evening 

With the Philco Sunday night 
show on the Blue cut down, to a 
halt-hour, Hires is taking over the 
last half (6.30-7) sogrnetit, with an 
I early .switchover of Its Prindle-Niles 
"Ice Box Follies" program planned. 

Hires show is currently heard in 
the 10-10:30 WcdncoHJny night slot. 
Nothing definite set l»t latter spot as 
yet, 



52 



RADIO 



Wednesday, June 6, IMS 



N. Y. Indies Helping to Break Down 
'Jim Crow' Stance By Webs, Sponsors 



Negroes, long shut out in the ma-* 
jority of instances from making a 
go of it in radio, have found new 
"life" in the attitude of sponsors 
and program mahouts on indepen- 
dent stations. Radio has been, for 
years, the lone show business facet 
adverse to giving the colored per- 
former a chance to make good, other 
than in a comedy or specialty spot 
and invariably in a stance that per- 
petuates racial stereotypes. 

Fault has been with the national 
advertisers who bankroll network 
programs. They are up against the 
discriminatory factions in the South, 
in particular, who continually 
threaten to boycott their product 
should they sponsor Negro talent on 
the air. Advertiser, too, is interested 
in ratings for his show, and with 
'•boll weevil" listeners turning the 
dial away from programs featuring 
Negroes, his ad message is not heard; 
hence, he cannot take the chance, it's 
argued. 

But on independent stations, which 
normally -are- heard within limited 
areas, sponsors and indie outlet pro- 
grammers are no longer adverse to 
giving democratic treatment to col- 
ored artists. Newest instance is the 
pact signed by the Wise Shoe chain, 
of N. Y., with WNEW calling for 
topflight colored talent on the adver- 
tiser's weekly Sunday half -hour over 
that station. Josh White, folk singer, 
starts off the parade, to be followed 
by Mary Lou Williams, composer 
and pianist, Pat Flowers and others. 
Plan Legit Revivals 

The same station's program direc- 
tor, Ted Cott, too, is negotiating with 
the American Negro Theatre, which 
has the hit "Anna Lucasta" currently 
on the Broadway .boards, to broad- 
cast a once-weekly dramatic pro- 
gram over his outlet starting in Sep- 
tember. Plays to be aired will run 
the gamut .from Shakespeare to past 
Broadway "hits, the colored actors 
handling all parts. ., 

Other N. Y. stations are giving the 
colored performers a Mg play, too: 
WHN has Bob Howard in a spon- 
sored slot, and also is airing the 
pianist-vocalist over its midget net- 
work to WHDH, Boston. Others 
who are on sponsored shows on this 
outlet are: • Day. Dawn and Dusk, 
trio, and various guesters on the 
morning "Gloom Dodgers" sessions. 
Roi Ottley's "New world-a-comin' " 
dramatic turn on WMCA has been 
nationally recognized for champion- 
ing the Negro's cause (it won the 
Bernays award last week) and 
otherwise has given the race proper 
showcasing for its dramatic, as well 
as musical, talents. 

Irt the cafes, the Negro performer 
no longer has only a "Harlem crowd 
appeal." They are drawing -the so- 
cial register clientele to the bistros 
now more than ever before, as wit- 
ness the boff of Barney Josephson's 
two N. Y. establishments, Cafe So- 
ciety Uptown and Downtown, which 
feature, in the main, colored artists. 
Kenneth Spencer, bass, long has had 
a wide serious-music " concert audi- 
ence. Dean Dixon, conductor, has 
batoned the N. Y. Philharmonic and 
the NBC Symphony, among other 
important symphonic aggregations. 

Films and legit, too, are giving 
negro performers more important 
roles, getting away from stereotypes. 
However, the film media still has a 
long way to go to appease opponents 
of the attitude of screen chiefs 
toward the Negro performer. ,.-,'. 



Zero Mostel, Herbert CBS 
Airers Being Rrepped Aj 
Year-Round Sponsor Bait 

Though withheld from sale dur- 
ing their fill-in hiatus period, two 
■of the CBS summer sustainers are 
being prepped by the network's 
programming department as year- 
round programs for sponsorship. 

These are the Zero Mostel show, 
which moves in July 2 in the Mon- 
day slot, being vacated for tile hot 
months by . Swan Soap, and the oilier 
is the now Hugh Herbert package 
"That's My Pop" (an adaptation of 
the Milt Gross comic strip) which 
occupies the last half of the Kate 
Smith Sunday night segment start- 
ing June 17. 



AFRA Wins W/ 0 Retro 
Pay Boost in Reversal 
Of WLB on 'Lone Ranger' 

.' • ."'■ Detroit. June 5. 

A lei pay increase to all artists 
on the "Lone Ranger" program,, re- 
troactive to April 16. 1944, has just 
been granted in a decision of the 
Regional War Labor Board reversing 
a recent WLB panel .decision. In- 
crease, which represents a substan- 
tial sum of money, is one of several 
victories the American Federation of 
Radio Artists wins from WXYZ, De- 
troit, by the current decision. The 
other gains involve grants to staff 
announcers of all talent fees when 
they are specifically designated for 
programs by agencies or sponsors. 

Decision represents a signal vic- 
tory for AFRA, who through its na- 
tional counsel, Jaffe & Jafle. of NYC, 
won back 90% of their appeal in re- 
versing the previous panel decision;. 
Staff announcer gains were as im- 
portant as the "Lone Ranger" de- 
cision, giving AFRA rates equivalent 
to other stations in other area's. 



Need Sponsor, M.C. 
For 'Road Ahead' 



"The Road Ahead," serviceman's 
rehabilitation show done on the Blue 
by the Army, Navy and Red Cross, 
needs only a sponsor and emcee, and 
it's all set. 

The program (Wed.. 9 p.m.) has 
earned plenty of kudos since it 
preemed on May 2, and has been 
acknowledged as tops in the field. 
It has had a* different sponsor each 
week, primary aim being to carry 
out the idea that show is being done 
"in association with American in- 
dustry-" But .getting a different bank- 
roller is apparently becoming more 
difficult from week to week. The 
hand-to-mouth existence endangers 
show's continuance. This week (6), 
the sponsor will be Eversharp. Next 
week, it's Eastman Kodak. Beyond 
that, there are as yet no plans. 

Blue would be willing to give time 
for the show, but the overall nut 
has been about $25,000 and, even 
with the time cost substracted, some- 
one would still have to kick in 
heavily. Besides, show's Originators 
(mainly. Jim Hart, former national 
radio chief for American Red Cross) 
are said to feel that prestige value of 
the stanza would be greater if some 
sponsor continued to pay the bills. 

But >as if sponsorship isn't enough 
trouble, the show has had a tough 
time fiding an emcee too^ Clifton 
Fadiman did that job for first four 
weeks, then quit to prepare to go 
overseas with the "Information 
Please" unit. Last week (30), when 
the show aired out of St. Albans 
Naval Hospital, N. Y.. Mayor Fiorel- 
lo H. LaGuardia acted as guide. 
He was terrific, too. It was LaG's 
first time on a national net as emcee 
of a show which combines music, 
singing, discussion, and some com- 
edy. And Little Flower proved he 
was good, He timed his cracks with 
the aptitude of an old hand at the 
game. 

But LaGuardia is still Mayor of 
New York, and couldn't take that 
job for good. This week's emcee 
(6) wilt be Red Barber: next" week's, 
Quentin Reynolds. After that if only 
a sponsor would come along, plus an 
emcee, the "road" Would be some- 
what clearer for the worriers be- 
hind the venture. ,. : • 



RCA's Regular Divvy 

Radio Corp. of America directors 
voted the regular 87Vic dividend on 
the cumulative preferred last week, 
thereby maintaining the annual 
divvy rate of $3.50." 



WHITE OWL DROPPING 
EARL WILSON SHOW 

White Owl is calling tt quits on 
the Sunday night Earl Wilson show 
on Mutual. . Program, budgeted at 
$2,000 a week, scrams early in July. 

Show has a current Hooperating 
of 1.8, down 2.8 ever the previous 
ruling, and for the most part has had 
an uphill struggle to hpyo its rating, 
although decish of client^ drop the 
shqw . stems from tobacco market 
conditions in general, with White 
Owl pulling out of radio, rather than 
audience pull of the N. Y. Post 
Broadway columnist's uirer. 

J. Walter' Thompson is the agency 
on White Owl account. 



'Loving Cup for Murderers' 

Arnold Hartley's "Memorandum 
to America" presented two weeks 
ago on WOV, the N. Y. indie, has 
been chosen as the July "Script of 
the Month" by the Writers' War 
Board, but when it's sent out by 
the WWB to the 700-odd organiza- 
tions, stations, etc., it'll bear the new 
title of "Loving Cup for Murderers." 

Program in part was a blast at 
the International YMCA for its 
award of an engraved cup to a Ger- 
man prisoner soccer team in a POW 
camp but reference to the YMCA 
organization has been eliminated by 
the WWB, feeling' being that the 
sensitivities created may force sta- 
tions and societies to shy away 
from presentation. 

Fitch Switch To 
'Riley Snafued 

"■'■".- Chicago, June 5. 

"The Life of Riley" has been def- 
initely turned down by the L. W. 
Fjtcb Co., it has been revealed' by 
E. G, Naeckel, who handles the ac- 
count in the L. W< Ramsey office, 
Davenport, la., and the "Fitch Band-' 
wagon" will be resumed over the 
NBC network next fall. In the mean- 
time, the band series will be re- 
placed June. 24 by a weekly mystery 
show starring Dick Powell as previ- 
ously announced. 

Decision by Fitch to pass up the 
"Riley" opus lays, to rest the many 
cockeyed stories, rumors 'and guesses 
that have been going about in the 
trade regarding the possible switch, 
and ends one of the most intensive 
pitches to swing a sale that has 
come to light this season. When it 
became known that the Bendix show 
was being dropped from the- Blue 
network by the American Meat In- 
stitute and was available, Niles 
Trammell, NBC prexy, made a per- 
sonal effort to interest Fitch in a deal 
that would have brought the show 
to NBC in place of the band series! 
Reed White, radio director of the 
William Morris agency, owners of 
the package, spent several weeks in 
Chicago to be in close proximity to 
Fitch and the Ramsey Co. head- 
quarters should anything develop. 

Asking price of "Riley" is $8,500 
weekly with options calling for yearly 
increases. The American Meat In- 
stitute was paying $6,750 but new 
contract would have been set at 
$8,500 for the fall, had they contin- 
ued its sponsorship: 



NBC, CBS Say No Dice 
To Four-Web Stettinius 
Hookup; Want Exclusive 

Webs have decided since V-E Day 
to air only "extraodinary news hap- 
penings or speeches by President 
Truman" over four network hook- 
ups. Fact came to light last week 
when the State Dept. approached all 
four major nets, asking for com- 
bined pickup of a speech from the 
United Nations Security Conference 
in San Francisco by Sec. of State 
Edward R. Stettinius, Jr. The State 
Dept. spokesman asked the webs for 
Monday night time, preferably for 
the half-hour from 10:30 to 11 p.m. 
(EWT). 

Both NBC and CBS said they 
would clear their commerical com- 
mitments for that hour, if Stettinius 
would go on exclusively over either 
network. NBC's time slot is filled 
by "Dr. I. Q." for Mars Candy, and 
Ballantine Ale airs a program over 
43 CBS stations at that hour. But 
the cabinet member refused, point- 
ing out that both the Blue and Mu- 
tual would carry the speech. 

It's reported in N. Y. radio circles 
that the State Dept. officials who 
endeavored to clear the hookup for 
the Secretary of State have made 
known their feelings in the matter 
in no uncertain terms to the FCC. 
Whether latter will do anything 
about it remains to be seen. Net- 
work chieftains point out that they 
will stick to their guns, the policy 
formulated since V-E Day being 
"entirely within reason.": 



WILLIAMS* WFA POST 

" ' Boston. June 5. • . 

Lloyd R. Williams has been ap- 
pointed director of the New England 
Radio News . Service for the War 
Food Administration and will direct 
the New England Farm Hour on 
WBZ-WBZA. 

Williams has been marketing spe- 
cialist with {he Conn. State Depart- 
ment of Agriculture for the past 
seven years. 



New Web Lineups 

Here's how the picture of affiliation shifts will look, as Jar as the 
major nets are concerned, when this year's tceb transfers take effect on 
June 15: 

JOINING BLUE 



City, State 
Lawrence, Mass. 
Pittsburgh, Pa, 
Baltimore, Md. 
Boston, Mass. 
Yankton, S. D, 
Des Moines, la. 
Miami. Fla. 

Jacksonville, Fla. 
Reading, Pa. 
Racine, Wis. 
Bloomington, III. 
Harrisburg, Pa. 

Sheboygan, Wis. 



Manchester, N. H. 

Ashland, Ky. 
Columbia, S. V. 

Des Moines, la. 
Sioux City, la. 
Cincinnati, O. 



Pittsburgh, Pa. 
Baltimore, Md. 
Jacksonville, Fla. 
Miami Beach, Fla. 
Hannibal, Mo. 



Call 
Letters 

WLAW 
WCAE 
WFBR 
WCOP 
WNAX 
KRNT 
WGBS 
(V'ormoiiy : 

■ wn'i.i 
WPDQ 
WEEU 
WRJN 
WJBC 
WHGB 

WHBL 

JOINING CBS 

WFEA 

WCMI 
WKIX 



Power 
In Watts 

5,000 
5,000 
5,000 
50,000 
5,000 
5,000 
10,000 

5,000 
1,000 (D) 
250 
250 
250 

1,000 



Erie, Pa. 
Reading, Pa. 



KSO 
KSC.I 
WKRC, 

JOINING MBS 

KQV 
WCBM 

WJHP 
WKAT 
KHMO 

JOINING NBC 

WERC 
WRAW 



5,000 

250 
250 

5,000 
5,000 
5,000 (D) i! 
1,000 (N) 



Former 
Affiliation 

CBS 
MBS 
MBS 
Indie 
CBS 
CBS 

MBS ; 

MBS 
NBC 
• MBS 
KBS 

None 

(New station! 
MBS 



NBC 
(Retaining 
Yankcet 
MBS 
None 
(N'ew station') 
Blue, MBS 
Blue 
MBS 
(.Tolned CBS 
June l) 



1,000 
250 
250 

1,000 
250 



250 
250 



Blue 
Blue 
Blue 
Blue 
Blue 



CBS 
Part-time NBC 



Station Techs Wonder When They'll 
Get Shot At Govt Surplus Stock 



Borden's 'County Fair' To 
Bine Vice Jerry Wayne 

Borden's, through Kenyon & Eck- 
hardt agency, has given the okay, 
for its new Blue network show 
which replaces the Jerry Wayne 
program, latter moving over to CBS. 
However, new Borden . show, 
"County Fair," originating from the 
Coast, will be spotted in the 7:30 
Tuesday night slot being vacated by 
"One Man's Family," which moves 
back to NBC. 

"County Fair" bows in July 10. 
It'll be an audience participation 
program headed up by Jack Bailey 
as emcee. 



Trammells Yen 
Tamily V Cue 

After a several months' excursion 
over to the Blue network, the Stand- 
ard Brands "One Man's Family" 
show is skedded to move back to 
NBC, thus leaving open the Tuesday 
night 7:30-8 slot on the Blue. "Fam- 
ily" was formerly entrenched in the 
8:30-9 (after Bergen) Sunday night 
slot on NBC, with the emergence of 
the Eddie Bracken show in the niche 
cueing the switchover of "Family" 
to the Blue." 

However, the program has long 
been among NBC prexy Niles Tram- 
mell's favorites and the move to re- 
entrench it. back in the NBC fold 
was strictly a deal between Tram- 
mell and ■ James Adams, pres. of 
Standard Brands, who was promised 
a half-hour on the Sunday afternoon 
"Army Hour" segment when it be- 
comes available, with 3:30 slot open- 
ing up on July 8, when "Army Hour" 
goes to 30 minutes. V 

Teaches How to Swim 
Without Getting Wet 

Philadelphia, June 5. 
A program to teach listeners how 
to swim has been inaugurated by 
WIBG. 

Running the show is Joseph H, 
(Chaps) Raffcrty, swimming coach 
of the Broadwpod A. C. Each Sat- 
urday night he will give instruction 
and have a? guests leading swim- 
ming coaches from high schools and 
colleges in the city, • . •■■' 



♦ Radio station technicians and en- 
! gineers dre asking out -loud these 
days what the Army plans to do 
with all its radio equipment that is 
being siphoned, back to this country 
from the European theatre of opera- 
tions, and also idle stuff that is pil- 
ing up as bases in the U. S. are be- 
ing vacated by shift of troops to 
active duty. 

With the Surplus Commodities 
Corp. expected to step into this pic- 
ture shortly, the boys whose job it 
is to keep their stations on the air 
despite equipment and manpower 
shortages are more than a little anx- 
ious to get their hands on some of 
the equipment which the armed 
forces have been using, and now are 
(hiding no need to keep. 
. Technicians, of course, are not 
talking about the stuff the services 
may need for the Pacific theatre of 
operations, pointing out that the 
Navy has had first call at all times 
since the war started on such things 
as transformers, transmitters, tubes, 
sets, recorders, ' etc. But there are 
plenty of articles in these categories 
which, according to those in the 
trade, are lying idle in warehouses 
in this country. Stations have been 
patient about their equipment short- 
age problem, waiting for something 
to happen to loosen up the equip- 
ment bottleneck. But it's taking too 
long, their technicians say. and they 
want action. 

Along radio equipment row in 
lower Manhattan, it's said, trans- 
formers, and other portable articles, 
not weighty equipment, are being 
sold at terrific markdowns. Stores 
which are selling the equipment, 
technicians claim, should be keep- 
ing them in stock for radio outlets 
alone, and not for hams, etc. But 
it's not the fault of the storekeeper, 
they point out, since when they pur- 
chase equipment from the Gov- 
ment they are permitted to sell on 
their own terms. 

"How is it that stores are getting 
this stuff and not the radio stations 
which have been holding together 
under hardship with old, worn 
equipment in line with the shortage 
which apparently doesn't exist any- 
more?" the radio operators arc 
asking. 



Memphis. — M. J. Vosse, promo- 
tions and publicity manager for 
WMPS, has been inducted into the 
Navy at Great Lakes. 



CBS' 'Platform' 7th Anni 
From Kansas City, Mo. 

CBS' "People's Platform" program, 
celebrates its seventh anniversary on 
the network June 23, when the stan- 
za will originate in Kansas City. 
Week before, on June 16, it will be 
heard from Portland, Ore. 

In both cities, persons who reside 
in each particular area will be fea- 
tured on the show, along with Dr. 
Lyman Bryson. 



Wednesday, June 6, 1945 



RADIO 



ss 



Morton Goulds Helping Hand 

pfc. George Mordaunt, N.Y. soldier-pianist, who lost his right hand 
in the war, is already 011 the comeback trail towards resuming hi* pre- 
war pi'ofesl*. 

Mordaunt, who played with various bands and trio combos around 
New York for several years before he went into the Army, was hit by a 
mortar shell in Sicily, where he served with the 92d (All-Negro) Divi- 
sion. Two weeks ago, "Variety" caught his act at Thomas M. England 
General Hospital, Atlantic City, where Mordaunt was que of the GIs on 
"The Road Ahead." Mordaunt played oiie piano number, backed by 
h trio and orcli. 

Upon discovering that Mordaunt was about to be discharged, with 
his right hand replaced by a hook (.and an artificial hand for "dress" '/ 
purposes), "Variety" contacted Morton Gould. As a result Gould said 
he would be delighted to compose especially for Mordaunt a "Boogie--. 
Woogie tor Lett Hand Alone"— if he finds that Mordaunt shapes up 
pianislically- as reports indicated, which seems lair enough. 

Mordaunt's case is similar to, that of Paul Wittgenstein, famous 
Austrian concert pianist, who lost his right hand in World War I. After 
that war, the famous French composer, Maurice Ravel, wrote a special 
"Concerto for Left Hand Alone," which gave Wittgenstein the oppor- 
tunity of getting back to the concert stage. 



KMOX Grabs $80,000 Of 
Standard Oil's Bankroll 

St. Louis, June 5. 

A two-package show of a.m. and 
p.m. newscasts, for 52 weeks over 
KMOX, local CBS outlet, has been 
purchased by the Standard Oil Co. 
for an estimated $80,000 and is one 
of the most important radio deals 
made in this burg for many a day^ 

The a.m. show, ' six times weekly 
is the CBS-KMOX "Morning News 
Roundup," an on-the-spot newscast 
from all over the world by CBS 
corresopehdenls. The p.m. program 
features John Randall. KMOX news 
writer and .gabber.- Each program 
runs 15 inins. 



Big Steel's Web Preem 
Adds Up to 15G Weekly 
Nut, $1,500,000 Annum 

U. S. Steel's forthcoming Blue net- 
work Sunday night airer (occupy- 
lugtheJO to 11 slot) reportedly rep-, 
resents a $15,000 weekly talent , pro- 
duction nut. program comprising a 
reprise of the Theatre Guild's legit 
hits spanning the past quarter ccn- 
day slot, being vacated for. the- hot 
till'}', as well as other top legiters. 
Plan is to line up wherever possible 
stars of . original Broadway produc- 
tions. - 

Deal between Big Steel and -Thea- 
tre' Guild represents a 39-week firm 
deal. However, the bankroller has 
negotiated a five-year contract with 
the Bliie. representing gross billings 
of $1,500,000 a year. 

Series debuts on Sept. 9. 



Cleve. Midnight Chiller 

. Cleveland, June 5. 

For the first time in many years 
Cleveland will have a murder mys- 
tery over the air. 

WTAM will present a half-hour 
midnight mystery drama. Saturdays, 
under. . direction . of B<.ib \ Spencer. 
Cast of 30 permanent players, 
selected by auditions from Western 
Reserve U.'s radio school, will alter- 
nate in series of plays written by 
David Lewis, now promotion man 
of KDKA. 



RADIO DIRECTORS 
ELECT BILL R0BS0N 

William Rob-son, of CBS. former 
v-.p. of the Radio Directors Guild, 
was moved up to the presidency of 
the organization at an election held 
on Monday , night (4) at the Glad- 
stone hotel, N. Y. 

Jerry Devine stepped down from 
the office, endorsing Robson's eleva- 
tion. Tony Leader was chosen vice- 
pres. to succeed Robson. George 
Maynard was. elected secretary; and. 
Bon Shayon, treasurer.- 

Both Robson and Shayon are still 
overseas on the radiomen's offshore 
junket sponsored by the War Dept., 
but will assume their offices when 
they return. 



Detroit Symph Angel Buys Theatre 
To Found Motor City 'Radio City' 



A chemical industrialist who's taken 
the Detroit Symphony out of the red 
and has built a back-to-back net- 
work radio show which splits an 
hour between symphonic and pop 
music, has set out to develop Detroit 
into a new big-time radio production 
center. - • 

Announcement was made in De- 
troit this week that Henry II. Reich- 
hold, eljairman of the board of 
Reichhold Chemical Co. and pre?, of 
the Detroit Symphony Society, has 
bought the Wilson theatre, a 2.000- 
seat house opposite the Detroit Ath- 
letic Club. 

Reichbold's plans, it was revealed, 
are to remodel the house, bring it 
lip Mo latest scientific snuff acousti- 
cally, and make of it a centre for 
television. radio and recording 
broadcasting and experimentation! 

The industrialist's plans, according 
to those in the know, are to try to 
gel Ford. Chrysler and other big De- 
troit radio advertisers to use his 
theatre as the studio for origination 
of their, ah;, shows next year'.. ■ . .- ■ . 

Reichhold is responsible, through 
his hypo of the Detroit Symphony 
promotion, for reviving that organ- 
ization and making long-hair bolt 
enough to fill Masonic Temple in De- 
troit, with its 5,000-seat capacity, at 



least twice a week. ■ He is also the 
mainspring behind the Saturday 
night (8:30-9:30) Mutual show which, 
since April 14, has been airing the 
Detroit Symphony for the first half 
hour, and a 55-piece pop band under 
Jean Goldkette for the. second half 
hour. - ,•■'. '•'': , 

. Reichhold has been backing Gold- 
kette for a revival of this old fave's , 
popularity. The preem show at the 
newly remodeled Wilson theatre, 
skedded for about Aug..l, will prob- 
ably be given to Goldkelte's aggre- 
gation. . 



Beckon Frank Morgan 
To Join Dick Haymes 

Frank Morgan, who finished up 
last week for General Foods-Max- 
well House on NBC (client takes 
over the Burns & Allen show in the 
fall), is being sought to team next 
season with Dick Haymes on the 
"Everything for the Boys" Tuesday 
night NBC show tor Auto-Lite. 

Morgan has thus; far nixed the 
proposal, preferring his own show, 
but likelihood is seen in trade cir- 
cles of the comedian winding up in 
the spot. 



FIVE BLUE NET SHOWS 
OUT OF DES MOINES 

Des Moines, June 5. 

K.RNT will become a Blue net- 
work affiliate June 15 and, in cele- 
bration, the station will originate 
five coast -to-coast programs during 
that week. 

The "Breakfast Club" with Don 
McNeill, will come to Des Moines 
with its entire cast to launch the 
series, with the broadcast scheduled 
for the 4., r )()0-seat Shrine auditorium 
the night of June. 15. 

"America's Town Meeting of the 
Air" will also come here to broad- 
cast from the Shrine auditorium on 
June 21. 

A KRNT program produced by 
Charles Miller, program director, 
will be used on the network June 16. 
Show will be woven around the dra- 
matic story of._jyi.rn and the many, 
uses to which Iowa's corn is now 
being put in feeding, healing and in 
powering the United Nations. Music 
will be by the WAC band and the 
Shrine Chanters'. 

Names and dates for the two other 
coast-tocoast programs are not yet 
available. KRNT has the distinction 
of being t he first radio station out- 
side a key radio center U> originate 
five networks programs in a single 
week. ■ , .. . . ' . 

Wt:oP-Blue Piomosh 

Boston, June 5. : 
WCOP's affiliation with the Blue 
network June 15 is the subject, of 
a huge promotion campaign planned 
by Hairy D. Goodwin, promotion 
manager.' 

All trade papers, 75 newspapers, 
mailing pieces, window displays, 
contests. GI Servicemen's Hand- 
books, street car cards, etc., are be- 
. ing utilized. 

Philco program will originate 
from Symphony Hall here June 17 
to salute the station! ... ' 

- . ■ . , £ , -rr* 

BBC's Thornton to B.A. 

Basil Thornton, former manager 
of BBC's German division in the 
London overseas division, passed 
through New York last week on the 
- way to Buenos Aires. 

Despite the uncertain political re- 
lationship belweeh Argentina and 
the United Nations. BBC is reported 
ready to hypo its DX service to 
Latin America. The British service 
now broadcasts five hours a: day in 
Spanish and the same amount of 
time in Portuguese to Lathi Amer- 
ica. 

Thornton will have his headquar- 
ters at B.A.. but will be in charge 
of BBC services to Uruguay and 
Paraguay as well as those to Ar- 
gentina. 




ground floor 



Literally and figuratively this favorite Baltimore 
product was in on the ground floor. For Cellowax* 
was a pioneer in the liquid floor wax field between 12 
and 13 years ago. Later Cellowax Furniture Polish 
and Bluko All-Purpose Cleaner were added to the 
line. -. 

A radio user for 12 years— Cellowax settled on 
WFBR, Baltimore's big home town station, three 
years ago. They started with a five minute program 
on Martha Ross Temple's studio party. Then they 



began 5 minutes 5 times a week with Ralph Powers at 
8:45 A.M. Although the big sale of these Cellowax 
home helps was Spring and Fall-the Powers program 
stays on 52 weeks a year , and it sells all year. 

Remember the above facts when people start 
talking about RESULTS in Baltimore! Yes, if you 
want to know what to buy in Baltimore . . . buy what 
the successful home town boys have always bought 
and are buying today . . . W . . . F . . . B . . • R '• • • 
♦Agency— The Azrael Advertising Agency 



NATIONAL MfRISINTATIVI - JOHN HAIR I CO. • NIW YORK AND CHICAGO 



Wednesday, June 6, 1945 



500 experts 
. . .and it 




One oi the tilings we'd like to dp at the Blue is 
give our listening audience the best thai there is' 
in every field of radio entertainment. This is a great 
policy if— and only if — Ave successfully put it into 
practice. 

That's why the result of Musical America's recent 
radio poll was music to our ears. Over 500 of the 
leading music editors and critics from coast to coast 
and Canada picked five of our musical programs and 
people as outstanding in their fields. They said: 



BRUNO WALTER, conductor oj the Metropolitan Opera Association, was the best of all opera conductors. 

THE BOSTON SYMPHONY, under the direction of Dr. Serge Koussevitsky, was tied for first place as 
the finest symphony orchestra. 

"DIE MEISTERSINGER," presented by the Metropolitan Opera, was the best performance of opera. 
MILTON CROSS was the outstanding announcer-commentator. 

METROPOLITAN OPERA, U.S.A., presented by the Metropolitan Opera Guild, was the best program 
of operatic character. 



We have always been deeply conscious ol the 
importance of music in the" lives of all people as a 
means of entertainment and relaxation. That is why 
we have been trying to do a complete job in bringing 
our listeners the best in music: everything from the rich 
classical to jive — everything from "Die Meistersinger" 
to our Saturday Senior Swi7ig. 

We are proud that it was a Blue Network program 
that gave a host of talented singers the opportunity 
to compete for the highest goal in grand opera: the 
Metropolitan. A large number of the most brilliant 
stars in the "Met" today were "discovered" on 
Metropolitan Opera Presents (formerly Metropolitan 
Auditions of the Air). 

We also know that there are radio listeners who; 
while not, regular opera followers, do enjoy many 



of the beautiful arias as sung by opera stars. So in 
addition to the broadcasts direct from the 
Metropolitan stage on Saturday afternoons, we have 
been giving our listeners the chance to hear their 
favorite singers on a special weekly evening program 
—Metropolitan Opera, V. S. A. 

Saludos Amigos is a program presented in coopera- 
tion with the Coordinator of Inter -American Affairs 
and features outstanding guest conductors of both 
continents. It regularly gives Blue listeners a better 
appreciation of Latin -American music and a better 
understanding of the Latin-American way of life. 

One of the four greatest conductors— Sir Thomas 
Beecham — was presented to Blue listeners through 
our new Saturday Symphony, a series that make" 
it possible for many to enjoy the outstanding— 
but lesser known— works in' the field of 



Finale of "Die Meistersinger," chosen 
by music critics as the finest Metro- 
politan Opera broadcast this season. 




• -. ■ * 



Wednesday, June 6, 1945 , USKiEff 




vas MMMM:M!M ears 



symphonic literature. In this series we are also 
presenting such prominent guest conductors as 
Nicolai lierezowsky, Max Gobberman and Anatol 
Dorati. This summer we are taking our listeners to 
Tanglewood, in the Berkshires, for one of the top 
events of the musical season: The Bach-Mozart 
Festival under the direction of the noted conductor, 
Dr. Serge Koussevitsky. And to round out the classi- 
cal musical fare that we give our listeners, we bring 
them still another type of musical ente tainment: 
The Coffee Concert, featuring Sylvia Marlowe, one 
of America's finest harpsichordists, in a program 
of 17th md 18th Century music. 

Our obligation to give the public the best in music 
is not limited to the classics. In the semi-classical 
field, we are currently broadcasting the famed Boston 
"Pops" every Saturday night. We've also given our 
listeners -Gilbert & Sullivan operettas. And when it 
comes to popular music, we have on our star! the man 
who has done more for this type of music than anyone 



else—Paul Whiteman. Also Nathan Van Cleave, na- 
tionally famous for his distinctive arrangements of 
popular music. 

Here again— in popular music -we have brought 
our listeners a variety of top personalities and 
programs. Guy Lombardo, Duke Ellington, Sammy Kaye, 
Kay .irmen, The Andrews Sisters, Saturday Stniro 
Swing, Phi'lco Summer Series, Andy Russell and The 
Ford Early American Music— these are only some of 
ihe popular music programs on the Blue. 

* * * 

Ves, we do think that we are doing a pretty good job 
in the field of music. And we were extremely pleased to 
have Musical America, in telling us about the awards, 
% say: "The Blue has won five first places in the various 
groups of our second annual radio poll from over 500 
radio and music editors from coast to coast and 
Canada. Incidentally, the Blue tops all other net- 
works in the number of first places won." 



American Broadcasting Company 



The Blue Network 




From the Production Centres 



♦ 
♦ 

4 



i.\ jvjef tork ory ... 

John Kayo], of CBS sales, addressed Advertising Club of Toronto yes- 
terday (Tucs. ). It was a "raincheck" invite, with Karol on his previous 



everyone in town piesent. .. .NBC's bond booth in the lobby of the Mer- 
chandise Mart passed the million-dollar mark in sales last week. Mrs. 
Norman Barrv, wife of Lt. Barry, NBC announcer on military leave, heads 
up the booth. . . ."Hvmns of All Churches" will be aired five times a week 
during June while Betty Crocker takes a vacation from her Friday spot 
....Ruth Walliser, radio writer, will marry Richard Leban of the Chinese 
News Service July 7.. . Bill Murdock, of WTOP, Washington, in town on 
biz. .. .Vagabonds, quartet- on the Blue "Breakfast Clulj." plane to New 
York June 26.to appear on Chesterfield show. . . .Marshall Field, publisher 
of Chi Sun, was guest on "Information Please" last Monday (4.). 
Don Roberts. CBS midwest sales chief, threw a cocktail party 



'visit being snowbound enroute to club Virtually entire Y&R Coast | a j the Ambassador for Bill Gittinger. v.p. in charge of sales for the net 

production outfit headed up by Glenhall Taylor currently east tor confabs j Leslie Smith, fieelance writer, takes over the writing chore on Ida 
. ; . . Wynn Wright, NBC production director, to deliver 'commencement ' Bailey Allen's World Homemaker show aired over WGN this week. Mary 
address at Leland Powers School. Boston, June 9. . . .John McCaffrey, emcee ArTlick will produce. '. . .Maurie Murrey has been added to the WBBM-CBS 
of WNEW's "Author Meets Critic" and' associate ed of American mag. is | staff ag a producer 

the father of a new baby. ... .Martha Curry, of NBC's Coast press office, is j ^ ^ ^ t|l , cu , a p . uiy al the Continental hotel Monday i\\ cele- 
brating first vear on the air. .. .Eileen Oberling, formerly with WTAD, 
Quincy,, 111:, has joined the WIND production staff. . .'.Rus Patch has joined 



cast until August 1, spending a busman's holiday around the net's pub- 
licity offices in N. Y. and Washington, .. .Marion Chapman, WEAF flack, 
hiourning the death of her mother. . . Milton Herman, Susan Jackson and 
Neil Fitzgerald, new trio on "Amanda." while Peggy Stanley and Reynolds 
Evans join "The Soldier Who Came Home". . . .Paul Nugent, Lanni Carvel. 
Dan Ocko and Rod Hendrickson added to respective casts of "Evelyn Win- 
ters," ''David Harum," "Young Widdcr Brown" and "Just Plain Bill". . . , 
New quizzer package, "Teacher, Please." wrapped together by Joe Laurie, 
Jr., and Jerry Dietz. 

Bendix Aviation last week auditioned "Wings Over the World." half- 
hour dramatic stanza depicting the history of aviation in a once-weekly 
format, for possible network sponsorship. Trans-American put package 
together . . . .Dorothy Kirsten patted through Oct. for Cities Service "High- 
ways of Melody". .. .Ray Linton has joined Keystone Broadcasting as ac- 
count exec Proposed switchover of "Casey, Press Photographer", to 

summertime Monday night 9:30 slot on CBS. creates casting conflict for 
Staats Cotsworth, cueing latter's bowout because of his 9-9:30 "Man From 
G-2" show same night on Blue.-.:, .Staffer Paul Martin at NBC takes over 
-;\cih'ecti6n of Compton's -'five-a-weeker, - "Right to Happiness-'' : : : / Back- 
'■' stage Wife," soap strip, moving from Chicago to N. Y. 

•'Violation of contract" charge involving Ed East and Polly and the 
Blue network over "Ladies Be Scaled" is nearing settlement stage. . . Tyler 
Davis, who's stepping out as head of Chi radio for J. Walter Thompson 
(Hal Rorke going in) in town. . . .Mark Goodson. director of"U. S. Treasury 
Salute," planes to Coast Sat. (9 j to produce and direct the special Ernie 
Pyle show for the 7th War Loan drive. Burgess Meredith will play the 
famed correspondent Max Burton new WNEW scrjpter Maurice 



the WIND announcing .Staff. Patch had been an announcer at WKBB. 
Dubuque. .. .Allen Earle of WBRE. Hazeltdn. Pa., has been added to the 
WJJD announcing staff., ..Forrest Lewis, recently returned from Holly- 
wood, took over the lead in WGN'S "Mystery House" last Friday (27)..,. 
Harry Burke, manager of KFAB. Lincoln. Neb., in town for a few days. . . . 
Capt. Bill Eddy, commanding officer of the U. S. Navy pro-radio school 
here, will address the Chi. Radio Management club tomorrow (6>, Subject 
will be "My Ideas of Post-War Radio Developments." 

US HOLLYWOOD . . . 

Blue net's G. W. "Johnny" Johnstone kept on the hop between Holly- 
wood and Frisco, what with Walter Wincholl anchored down south and 
the United Nations delegates working out a new charter in the BayCity, 
I home of the cracked crab. Trouble with Johnstone is that we don't get 
1 enough of him. . ... Joe. Bigelow and Lester O'Keefe in from N.Y. to "orient" 
the RCA show for its -.t'otm-month. Coast stand™-.- .Carlton Alsop. ; around. to 
try to talk Joe. Rihcs into a' live-year producing contract on the Judy 
Canova opus, ,. .Three, newscasters taken on by the Blue are William Hall, 
late of KMPC. Ho' iv wood: Roy Drushall. moved up from the announcing 
staff, and Hugo Carlson, late of KGO, Frisco. .. .Dick Haymes and Helen 
Forrest trek east for three weeks after June 2(i broadcast. . . .Frances 
Scully, Blue net fashion reporter, lost her father last week... .Bud Ruther- 
ford quit after nine years preparing Alka Seltzer newscasts for Glen 
Hardy at Don Lee. . . .Alexander Singer and Robert Phillips suing Lou 



Blue Collarites 



Hart back disc-jockeying at same outlet following an operation ... .Dave Levy and Andrews Sisters to recover $5,400 alleged owed for scripting 
Victor and Herb Little, Jr.. writers of the Mary Small show on the Blue, the Nash-Kelvinator radio show. '('■• .Jack Benny announced that next sea- 
leave for the Coast Friday (8) for couple of months. son's LS/MFT troupe will be unchanged, spiking reports that Larry Ste- 
•. Gordon Fraser and George Hicks, Blue network war correspondents, vens would be replaced. .. Francia While and Felix Knight sub Nelson 
arrived from Europe Sunday (3) aboard the troop transports docking at | Eddy on the Electric Hour for 10 weeks. 



Staten Island. .. .Bud Watson, sports editor for UP's radio service, switch 
ing to Maxon agency as commercial writer. .. .Art Donegan, Blue pub- 
licity aide to Earl Mullin, back from Boston Monday (4i after going over 
affiliation details with WCOP execs ... .Gilbert Seldes. Pete Lyon and 
Norman Corwin heading up speakers' roster on FM-television panel set 
by Conference of the Arts Sciences and Professions in the Post-War 

World at the Waldorf, June 23 Radie Harris' early afternoon (12:15 

p.m.) Broadway chatter stanza over the Blue will be aired from Holly- 
wood on Wednesday nights at 10:30. beginning June 27 That new 20th 

floor office layout for Frank Stanton befits his new title as CBS vecpee-g.m. 

IN CHICAGO . . . 

Hilly Saunders, v.p. in charge of radio at Mitchell Faust, took a troupe 
of 23 radio entertainers to Wright Field, Dayton, for series of shows last 
week. .. .Actors Club of Chicago staged formal opening last week with 



n 



Biow agency lost ' the Hunt Bros. Packing Co. business to Young. & 

Rubicam John Morris elevated to NBC production stall after 14 years 

an engineer, ., .Howard Morgans, ad chief of Procter & Gamble, and Henry 

Kastor Kahn in town to talk over fall plans with Rudy Vallee Gary 

Breckner turned back the emceeing on "Breakfast in Hollywood" to cx- 
vacatioiiist Tom Brenerhan . . . .Ted Sherdcman. formerly one of the town's 
better writer-directors, back after two years in the Pacific with the rating 

of It. col Jack Douglas played comic to his own material on record cut 

last week by Al Scalponc of Young & Rubicam KFLand the Daily News 

called off their trade deal reportedly as the result of the station's policy 
on commentators. .. .Walter Craig's record of the Cass bailey audition is 
said to have two major agencies interested in case Benton & Bowles lets it 

slip away Al Sack takes the music on the Martin Hurt replacement for 

Al Pearce now that Metro won't let Ray Sinatra do it. 



Sm Continued from page 31 — 

when he , issued a note to all em- 
ployees assuring ■ them they don't 
need a Union, but telling them that 
CBS won't discriminate against those 
joining it. Mark Woods, Blue prex 
anticipated the move in his offices 
with a memo issued to all employees 
on May 11. In that memo, he gave 
official notice that only the web's'' 
general attorney. Joseph McDonald, 
and the national director of pro- 
gram operations, Charles C. Barry, 
are empowered by the American 
Broadcasting Co, to represent the 
net -ill discussions of any -union prob- 
lems. - ■•',..' ■■' . 

Point of both Woods' and. While's 
notes is said; to be that, in response 
to campaign started recently by the 
White Collar Center in N. Y., various 
lower execs at all webs have assured 
people on. their immediate staffs that 
they have no objection to unioni- 
zation. 

Meanwhile, the White Collar Cen- 
ter is continuing to shove ils cam- 
paign at the . two other net offices, 
and early formation of salary com- 
mittees is ■expected at both NBC and 
Mutual. 

Behind the White Collar Center is 
the United Office and Professional. 
Workers of America, a CIO union. 
The AFL ...is' -in the picture, but in a 
mild way, the 1ATSE having dis- 
tributed several leaflets but going no 
further. 

The Radio Writers Guild has 
adopted a resolution backing the 
work of the salary committees. With 
the encouragement of writers, in- 
dividual directors, and below-v.p. 
rank of execs at the webs, the white 
collar people seem inevitably on the 
way toward unionization. 



Listener Survey Publicity 



Continued from page 31 




"Hello, Joe. How do you like the job I got through Jobs for Gl't'?" 

"Jobs for GX's" may not make 'em all presidents, but it 
does make 'em happy! I n fid, four out of five ex-servicemen 
•v." appearing on WJW's weekly half-hour have gotten the 
job they wanted! 

The sponsor, Kronheim Furniture, (working with the . 
U.S.E.S.), is more than pleased with the service the pro- 
- gram is performing— another example of how WJWj 
alert program department produces top shows— tailor- 
made to suit a sponsor's needs. 




here's where talent feels they're 
entitled to a squawk— the average 
listener is completely oblivious of 
the background cause and effect. 
Suggested has been an explanatory 
addition to Hooper and Crosslcy 
figures used for public consumption 
setting forth the whys and where- 
fores for fluctuations such as show 
up in the listings. 

Other examples are easy to find, 
as. for instance, Kate Smith. She, 
over a period of years, corraled 
an audience, as faithful, perhaps, 
as that to be boasted by any 
network star." Yet, by dropping off 
her regular Friday night spot, on 
CBS and going into the Sunday 
night spot, on the same network, 
mind you, she undeniably tossed 
overboard millions of those who 
couldn't break the habit. Kate, be- 
longed on the air Friday night— 
Sunday night seemed to be a mistake. 

Fred Allen is another example. 
Never a threat to cop top honors 
away from Fibber McGee and Molly, 
Bob Hope and those others who con- 
stantly flirt with "pennant" hbiic.'.. 
in the survey jousts. Allen, never- 
theless, is recognized in the trade 
as a sure shot to deliver an audience 
week after week— not the largest 
but, surely, one of the most faithful 
and appreciative. 

There are others. William Bendix 
and his "Life of Riley" on the Blue 
never caused competitors to shiver 
when the ratings were due. But he 
built himself a following and. ac- 
cording to locker room gossip, seems 
in line to inherit a valuable NBC 
spot come fall. . 

Ed Gardner and his "Duffy's 
Tavern" is another, never a rear 
threat for first place but a val- 
uable salesman and outstanding 
performer. The list is far from com- 
plete, but it should prove that a 
poor-rated Crdssley or Hooper show 
doesn't necessarily mean that per- 
formances are poor. 

Also Affects Writers 

That's what talent would like to 
have driven home to the public. 
There's another clement to be con- 
sidered, and that's the writers. If 
clients arid agency 'execs, 'ss. v.»: i . Iso 
much about ratings. ■'writer's often 
feel they're got to hypo the programs 



they work on and start experiments 
that ofttimes prove fatal, even 
though they were on the right 
track in the first : place. 

AH of which brings, to hiirid the 
fact that there arc quite a few net- 
work fixtures riding just off the 
pace, never making the "Top Ten" 
and never wanting to. Reason is 
simple— ojice they get up there and 
slip back it's a headache, they be- 
come has-beens. Bw as long as they 
don't have to actually hang their 
heads when ratings are discussed 
and, what's more important, as long 
as they sell the merchandise the 
sponsor is paying them to sell, they 
seem reasonably certain to stay in 
the broadcasting picture and at very 
satisfactory loot. 

But once they join the select at 
the top of the list, that's when their 
worries start. It's just not worth 
the headache, according to aiany 
performers. 



Foil Worth.— Robert Holton. for- 
mer staff announcer for KGKO and 
WFAA. Dallas, has been signed by 
Hunt Stromberg to play one of the 
top roles in his forthcoming pro- 
duction, "Young Widow- 




T/O Kc -/OOOO-H fcWi 



rw wesrs caeatist 

N.t-o'n.1 sal,, Htprrt.Alttiyf • fowl H. *«ynlr Company 




"It's all right, officer. He's a Wheatics cater.' 





YOU GET A THIS' WITH 

MAC McGUIRE 

■ Vdverlisers on Mac MeGu ireX \V CAU morning Participation Program* get 
PlliS value- Besides ".saturation" coverage in .the Philadelphia area— 
America's third richest market— McGwire's show consistently receives mail 
from 27 states. W illi friendly M>iee, pleasant music, and daily |>ri/,e-contests, 
Mae wakes them up to ACTIVE PARTICIPATION. A large-scale action- 
getter like Mae is a very powerful man to get sales-action for your product. 
*MOM>n Tit HI SAT IK I) AY, 7:05 TO 7:15 AM) 8:15 TO 8:55 A. \I. 

COVERAGE + PROGRAM = SALES 

WCAU 

50,000 WATTS •. CBS AFFILIATE 

NHUIIELPHIA'S LEAIII\li HA DM l\STITUTI«\ 





38 



RADIO REVIEWS 



VARIETY 



Wednesday, June 6, 19 JJ 



FRED WARING SHOW 
WHh Fred Waring, emcee; .Iain- Wil- 
son, Daisy Bernier, Juan Whcalley, 
Gordon Goodman. Gordon Berber, 
l>on Craig. The rennsylvanians 
Orch and Glee Club. Bill Biveiis. 
announcer : '.r "' >;-,' , 

Producer: Paul DtiMont 
Director.; Waring ' ... 
Writers: Hilda"* die, Scamp Moore 

SI) Mins.: Mon.-Fri.. 11 a.m. 

Sustaining 
WEAF-NBC, N Y. 

fTWS .is an Interest fug experiment 
spearheaded, by NBC's prugvamm'mjj 
•veepee Clarence Mensor., aimed at 
bolstering the web's a.m. audiences 
and is obviously an attempt to wean 
diallers away from the "break last 
club" type of.' shows with. which the 
Blue network has been so successful. 

Pegged at a reputed $18,500 per 
week, fho Waring show adds up to a 
new high for a network snstainer. 
and at a $4,000' price-tag level for 
one halt-hour it's difficult to: see if 
as attractive sponsor bait. Herculean 
promosh efforts by NBC undoubtedly 
delivered an audience for the iiii- 
tialer arid it's logical to assume 
Waring- will add to these listeners as 
the series progresses. If NBC will 
be satisfied with an audience for the 
show, il looks as though everything 
should be Inmky dory. But if the 
web's . chief aim is to grab sponsors 
far the cro.ss-the-boarder. that's_ajir. 
oilier thing. It just doesn't seein to 
shape up. at least not aV those prices. 
There's no denying the sock musi- 
cal .qualjfies_ .Warin.g_, has ..bj-ou&ht 
" along with him, The popular Penn- 
sylvanians continue to dish out a 
brand of entertainment that can't be 
beat in- their own. particular Held. 
And. in the past. Waring has proven 
a pleasing and capable emcee, al- 
though for the most par! he's been 
restricted to brief introes of selec- 
tions and performers. '■', 
Preseiu setup has the boss Penn- 
sylvanian assigned to a much more 
Important post, for it's been decided 



In mix in plenty of . chatter along 
with the music to make up the daily 
hall-hour programs. 

On trend '4i that I or riiu'i.'t statin 
up to. i \\x-ll. altliongli lucre's- evklcnee 
this- portion ol the iproeceditlg'.- will 
improve as lime gees by. Such 
stull as Waring, kidding with n-em- 
hers el Ihe organi/atien -about scenes 
greeting their eyes ill the hour-, soon 
after daybreak.' as cons tasted with 
Ihcu experiences while traveling 
and playing post-midnight dates, was 
good for a few laughs hut • seemed 
o\ crlong. There were several script.- 
leading Hull's. ;i couple ol them ob- 
\ i.ous-ly intentional a.s Waring and the 
hired hands swapped banfor.-but the 
slipups paid off in laughs from the 
studio sittersrin and presumably had 
the same effect on remote diallers. 

Waring, as to be expected, pitched 
for mail, telling the folks at home 
what a radical departure he was 
making in spotting his show at 11 
a.m. and asking for suggestions on 
how to build the program. He also 
announced a "human-interest" fea- 
ture to be incorporated soon dealing 
with, problems and philosophies of 
every -day life and people. This gim- 
mick, of course, also aims for . mail 

pull. S- ■ 

Musical highlight was closing 
"Falling in Love with Love." sopra- 
noed by Jane Wilson, with support 
from the band and glee club, which 
unfortunately was cut oil: before fin- 
ish when progrrtii ran over." This 
also eliminated a closing announce- 
ment by Bill Biveps. 
, . Oth_cr tunes .hejird inch.ided..,".Beau-. 
t if ul Morning"' With Cordon Good- 
man featured": "June Is Bustin' Out" 
(giving Waring" a chance to make a 
few cracks about the N. .Y. weather): 
Jimmy Alkins crooning "After a 
While." newcomer Joan Whealley 
doing a nice job with "Little on the 
Lonely Side"; Gordon Gerber's 
"Ride. Cowboy. Ride." and Honey 
and the Bees' bouncy version of "I 
Wuv a Rabbit." 

; Do/ih. 



CHASE & SANBORN SHOW 

With Frances Langford. S|iike Jones 
and t'itv Slickers, Tony Romano, 
Flurries' Buggies, guest, Kcu Car- 
penter, announcer 

Writer: Carroll Carroll 

Producer: Karl El>! 

.'Ill Mins.: Sun., 8 p.m. 

STANDARD BRANDS 

WEAF-NBC, N. Y. 
i . _,; i./. Walter Thompson"* 
! Bv nsual summer replaceujenl 

show standards. Standard Brands 
' didn't stint .on coin in lining up tins 

Edgar Bergen - Charlie ' McCarthy 
: hiatus-time program.. Frances Lang- 
, fold was brought over from, the 
; Pepsod.cnl show uiftcr squabble with 
: latter sponsor was ironed out) to 
i femcee the 30-minute layout, and 
'.she's sharing co-headline -honors 
! with Spike Jones and his City Slick- 
!ers. Tony Romano, likewise a Pep- 
1 sodeut alumnus, is. also in. along 
! with a guestar weekly ' (.Charles' 
: Rugiiles on. opener (3h Groucho 
! Marx next Sunday CIO). All of 
i which would indicate that the pay- 
[pf)' is there, lor the valuable 8 p.m. 
. Sunday night segment for. Chase & 
i Sanborn and hot-weathcr-slanted 
' iced coffee plugs. 

■ But what emerged on Ihe precm 
'.was little more than a hodge-podge 
: that, even as a hiatus time show. 

merits little of distinction. . 
■i As a femcee designed to wrap the 
jilting together. Miss Langford is of 
•dubious value and it isn't until she 
! slides into the singing department 
; i only midway through the program 
.did she hit her real stride with a I 
i sock -rendition of- "All of My Life-') 
that her distinctive assets emerge. 
Neither her "Sunny Side of the 
Street" opener nor her "Tangerine" 
closer was of the qualitative Lang- 
ford pattern, although the latter was 
intended as a three-way participa- 
tion in a Johnny Mercer medley, 
with the Spike Jones outfit doing an 
orthodox "Blues in the Night" and" 
Romano spotted for "Yon Must Have 
Been a Beautiful Baby." 

The City Slicker cacophony is 
something of a problem, too. On the 
opener it featured "Laura" and later 
lei out all the stops with "Leave the 
Dishes in Ihe Sink" with a Dell Por- 
ter vocal accomp. Sharing top bill- 
ing on the show. Jones obviously 
; isn't going to be. restricted in his 
I numbers, but it's highly questionable 
| whether that cowbell routine rates 
I a reprise in a half-hour show. As 
| a novelty on the program, limiting 
j it to a one-shot would be much the 
wiser choice. 

Ruggles (as for that matter, most 
of the show) suffered from the script 
dept. Comedian was spotted along 
with Miss Langford and Jones in a 
skit that to all intents went out a 
long time ago. but usually manages 
taJiftb up again on summertime 
skeds. It wasn't worth the trouble. 

Show is being routed weekly into 
hospitals for wounded vets. Rose. 



Programs continue to 

Sine. KLZ-. ei.a.i.« N^fgi Showm-noq.me"' Sur- 
!, y . KUh« won -n ° «* CoiU 9 . <>* - *• . 

^^^^^^^ 
« r AdvertUinq Club. 



TOMMY DORSEVS ORCH 

With Keenan Wynn, Sluart Foster 

Producer: Tony Stanford 

Writer: Carroll Carroll 

30 Mins.: Sun.. *:30 p.m. 

TENDER LEAF TEA 

WEAF-NBC, N. Y. ■•'. 
< J. Waller T/ioiiipxoirl 
This opening show- bv Tonimv 

Dorscy and guest Keenan Wynn 

and the former's orchestra, which 
; replaces F.cldie Bracken until Fred 
! Allen takes over in the rail, proved 
; one of the most entertaining of Ihe 
! summer substitute shows heard thus 
j far. It packed solid humor and 
! smart music into the half hour niche 
; it occupies immediately following 
■ the Spike Jones-Frances Langford 
j replacement 'tor Rdgar Bergen, and 
j if the. pace of the opening show is 
■maintained it should experience' no 
; difficulty in getting a good rating. 
I II has a lot to .offer, 
i Dorsey, since his takeover of the 
: m.c. job on the RCA-Victor show 
: (Sundays. 4:30. NBC I has become 
; increasingly adept at handling lines 
i and doing light comedy. Hi.s work 
i with Wynn. who displayed a,, rare 



talent fur mimicry and an easy and 
fluent radio personality. was really 
good. Between the two I hey drew 
the utmost from a good script pro- 
voking consistent bellylaughs. Only 
drawback to the writing was the 
feeding of jive talk lines to Doisey. 
This corny sort of conversation is 
increasinglv noticeable in his ma- 
terial on all shows. .It may go over 
well iu Ihe sticks, however. 

Dorsev's band did its usually click 
iob. Starling but with , an arrange- 
metil of "Song of India." one of his 
eailiesl hits, the combo rode on 
through various standards and only 
one pop. "I Should Care." Musically, 
the show could have been better 
balanced.: ■.- j.-f ;': ': 

Stuai-I Foster is vocalist with the 
band. He worked out nicely on the 
pop, Wood. 

"DAVE EI.MAN'S AUCTION GAt- 
- LERY" :' ^ '' ■ 

With Dave Elman, Kathleen -Winsor, 
Burns Mantle. Henry Hull. Fred 
Ba irons. Neil O'Malley, Amy Sey- 
del, Dayton Allen, Jack Scanlon, 
Hugh Saunders "':"-.:-. : -'." 

Writer: Elman 

Producers-Directors: Elman and Ad- 
dison Smith 
30 Miiis.; Tues., 8:30 p.m. 
Sustaining .•'•>•'..•''.'-, 
WOK Mutual. N. Y. 

Dave ("Hobby Lobby") Elman 
threw a fistful of gimmicks into this 
new show which preemed last week 
(231 over Mutual. A .full-Hedged. 
N. Y. State-licensed, auctioneer, El- 
tiiau" rigged' "u'p'a -"fancy room "at the' 
posh Ritz-Carlton in N. Y.. invited a 
fancy audience, and opened his trick 
package. . ';. , _. ■', ■''. ■■ 

Central idea of the show is'to auc- 
tion off items of various kinds, from, 
objects d'art to historical pieces and 
other choice bits for collectors. The 
studio audience, which includes a lot 
of collectors with fat purses, gets 
first crack at the. bidding. The items 
are then offered to the air audience 
which has a; specified time within 
which to enter bids; 

On opening 'night:' F.lman had 
Kathleen ("Forever Amber" i Win- 
sor offer up an original Peter Lely 
painting of the Earl of Renelaugli; 
Burns Mantle introduce a song book 
originally owned by Robert Burns; 
and a dramatic skit introducing an 
item of great historical value, one of 
the three original copies of the thir- 
teenth amendment to the U. S. Con- 
stitution, -embossed on "vellum and 
signed by Abraham Lincoln. 

These items brought audience bids 
that went from $1,000 for the paint- 
ing to $17,000 for the copy of the 
amendment. But in between, there 
was a jug containing water from the 
river Jordan, which a serviceman 
bought for 65 cent.s. and had an 
order for a $50 baby carriage thrown 
in; a parrot that wouldn't lalk: books 
of paper matches with General Mac- 
Arthur's famous "I Shall Return" 
slogan (which were auctioned off for 
benefit of the Red Cross, with a car- 
Ion of cigarets thrown ini, and- a 
P. T. Barnum "music box" that sold 
for $50. ' ' .. 

There is no doubl .that 'Elman_.has 
something here. Ju.sl what it is, it's 
hard to tell. But between snob a'p- 
peal on the one hand and mass ap- 
proach hn the other, fact remains he 
has a show that will interest Some 
listeners. At last report some spon- 
sors were ogling the thing. And if 
they buy il. they may get their 
money's worth. Elman knows how 
lo put on this kind of a show, even 
if he has to throw the kitchen sink 
into it. cars. 



WAYNE KING AND HIS ORCH 
With Dolores Gray, Frankln, Mm 
earmark. Skip Farrell e " 

j Writer: MacCormaek 

j Directors: Fred Essex. William i, lw 
rence * w " 

! :i(l Mins.: Sun., 6:00 p.m. 

i *Sei'* X TOBACCO CO. (,, ucky 

•WMAQ-NBC, Chicago 

(|?it(/iraiijO & Bii(ni) 
Off the air for three years, during 
which he was in the U. S. Army 
Wayne King, as summer replace-- 

•men I for the Jack Benin- show 
comes back with as sweet an outfit 
as can be heard on the air. Kins 
has retained the style that put him 
on top as the "Waltz King" with 
those smooth-flowing arrangements 
at limes resplendent with melodic 
sheen., and always soothing to the 
ear. ,'. 

In Dolores Gray and Skip Farrell 
lie _ has a top-notch vocal depart. 
meVit. Miss Gray adds, something to 
a song when she Rives it those hon- 
eyed tones, and Skip Farrell proves 
hi.s right to be heard on the "big. 
time" with his rich baritone. La 
Gray's treatment of "There's No 
You" and Farrell's singing Of "Prom- 
ises" and "Blue Hawaii" come pretty 
close to vocal perfection. 

Orchestra was heard in 'i Know," 
''Liebesl raum." featuring King's sax; 
the catchy "Josephine." an old King 
standby: "It's Twilight Time." and 
"Stars in My Eyes." all with the 
mellifluent King touch,' .Highlight of 
the show was saved for the last iium- 
ber. -the reading by Frauklvn Mac- 
Cormark of "Why Do I Love YotiV" 
to "Melody of Love" background 
music by the orchestra, the record- 
ing of-- which has alreadv sold over 
500.000 discs. MacCormaek also dou- 
bled as announcer and kepi .the num- 
bers tied together, by a workmanlike 
script. 

Opening and closing commercials 
(Continued on page 40) 




Washington.— New series of broad- 
casts to acquaint the Washington 
area with the huge rehabilitation 
program under way for wounded 
GI's starts Wednesday (bioverWOL. 
Programs will originate in Walter 
Reed hospital, which has about 5,000 
servicemen-patients. 



TIME TO TALK lo a city'a lending 
populace, lime for reaching aubur- 
ban ahoppen, or lime for covering 
rich rural markets . . . rack lime it 
Ihe full-time concern of Weed A 
Company — apecialiala in good tinea 
on good Mationa. 



*7 



■-:-S»«i 





EVELYN KNIGHT 

> ROLLING RIGHT 

DOWN TO RIO 



OPENING MANANA 
COPACABANA 



WM. MORRIS 



WfdnrscTay, June 6, 191" 



P%HIETY 



TELEVISION-RADIO 



69 



Midwest FM Net 
Mapped By WGN 

Chicago. J;mc 5. 
The first move lo provide network 
FM s'-rvu-c to the midwest was made 
last "week when applications', were 
filed with the FCC by officials of 
WGN. Iiic:. for construction of four 
class B. FM stations to .brinx'.ihe 
service to the larger cpmmunties in 
the regular WGN area. 

It's proposed that the four new 
stations, to be. located in Milwaukee. 
Fort Wayne. Peoria and Grand 
Rapids, join with WGNB, Chi,.a;stib- , . 
sidiary of WGN. to form the Midwest . slageerall 



SUMMER TELE SCHOOL 
AT WESTERN RESERVE 



Cleveland, .June 5. ! 
Wl'Slern Reserve U. is pioneering 
With a unique series of summer ■ 
courses in television desisued to give 
local - radio technicians and aclors a: 
scientific groundwork in the video 
problems they will face postwar. 
. Novel courses- will tie up with live 
university's plan's to spend. $5,000,000 



2 il!fliiiPy Union Head Hopeful WSAL Other 

Snarls Get Ironed Out This Week 



I Bcrsey to Nix Titch 

Tommy. Do'/.-'ey was forced "Io 
forego a -scheduled elate .on the Fitch 
Bandwagon radio show past ■ Sunday 
>3J due to his two other commer- 
cials. He works the. RCA-Vittor 
pvosranl t.s m.c. and without bis 
band at 4:30 p.m. and. the Tender 
Leaf Tea show with .the orchestra 
,il 8::i0 p.m.. both oj] NBC. .'..'• - 
• Doing the Filch ,-hp.w. too., on the 
.same day . would have been impos- 



Cineinnati. June 5. 
Failing to reach a. .salary agree- 
ment with Local No. 1., AFM, on a 
new contract, WSAI dropped musi- 
cians Friday ( 1 ) and has since op- 
erated willi transcribed .music." The 
station is a Marshall Field holding 



building a Communication 'Institute : sible. There would not. have been 
of Arts and Sciences- as s'ooiv'a's.ebn.i j-inougjV'fime to do all three -broad- 
struetion priorities cim . be secured. | casts with proper rehearsals. Hen •••• 
.Jiot-wealher lectures in television !; 

and , acting - are being 



'•Filch.: 



FM Network, Inc. 

Plans call for each .station to bring 
localized service to the area ; it 
serves, while the network operation 
would permit an exchange of pro- 
grams. Proposed stations will op- 
erate on a frequency of 45.9 mega- 
. cycles, which is WGNB's frequency. 

Cttl TELENEWS SHOW 
GETS PUPPET ASSIST 

Chicago. June -5.. 

"-•."Anolher. ittnv-H-elevision -program- 
ni.ihg gimmick will be seen and- 
heard over WBKB here - Friday 
night |i)> when David W. Dole; hi 
clibrge of television activities for 
Henri, Hurst. McDonald, Inc.'. in- 
troduces the." first- of-, a series of 

' newscast innovations. 

Program tilled "Look at the News" 
will run about five minutes and will 
feature a ..pictorial' review of the life 
of. Gen. Courtney Hicks Hodges, 
commander of the American First 
Army, by means of pictures from 
Acme Newspieturcs. and narration 
by Gil Hix. which will be tied in 
with a regular 10-minute news 
broadcast. Photos will be displayed 
in a small stage, placed alongside 
the narrator who will use a pointer 
in analysing' war action on maps and 
selecting items of interest in 1 he 
photographs which will include tele- 
photo prints. Picture changes will be 
operated by a puppet known, as 
"Johnny Acme'' which stands bt^ 
fore the stage. Dole's first televi- 
sion program, done over the same 
slalioii several weeks ago. proved a 
novelty ' in television "spot" adver- 
tising and featured a cartoon canine 
character. 



stalled June 20 by Barclay Leathern, 
head of college's dramatic depart- 
ment. Dummy equipment built on 
real-life scale will be used by classes 
in studying various, phases of the 
video art. 

This is believed to be the first 
■time that a. university has placed 
: sueh a highly specialized, advanced 
technical subject on its curriculum 
and Leather'! admitted some bugs in it 
will probably iiave to' be ironed out. 

Cleveland Owler 

Cleveland, June' -a.; • 
Burt's' clothing store is iYistiluting 
the first all-night series Cleveland 
has ever had, over WHK. from mid- 
night to 5 a.m. six-.nigbts-a-week.: 
■Starting Monday f*t. with Bill Dud- 
ley, as emcee. 



■and a Blue, affiliate. It's a former 
; Croslcy property and had . been 
[linked wirti WLW in a' dual' contract 
'■with the union.: ' /' . -■":■;-■: :' 
So far WLW is ihc on'y one of five 
i Ciiicy stations to eiiter into agree- 
[ ''merit with Local No. 1 for the en- 
1 suing year. The Crosley 50,000 
: watte.r 
'.June 1 
grams. - .< .'- ..;•:■; 

: Oscar Hild. president of Local No. 

1. claims he has been compelled lo 
I revise schedules and wages for three 
! stations here' because of these 
Frisco with the President for the . changes: WKRC switching from Mu- 



MUTUAL'S HILLMAN TO 
FRISCO WITH TRUMAN 

Washington, June 5, 
Bill Flilhliair of Mutual has -been 
selected network pool rep to fly to 



; I inn contract . pots now on Hvc lire 
i Will; be boiling io the satisfaction of 
I all parties concerned" withiii .'the 
near future., possibly at conferences 
pegged for this week. 

Waiter A. Callahan. WSAUg.hi.;; 
issued tli is statement .Friday: "The 
work stoppage of local musicians 
came after failure to reach an agree- 
ment with Mr. Hild.. The ."tatioii of- 
fered to pay. a salary of S60 for a 
work week of 12 hours demanded by . 
the union, but the union refuse.". 

The union, (h this time of .critical 
labor shortage, also insisted upon' 
is '.an NBC outlet and. on j ihe- employment of a greater ni.un- 
took oh: several Mutual pro- I her of musicians than the station re- 



quires 



latter's address winding up the con- 
ference. Hillman will make a four- 
web broadcast on arrival, describing 
the trip. . - 

Newsreels arid still pic'.- services 
.I lso.^W-UL_be:. r e pres en ted < by . : a pool 
man .on the trip. The' three national 
services, arid .one icporter each for 
Washington .'and Chicago papers will 
go along. The newsmen will have a 
plane of their own and will not 
tfavej in the Presidential ship' with 
Triiman. ' ', ' "> 



tual to CBS: WCKY. which had CBS, 
went indie.- and WCPO, a Scripps- 
Howard indie, took on some Mutual 
programs., .-Each case, says Hild, pre- 
sents a changed sRua'Uph,. ' . 
. .The , W KR C. contract . wjlhj..he' mu- 
sicians' ,'util'on : expired June ,}j and 
the- local's agreements, with WCKY 
and WCPO run out June 15..- 
... Hild, who has another current 
hc,ad.acb,c, in: lining .up the approach^ 
in.g CTiicy ' ■■ Summer Opera season, 
ttld "Variety" he feels that the ">.ta- 



NEW WHOM APPROACH 

A new type "of strrf.t in'.. ".-view 
show will be aired weekly. ovj>r the- 
N. Y. indie.-WHOM beginning next 
Monday ill). For a half-hour, begin- 
ning at 7 p.m., Dale Morgan and. 
William Agar, the latter representing 
Freedom -.House, which is cooperating 
on the y'p.iv, airer^will. work together; • 
Morgan will interview passersby on 
street corners about important cur- 
rent problems, while Agar at the stu- 
dio will, analyze the street proceed- 
ings. .:•:.' .;, .. . 

Title of the show is "Free Speech 
at the Cross-roads." 



The JACK KIRK WOOD SHOW originates at KNX 

... so does Smile in the Morning 



FMBI, TBA Get Together 
On Allocations Tussle 

Washington, June 5. 
. Attorneys for . FM Broadcasters, 
Inc.. and ' the Television Broadcast- 
ers Assn. have asked FCC to locate 
FM in the 50-08 inc. band withpot 
furlher delay. If the request is 
granted, it would end the plan of 
FCC to conduct spectrum tests this 
summer to determine which of three 
bands between 44 and 108 mc. is best 
suited rpr FM. -;■ 

Action is the result of meetings 
held by the two organizations. It 
was believed also that RTPB might 
join the parade following its meet- 
ing in New York today . 1 5). , ■ 

The broadcasters are all hepped 
up over the prospect of an early end 
to the war in Japan and feel that 
they may be caught -short if they 
are not ready to begin operating , in 
their new frequencies very quickly. 



Telecast C'oVp. Chartered 

Albany. June 5. 
Telecast Corp. of America has 
been chartered to conduct a lele- 
. vision and advertising business in 
New York! Directors are: Albert 
Levirie, Emanuel Rothstein and Lil- 
lian Ritter. .M.Y.C. 



Radio in Schools 



Continued from page 30 

people. While regular schools can 
teach only those roughly from 6 to 
18. radio informs those from 4 io 104. 

Community groups must cooperate 
With, stations in making good chil- 
dren's -programs possible, Gloria 
Chandler, radio consultant for the 
Association of Junior -Leagues of 
America... declared. The. Association's 
1944-45, series. "Books Bring Adveii- 
trire,'' has been widely commended. 
Another series is being prepared. 
Miss Chandler, who spoke on "Radio 
'or the Child Listener," stressed that 
Community organization should offer 
constructive suggestions to stations. 

Miss Chandler met, after the 'Con- 
ference- officially ended, with a 
Eroup of area residents, to listen to 
*nd discuss recordings of "Books 
"ring Adventure." Miss Ruth Adams, 
children's librarian in Schenectady, 
Presided at. this meeting. 




When 237 pounds of jack Kirkwood bound on- 
stage at KNX for his broadcast, a high tide of 
humor ripples out across the nation via Colum- 
bia coast-to-coast. His antics chase listeners to 
the verge of hysteria. Kirkwood enjoys it, audi- 
ences enjoy it-and, believe us, sponsor Oxydol 
enjoys it, too. It sells trainloads of granulated 
soap because of the way mad Mr. K. and his col- 
leagues cavort. 

Another type of cheerer-upper is the KNX quar- 
ter-hour, Smile in the Morning. Songs by bari- 
tone Gene Baker alternate with homespun talks 
about homely happenings . . . recollections of 
baref oot summers and school memories . . . com- 
ments on grown-up doings, domestic putterings, 
even hooked-rug making. Commercials are 
meshed adroitly , with anecdotes and observa- 
tions voiced in the everyday language of every 
American home. 

The Jack Kirkwood Show plays to network au- 
diencies. Gene Baker talks only to Southern 
California. One is national, the other local— but 
both meet the same uncompromising standards 
because they both originate at KNX. It's a basic 
CBS premise that local programs must reflect 
the same care and planning as those produced 
for nationwide ears. KNX is CBS-in-Hollywood 
—and KNX local shows have behind them the 
same knowledge, experience and production 
finesse that distinguish CBS network favorites, 

We can't offer either the Kirkwood Show or 
Smile in the Morning for sponsorship. But we 
do offer them as evidence of what KNX has cre- 
ated for specific advertisers-and proof of what 
we can do for you. If you need an original pro- 
gram to sell your product or service in Southern 
California, see us or Radio Sales. 



Columbia's Station for All Southern California 

Represented by Rntlio Sales, the SPOT Broadcasting Division of CBS 




LOS ANGELES 
50,000 WATTS 
COLUMBIA OWNED 




40 



RADIO 



WcdiM-silay, h\nv 6. 1 *) 1 5 



Radio Reviews 



CiiiHinv.'d front pase i>N 



AO VENTURES OF FATHER 
BROWN" 
WUI« Karl Sweiison, Barry Thomson. 



a i .e. the same iis before, wi.h tin- 1 >'- 
b iceo auciiuni'tis. ote.i but George 
\V, Hill hsis adcisd thase "hiM ■)'•>: 
.In nk" middle plugs, a la the "Hit 
I ' irade," Com ni erci a I a ppr i- 1 of tho 
s. '"ics/seems a trifle doubtful due f;> 
Mnr-p contrast IjgUvi.s'n ' . ."lituk-ack;" 
impact ni' LSM6T. appr.i'aeh.'ah.l the 
ti lp,<'-(iistiilt'ti- iihma'ltz the le t vf 
t.iv lime. ".- • 

.T11 thn.-e who have b:-eonv, acetr- 
tomed- to flu- :7:-'<;:iU Benny. iav;£:i 
routine, llvs Kint; s'iioaV; 111 say 1. if: 
] .-art,. ;,tii!;t'.- an oii'-bcal .|ioh>'. bi't tor. 
. t'n. so-, u ho like their' ini'sical bombos 
: in ii fiset .vein, this is it,, right off 
the tppshclf. •;■ ', ' Afovo, 

'•BEST SELLERS" 
With Cbur'oUe Holland. Sii-aii 
lioujlas, Evelyn Yarden. Helen 
A last air Kyle, Cherry- Lardy. 
Brett Morrison, narriior-'iost 
rijrrrloi:: Mitchell Grayson 
VViii-r:-: ("liar.'es Giistims.n. Vera 
Oldham 

3» ..Mill .: Mon.-lln u-Fri., :; p.m. 
SiM lining . 
WI/.-Blee, N. Y. 

"Best Seller?." cro.--s-llr > -iH)a,i-(l s.\- 
rios of dramatizations' ;ni.i top tohu's 
(both current and o I H i s » which 
bowed' in on Monday (4t. is- part aX 
- -tire- BlutCsv i©4fc .af Lernuuii program-;, 
ining tccbnictuc designed to give the! 
network a distinctive pat' e n of its 
own rather than . compete with • the 
' NBC. -CBS sroancr-nVo-ntr- soaoers: 
As such it is an idea f ir \vlvch the 
Blue programming debt:, rates com- 
mendation; New . show is spotted in. 
the S-StSO segment. .'■ With' each novel 
broken down to live' installments to 
round out the week.. Asothe ftnener. 
Rosamund . Lehmann's "The Ballad 
and the Source" was chosen for dra- 
matization with a special' credit las; 
b's. i tossed out to Waller Wamun-iii 



view of the pending pie adapt'ilibii. 
I Blue has high hope.v.o.f developing 
• "Besi Sellers" rs line o'( the impor- 
1 t.ant cpnt'i'ibs of the programming 
depi, showcase as rcilcc'ied, for one 
thin..; -ill, the painstaking care in 
ieaViip., Mitelicd Grayson has been 
■assigned ihe directorial end, and it's : 
; to his credit that the pacing hii.s-.a • 
proper stride in keeping Willi the 1 



Lake IMaeM. | rmy Kciistnbution.j 
l enter, the ■ Home Army Air Base I 

ami Saini>ioii-.-boast.s an 18-piece or- ; ...... "«.. ~,fi,„\„,< 

eiicsua o: •■name" band men. direct- j Cherry Hardy John Iho n . 
.Hi Ik S -eialist Waller SchcIV (for- Stacy Harry, Gertrude ».unei. 

I l't«l Waring tor live I Ted Oslnirne. .lack Irish, annm.neer 

fears.; tt als.. has a ii.VVoice choir ' Producer: Francis SheH.n$ Oliver 
led bv Apprentice Seaman Hubert ; Dirertor: William Sweets 
Shaw.' wh.i formerly assisted - War- ; Writer: Crosby George 
.rig: an announce.'. Aporetltico Sea- ' Ml iMins.: Sun.. » |»,m. 
nv n Carl 'Weber, who was, with NSC .Sustaining;. ;! 
ami CBS, ,ahi.l ' a ■. .writer-producer, wir-Mutiial, IMiila. 
Specialist John Beauvais, who^se 'yed ! Bringing . Gilbert K. Chesterton s 

w.k.:deteetlve priest:. Father B.'own. - 
to the air was - a line idea. The se- 



Television Review 



. io.'y, ■ ■ ■ .-.,; ;. 

:.Kut whatever faults the new. pro- 
.g.;:ih hetrryexl on the preem— -and 
•they v.cie pretty apparent— stem 
'bash-ally from the. need to slreicli 
Unit the .a.(iap.;.'tions to cover 30 niin- 
l.ii|in>. liye-day: -a-'week., Thai's a lot 
' or~iTrmutes t-nd. unl'ke. those half- 
bonr' conclcris- tions tor one-shols, it 
' invites a tendency .to drag the thing 
' ovt. True, 'devoting an approximate; 

minutes to a novel permits l".>r 
■ thoroii'ih character delineation, ere- 
I fVti'ivg- proper mood, background, etc.. 
,. but u.n,like the printed page it's a 
''tough job creating such sustained in- 
terest in using fha hangover formula. 
• "rri'iii-li'in-wt'sc.'.llic Blue" has done 
. a hangup job. The narration tech- 
j ni iv.i'.'\ '.t!i Ciiaiioite Holland giving 
;a line assist. ' lends itself peculiarly 
. to adaptation of "Ballad." and per- 
iformanecs by Helen Holt and Evelyn 
i Varclen were particularly of tip- 
drawer calibiv.- , . Kose. 



cliief scriol . writer lor Yankee 
n.'twn.k. Beauvais is not air-cred- 
iiod th.; fhow beng tabbed as an 

elTorl of radio section of base public ! ri'es, judged by Sundays t..) preem 
illation* otlice. The other boy^ are 
'.veil billing,'' Accordioirsl Nonnan 
Pavloc. \,'no holds a iriu«iclait'.< fat- 
?na. was also lealured on the b;oad- 
east caught. Special musical ,ar- 
i-an'-ements wove ticketed. 
Oi'ieh c.-;!led "The Million Dollar.: tween Ihem got acro.ss well 



N. Y. Y ,^NK IC E-DETROIT EASE. 

BALI/ GAME 
With Bill S em, annouui-er 
Sii|iervisor: Burke Crotlv 
H» Mins.; Wed. (IIOJ, :! 'ji.iii. 
Sustaining' 
WNBT-NBC, N. Y. 

Burke Crotty, head of Held brqat 1 . 
cas.s for: NBC television, ha.s.b?e:i 
.in' the Army the past two, years, and 



will' be'T good addifu:,, to niysU-ry ^ th: t; tinte little brides the 
aWk' For: the good Father lirs a" 

v-i-e. fatlierly. i videod over WNBT. has come from 



distinct': personality 
patient, .which seript-a 



Crosby 



; oulside the web's studios. Now that 



,.,-(!„..„. ..i 'i,,.; ' no is back at hi.s. civilian uosf, there 
George and actor .Karl Suens.m b.- be ;. 11U) ,,, .„ |ti . m o"e special 



Bond.' Sampson unit was .batoned 
for sotiM'time by Art Jarell. who 
joined as a saanian and advanced 
to 'lieutenant before his transfer 1o 
the west: co.-st. Shaw was assigned 
td'direelion of the choir, consisting 
chieilv of -church singers, two days 
ait.;.- ha arrived at Sampson. . He 
otitains unusual effects.. Half-hour 
show-.. ip which eyowthina was han- 
dled almost nerfectlv. tooiW sailor 
into the Paciflc. through br Ce . ac- 
tioii and back home on a hospital 
-h'o. The dramatization and narra- 
I'on. beaiitifttUv suoolemeiiled by 
sieal bridges and sound ef- 



•Pro'gfam -was also interesting 
cadre, in addition to presen.in 



be- 



leleveiits on:lho ne workis video on - 
let ' than heretofore. 
Iniiial dn-the-spotter that NEC's 
pleasantly-peisua^ve^ty e , ctl!!e d under the new setup V ;as 

for. 2a muiutes. H P eceded u s. • , o( m ^ - ^ ^ ^ f 



of a crime witli a leisurely ?.ppioach 
building up a pa'ternal Father Brown 
thvoiit'h his home hie and habits 
before getting into the mystery. 
I The British Father has be; n trans- 
planted here, sizing up the American 
scene.) The yarn itself (there will 
he a different one weekly, each or 
them comoletei was told dramatic- 
ally, enacted , by, a competent group 
of players; Sunday's' story,, titled 
The Wrong Shane." retailed a mur- 



! "MEN OF ItNCl.E SAM" 

1 Sampson Xaval Station Group 

: Music, nviration. ilramatixalio'n 

!-:«» Mfn^i Sat.. p.m. 

I WGY. Si lii iiec-ady, 

"Men of. Uncle Sam," originating 
i Saturday night .< 21 over WGY from 
Ihe Sampson Naval Training Station, 
near Geneva, was a superb example 
of entertainment and oroduction. on 
a professional scale bv enlisted per- 
sonnel. Srmn-'on groini. not covered 
in a recent "Variotv:' review of the 
proaram— which rotates between the 




CONFIDENCE 
BRINGS RESPONSE 

At $1.95 each, WLS listeners ordered 
2,699 assortments of bulbs and plants. 
Eight 6:15 a.m. quarter hours brought 
this total of $5,263.05! WLS listeners 
have Confidence in our programs and 
our advertisers. So WLS-Aw Old Friend 
to Midioett America-GUS RESULTS 1 




music, mu 

i'ects. senred into a olea for the PU .'- , (ter-mystery in the country over the 
chase of War 'Bonds, ''which .enable ) Weekefict with ihe good Father u;i- 
ihe -men. to Tome -back home.- An | i-u-vt^lViii the mysfery -liy , a, s-hertock- 
rnidentilied .Wave was used to .nor- ■-, hr)lnlish touch. It was a good yarn 
irav the sailor's sweet.'-eart Chier,;-^,,, ,,„, denouement, the lest c.uiole 
eneineer Tnirniv Mciluch !•>''- plinUt -s for the eye-opener being a 
mer.lv with WOV. N. Y. JtlfO.. ii t( ; e too pat. But the series, will do; 

'■. ^— — — — . it holds interest.. .. .' 

"ADVENTURES OF ARCHIE AN- ! ' Series, emanating ' from Mutual 

DREWS" 1 will start on WOR. New York outlet. ! 

Will Cha-'es Mullen, AV.it Your- i next week UO >. Bion. ,i 

mm, Vinton Davworlh, Hiilan ; . - — - — : — - r 

Stone. Jr., Dorothy Grundv, Joe i l-> 
Latham, Grace Keddy. Mainice ' "WHEN HE COMES HOME 
Franklin. Bill G iffis, Fred Bar- With Dr. Rolierl C.oWcnson. Dr. _S 
ion, Arthilr Mailland i Bernard Wo.tis. David " a "*'l 



Prortueeivilirector: Anton M. Leader 
Writer: Edwin Wolfe 
Announce : Ken Banaiiart 
■M Minn.: Sat., 10 a.m. 
Sustaining 
WE \F-NBC. N. Y. 

^ ^ BC's new serial based on the 
"Archie" comic books is a pleasant 
kidshpw, ..indeed by i s premiere 
olTering Saturday (2).. It's an im- 
provement on the previous s'milar 
series aired on Ihe Blue in fall -'43. 
As a enmciy-drama about .the m's- 
hans of a sad-sac!;ish high-schco! 
kid. it has human interest and 
warmth. It' also has wider appeal in 
the way it drags a .whole community 
into the scrape of an innocent 'leen- 
ager. But s'retching out a single 
incident for a half-hour, as it did 
Saturday, makes the program a lit- 
tle draggy and thin. Serial , might 
do better as a qimrter-hourer in- 
stead of a half, at that. 

Archie, a Henry Aldrich type of 
happy-ao-unlucky. .finds himself in 
this first frame involved with the 
school principal in a spat over hi.s 
marks. A' visit to the principal after 
school finds Archie further involved, 
innocently in an altercation between 
principal and janitor, with the 
princioal getting locked into a closet, 
and Archie scouring the town and 
arousing the full citizenry in his be- 
wildered attempts to free h : s teacher. 
The events have their humorous 
potiiis. and the interchanges between 
choleric principal, janitor and Archie 
are good fun. Bui yarn is a little 
trying before the close. . Broii. 

"HOME AROUND THE WORLD" 
Don Goddard, narrator, with Patrick 
O'Connor, Jim Boies. Sarah Bur 



par. -or ire ursi game aim the entire 
second coolest ot ihe N. Y. Yankees- 
Detroit Tige. s doublehtac'er at Yan- 
kee Stadium on Memorial Day i;iO). 
But there's still a war on, and 'there's 
still a terrific shortage of . engineer- . 
iilS manpower.. . and' there's s ill 
equipment that hasn't been . remr- 
bished in a couple of years to con- 
lend with in picking up remote tele- 
cas.s. 

■ This . was.'proved last Wednesday. 
When the cameras-Were set up it 
.lie Stadium, the technical ereiv ran 
ioto.-.dii"iiculty. trying- to yet one iot- 
tile .two 1 len>es in -ord,er. And the 
trouble s..umped them all day. Re- 
i'Sitii was that Only one camera was 
] iis-d Ihroughoiit the afternoon-, and 
the viewers at home saw some fairly 
I good pictures of two exciting base- 
ball contests, but • undoubtedly the 
on t i re v few- i h g could have been much 
beiler if the two cameras were in 
order. The equipment being , used 
today, when il is in order, picks up 
a belter picture than anything in 
video - that lies gone before. This 
was proven by the shots of oiu- 
tielders, hundieds of feet away from 
the ikes.- catching flies and I lie action 
when players were running tne 
bases, beating the throws io the par-, 
ticular sack. Unl'oi'tuna.tiy. though, 
wilh only one camera being used, 
viewers saw (he bat, or only, and the 
! pk'.y resulting from the. batter's ac- 



Norman Rose, Stephen Coiiitteig'i 
Writes: Dr. Golclcnson, Bcalrce 

Mellicker . . 

I'roducer-Direclor: Miss Melli 'ker 
.1') Mins.: Wed., Da'ill p.m. 
Sustaining ." 
WMCA. N. Y. - 

WMCA's c.ducatioh. director. iSIr.s. 
Helen S. Straus, took the job of j lions, camera panning through.- it 
framing a vet . relv. biliialiou show | , mn . e t han one thing was taking 
with titmosV ■seriousness," «>'f *?« "•'• place on the diamonti at the same 
iumoing fntfc it with a civilian l"y- hinie, the audience at home missed 
mail's preconceived notipi's. she on- J :an y. - activity .except where the 
lisled the aid of outstanding people : camera was focusse.l. Mowevr, 
in psychiatry and psychology, mom- j crotty hopes to have everything 
cine and social work, persmmc. , ship-shape when NEC tcievi.-os us 
.raining and pmplpytnent, as adr I- next, gaine Sitt'urdiiy. 19). 
vires. Result is that, after several 



months' intensive study and plan- 
ning, this N. Y. indie was ready to 
go on the air with a show that might 
be of genuine help to the veteran as 
well as to t'he hitter's family. 
In the midst of all the sdenlifla 



As for souiii'.. announcer Bill 
Stent, a new hand at describing 
a.hlelic contests over television, had 
a tendency to mention the obvious 
too often, usiig his radio teclimqiia, 
raiherythan le liny the viewers tnit'tK 
things out for themselves and filling 



i.... l,...*.. • I snow nicii u.scil io uit:aiv lui uu«u w ilii 

Rri'h.m h i ? ', '. M " r "f e su fficient evidence that, given same 

K^u'Mn^*^ 0>t ' AUs!a,r K >'*' »t oduction and tightening radiovvise, 
WH-ei-'- FNa Russell lh!s P">«™«> Could make a .stjnifl- 

?,Jj!„'., " 1 ^ k .A canl contribution toward meeting the 

vii.f ? I C i° r: ' ,,Seph Ma " sne, <" problems of veteran rehabili alion. 
.mis.: aai., » a.m. r , n'f» 
Sus'-aininj ■*■>"*• 
WEAF-NBC. N. Y. "'.'■>; 

NBC's University of. the Air 
changed the format of its '-Home Is 
What You Make H" Saturday stanza 
for the summer, giving it a United 
Nations content and calling i1 
"Home Around the World." It's a 
swell idea, and on the teeofif <2i \va;s 
done with a fair amount of success. 

First of the United Nations oro- 
iected on the series was New- Zea- 
land. Script and production were a 
bit slow, leaning closer to the' trav- 
elog than to the documentary. But a 
competent cast brought the picture 
of life down-under to life, giving the 
listener \a. comprehensive' idea .'of 
how people think and act. in New 
Zealand One found that New Zea- 
land has no race problem., the Maori 
natives being as much a rtaii of Ihe 
country's social and political life as 
are the Jolmny-come-latelv Anglo- 
Saxons, and Gaels: that socialized 
medicine is a -fact' and not a ho gey: 
that government "interference" and 
cooperatives don't seem to impover- 
ish a country rich in food and other 
resources. 

Interesting beyond the immediate 
purport of the show, however: -was 
the fact that in radio, as in other 
forms of fauna, the right hand and 
the left don't plav the same game- 
sometimes. On this urogram. NB.C 
didn't mind putting forth exactly the 
kind of "controversial" matter for 
w hich "Words at War" got kicked in 
ihe teeth on a nighttime spot. But 
mavbe ar.ti-Beveridge-plaitnor.s don't 
gel up early enough to hear a show 
like this-one,,- ■-- - — --Com. 



preparations, however, it was im- I jYi"- at less-frequent intervals. How- 
fortimate that, radio was los siv it ot. : cvo . . undoubtedly he: too. will get 
The preem oi this show (30 1 knew , iMto ll)e swin ,, ;, r ,| v j n „ s wilh tne 
what. it wanted to say. but not qu le ; nax[ baseball lelecas . ' Slew. 

how. Chatty, learned speeches by ! ; 

Ihe three experts on . that night's 
panel took up about .25 minules. of 
the half hour, dramatizations being 
confined to three very brief soots. 
Even the speeches failed to convince 
at times, since it was obvious that 
there was no conflict of opinion 
among the people with the know- 
how; every once in a while, one of 
them set up a s'raw man for another 
to knock down. That part of it 
wasn't even good forum technique. 

However, the solid, honest think- 
ing and really conscientious research 
that went into the making of this 
show managed to break through w ith 



"ON THE PARTY LINE" 
With Mary El'/.abeth Gaynor , ; 
.IO Mlns.: Mon.-Fri., 1:15 p.m. 
Participating 
WTRY, Troy 

Miss Gaynor, who has been on the 
air for about two years since grad- 
uating from Russell Sage College 
and taking a postgraduate radio 
course at Northwestern U., is a com- 
petent broadcaster and a crack 
writer of advertising copy. She is 
capable of handling a bigger assign, 
ment than this. The format for t;.„ 
show was .established wlieri WTRV 
hit the air in 1940: chatter and stories 
leading into . advertising, plus tran- 
scribed music. The station has al- 
ways eschewed household recipe- 
and advice. 

Would be a belfer program, per- 
haps, if Ihere were more interviews. 
Miss Gaynor, a smart young lady, 
can do interviews, and even a cer- 
tain, amount of commentary, with 
soreness. This phase could' be ex- 
panded. 

Many of her stories segue into ad- 
vertising, the "sneak" technique be- 
ing employed. Miss Gaynor writes 
copy well enough to hold her own 
in fast company. She possesses a 
rather deep and pleasant voice, hut 
would do well to correct several 
technical flaws such as a tendency 
to talk in spurts, with a rather up- 
and-down delivery. 

Many of the sponsors are local 
stores, yyho are given steady, fresh 
copy. 



$7,607.00 
PER FAMILY! 

Th-f. »h. W'lf^ 
lord, o. p-Wh*»*j" 

Writ. W0RC •Hprttart 

Dm WDRC to 
Conn.et II. Conn.c»ic«» | 




I'MTMl ICKVAI.I. DKIfi «'« 
'Friday— VUS— III M.nl.. KHT 



•III.: tOU CLAYTON 



Jtor. 1» your optiortunlty ti> «J~rt>«« 1" 
V»tm without tin, •xotnM of typ.5«ttlrr,. 
• nV»fln,-,*, •ta. AiJ 



y»u do 1. *|»y Tor t.h« 
.p.9«, I'll snpolv- 
till, cut m 
in Ally ill* d,.!r.l, 

wltliftit o»,t or ohll- 

J:wo. | ^-i^.l^jVO^J 




Wednesday' J»" c 6 i 



ORCHESTRAS-MUSIC 



41 



METRO SETS UP RECORDING BIZ 



Disc Execs Confidently Predict 

Annual Postwar Sales 



jVVVj 

There seems, to be no limit to the 4 
postwar sale of records, according 
to experienced executives. Over- 
looking the tremendous demand for 
discs that cannot be supplied, they 
generally agree that postwar sales 
may well surpass 300,000,000 yearly 
and niay soar between 400,000,000 
and 600.000.000 pressings. This seems 
a wild estimate, in view of prewar 
figures, which never went higher 
than the 130,000,000 sold in 1941, be- 
fore materials and manpower re- 
strictions, but in view of factory 
plans by the majors, plus the entry 
into the field of other companies, 
the guessing may not be so far off. 

It's expected that the various ma- 
jors now operating will be able to 
begin boosting production figures 
after-next .inly- J, when manpower, 
controls will ease.. Materials short- 
ages have long since ceased to be 
a production hindrance; for more 
than -a year the sole barrier to a re- 
turn toward prewar output has been 
the lack of men. As the latter wor- 
ry eases the last half of this year, 
executives believe that they will be 
able to approach and possibly sur- 
pass 115,000.000 pressings tor '45. 
That's roughly an increase of 25,- 
000,000 over last year's 92,000,000 
or thereabouts. 

Decca alone, postwar, is figuring 
(Continued on page 42) 



RobbinV 2d Boy In 

Jack and Rose Bobbins' 'second 
son. Marshall i Brother), who has 
been studying at Kaslman School of 
Music, Rochester, has enlisted in the 
Army Air Force. From Fort Dix. 
N, J., where he was inducted, he 
goes to Biloxi. Miss., shortly. He's 18. 

Howard (Budclyl Robbins. 22. is 
now in Rome with the U. S. En- 
gineers. '_ ■ ■ • ., . . 



Metro's Disc Artists? 

Tommy Dix, under new Metro 
contract, has a recording restric- 
tion clause in his contract. So 
has Johnny Johnson, when his, 
present disc pians expire. 

It's, figured the same will apply 
to Judy Garland, how tied to 
Decca, and others in future, de- 
pending on what Metro's ne,w 
disc company has to offer its 
artists. : - .'; ... ; 7 

Metro can't always dictate, 'as 
has been proved with radio re-: 
striclious . on certain artists. It 
depends, of course, on the stat-' 
lire of the stars and the astute- 
ness of their managers. :'. 




TO 





BMI Establishes New 
Henry King Music Co.; 
First One in 6 Months 

Broadcast . Music. Inc., which .six 
months ago asserted that it was fin- 
ished with die idea of setting up In- 
active music, publishing firms for 
bandleaders— and hasn't formed one 
since— is back in. its old groove. It 
concluded a deal last week With 
Henry King, who has a .contract to 
play the CopacabanaV: N. Y", some- 
time between now and the fall, and 
has several others on the fire, one 
with Gene . Autry. 

King's deal with BMI, however, 
doesn't seem ' to be as hefty finan- 
cially as some of the others BMI has 
made with bandleader's. He is said 
lo have drawii a $1,500 advance 
against performance royalties. 



Metro, long, contemplating enter- 
ing the recording business, has 
finally made a definite start in that 
direction. Frank Walker, executive 
for RCA Victor, has been signed to 
a term contract by Loew's, Inc., to 
head the recording setup. 

Walker turned, in his resignation 
at Victor last week, effective June 
30. He will take a four-week vaca- 
tion thereaTter and reports at Loew's 
Aug. 1 to begin the construction of 
j an organization that Unquestionably 
I will Shape up as another major otit- 
; lit in the field. He is a veteran of 
| the recording business, having been 
' in . ' it for 25 years with the* old : 
Brunswick outfit, and later/' .in com- 
plete charge of Victor's recording. 

Metro, planning a recording sub- 
sidiary, for some lime, as long'. Sgo 
las two years was advising artists 
j under contract to its Hollywood 
studios to include six-month cancel- 



lation clauses in all agreements 



j with disc companies such as Co- 
j lumbia, Victor, Decca, et, si, as it is 
i doing currently (see separate box). 
| Later, in conjunction with Tommy 
Dorsey, whose band was then under 
contract to Metro, the company's top 
executives really waxed hot on the 
idea only to have the wartime short- 
ages of equipment, materials and 
manpower temporarily sidetrack 
•' plans. • 
j In the past few weeks it has been 
I consistently rumore'd that Metro was 
■dusting off its ideas on the subject, 
j that men were on the problem of 
j securing necessary machinery, all 
| under the direction of David Bern- 
stein, Loew-TVIetro . v.- .p.-treasurer 
' '. (Continued on page 42) 



Pubs Deny Songs to Fischer Racks, 



im Gimmick on Public Domain Sales 



Bargain Price • 

Army camp in the eastern 
territory pulled an unusual 
angle, oh Howard Sinnott. head 
of General . Amus. Corp.'s one? 
night department, by insisting 
that a contract, for a date on 
Jimmy Palmer's orchestra calls 
for a price of $999.99. 

Reason for the strange price- 
quotation insisted upon is that 
if the particular camp buys 
entertainment costing $1,000 or 
over, permission had to " be 
secured from commanding offi- 
cers of the entire area in which 
the camp lies. Rather than go 
through, the red tape a penny 
- : was sliced! " / 



Joe Shribman Signed 
To Head Cosmopolitan 
Discs' A. & R. Division 

Joe Shribman, band manager, has 
been signed by Cosmopolitan Rec- 
ords to assume complete jurisdiction 
over the firm's Artists and Repertoire 
department. He will go to work for 
the outfit some time this week alter 
winding up other affairs. He will 
continue to handle Mai Hallett's or- 
chestra, however. , 

Cosmopolitan, a warbom recording 
firm, has big plans. It has. a plant 
at Massapequa, L. I., asserted to have 
a daily capacity of 45,000 pressings. 
It currently i.s doing work for small 
firms like Apollo, but will soon have 
all facilities cleared for its own ma- 
terial. . ... 



Carl Fischer, Inc., N. Y. music pub 
which also conducts a small string of 
racks in the northeastern territory, 
has been notified by at least three 
major publishers that henceforth 
they will not serve these racks with 
popular music they publish. Pubs, 
ane of which is Shapiro- Bernstein, 
have based their stance on the 
charge that Fischer was using their 
material to help sell its own music. 

Publishers . involved assert that 
they have evidence Fischer was in- 
cluding in its racks— in addition to 
the top hit songs the patrons of them 
had been trained to expect— copies of 
non-copyrighted material and re- 
prints. Under, the sales title, "Mon- 
arch Edition," the publisher has 
been getting out copies -of tunes now 
in the public domain .ahci' usihg' his" 
racks to display them, it's alleged 1 , 
on the premise that consistent buy- 
ers from this type of music dis- 
penser would, be led to believe they 
were among the latest hit songs. 
Some of the p.d. tunes included in 
Fischer's list. are. copyrights former- 
ly owned by the firms now denying 
Fischer service. v'v . ; 

Fischer started its rack string ap- 
proximately a year and a half ago.. 
It has perhaps. 1,000 of them in 
operation. 



Lou Levys Adopt Baby 

Lou Levy, operator of Leeds Music, 
and his wife, Maxine Andrews, of 
the Andrews Sisters trio, have 
adopted a baby girl. Youngster, six 
weeks old, has been named Alida 
Ann. She will remain in the couple's 
California home. 

Levy is expected east this week on 
business. He has been on the Coast 
for several months. 








Theme melody from 20ih Century-Fox's ftour o" 
lyric by JOHNNY MERCER— Mu»fc by DAVID RAKSIN 



m 




Lyric by HAROLD ADAMSON — Music by JIMMY McHUGH 



ROBBINS MUSIC CORPORATION • 799 SEVENTH AVENUE • NEW YORK 19 . jerry Johnson, e»* f rof. M 9 r. 



42 



ORCHESTRAS-MUSIC 



Wednesday. June 6, 1945 

Bands at Hotel B.6.'s 

Covpr» Total 

«».»! . . Ho».l "ft' HM OnnS: 

Hal Aloma* .Lexington (300; 75c-$1.50> 33 1,850 58 600 

Sonny Dunham. , New Yorker (400, $1-$1.50) 4 1,875 18 350 

Glen Gray Pennsylvania (500; $1-$1.50) ,.,. 8 2,fi75 lg'iso 

Nat Brand wynne. Waldorf (550; $2), . . . . . .: ... 4 3.100 12 275 

Et\skineIIawki.us..Lincoln (275; $1-$1.50) 4 ■_. 1 .000 4250 

Eddie Stone Roosevelt (400; fi-$1.50 ).., .. .. .. ... 4 i 1097H 

Sammy Kaye . . , . ; Aytoi; (750; $1-$1.50> 3 12 9'»5 



Loews V.P. Calls In Jack Robbins 

Although Loew-Metro veepeo and treasurer; David Bernstein, is 
handling Metro's new disc plans, the film oilicial culled in Jack Bob- 
bins last week and told the music publisher that Robbins "is in on all 
our new recording plans." That means that the Lion Record Corp. 
which Robbins formed some time ago will probably be the Loew-Metro 
disc label, further perpetuating, its "'Leo the Lion" trademark, so. long 
•identified with Metro pictures. 

Among other things which Bernstein and Robbins discussed are 
'•protecting our backings,'' which is something the music publisher 
always complained about when the discers would back up a Robbins- 
Feist-Miller hit with a "dog tunc." Bernstein, while president of these 
three subsidiary music companies, which -are 51% owned by Loew- 
Melro, leaves operations to Robbins as veepee and managing director 
of the three publishing companies. Of these, Harry Link has more or 
less autonomous control in Feist as the general . professional manager 
because Metro's filmusicals are concent rated in the Feist catalog. 
. Robbins has a transcription idea, plugging Metro fimusieals, via the 
new discing setup. .He'll call these platters Trix. serviced gratis to 
stations in exchange for the film plugs. . 



British Best Sheet Sellers 

(Week Ending May 24 '45> 
London, May 24. 
Dreams Getting Better. Connelly 

Don't Fence Me In Chappell 

On Lonely Side. ...... :B.. Wood 

Together ! Connelly 

Rusanna . . . • . . , • • .Cinephonic 

Can't Help Singing Chappell 

Sweetheart Valley ....... Dash 

My Guy's Come Back. . .Maurice 

Little Fond Affection.. Dash 

Ever Go To Ireland. .Cinephonic 

Tico Tiro. . . ILatin-Ani. 

Accentuate Positive. ... .Victoria 



Par's Title Switch of Standard Tune 
To Fit Pic Label Puzzles Music Biz 



. Paramount Pictures' trick of chang- 
ing the title 1 and first line of the 
standard song. "Out of Nowhere," to 

.'"You Came Along" to fit the picture. 

■ of- the , same title,, has. veteran. mu,si<- 
men trying to clear their- heads. It 
is. perhaps, the greatest license that 
Hollywood has ever taken with a 
piece of standard material figured by 
music men to have great value in its 
natural form. 

" Par's music subsidiary. Paramount 
Music, holds the copyright on "No- 

. where." With the permission of the 
writer;-, the studio changed the initial, 
line of the tune from "You Came to 
Me From Out of Nowhere)" to "You 
Came Along*' as a means of aligning 

. it with the picture's title. The Sim- 
pler method of calling the film "Out 
of Nowhere,'' which, it's said, would 
have been just as plausible a title, 
was rejected. Writers are Eddie 
Heyn-.ann and Johnny Green. 
~ : Publishers who find it hard to ar- 
rive at an answer to Par's unor- 
thodox "misuse" of what they feel is 
valuable material can't understand 
the writer of the sbng giving per- 
mission for the switch. It makes the 
exploitation of the song doubly dif- 
ficult. Under its proper title the tune 

• might have become, they feel, a hit 
revival. There's no assurance that it 

won't despite the handicap of its 
new title, but the odds are against it. 



Freed in N.Y. on Details 
Of 200G Music Pub Deal 

Arthur Freed, the Metro producer, 
is in .New York winding up details 
on the sale of his Variety Music 
Corp. to Metro. Actually, Variety 
Music includes Jacobs Music, an old 
Boston catalog, and the latter name 
may be retained as still another pub- 
lishing subsidiary to Metro's present 
affiliations with the Robbins. Feist 
and Miller Music catalogs. . 

Variety Music represents around 
! $50,000 to Arthur and Hugo Freed 
so that Metro's $200,000 purchase 
pi ice means a 150G capital-gains 
profit for the Metro producer and his 
brother. . '.. 

While east. Freed is also talking 
over details- with David Bernstein, 
the Loew's, Inc., v.p. and treasurer;, 
on Metro stars recording exclu- 
sively for Loew-Metro's proposed 
new disk company (detailed else 
where). 



Sacks' Throat Op 

Manie Sacks, v.p. of Columbia Re- 
cording and head of its Artists and 
Repertoire division, entered Univer- 
sity hospital, Philadelphia, Monday 
(4) and was operated on yesferday 
(Tufts.. 1 for a throat ailment. His 
< condition at the time "Variety" went 
to press couldn't be determined 
since he only then was coming out 
of the ether. 




top hit ornsi 

I 6 R E A T POPUUK 
STANDARD TODAY 

iiV.-;' ' , •. '>;<'■■■■/■-:. «'*.-• <-,r : 



published bY 

C0R?0»*W W 



ROBBiMS 



wus\c 



Disc Boom 

— 1 onimuetl from page -41 — 

on an annual sale of at least 140,- 
000,000 discs. These wlil come from 
the four factories the company now 
has in operation, two in N. Y., one 
in Bridgeport, one in Richmond. 
Ind„ plus two planned in Chicago 
a'nd Hollywood. Victor now has its 
Camden plant, which lias a peace- 
time . capacity of 50,000,000 discs 
yearly, it's claimed, plus its Indian- 
apolis factory and a currently inop- 
erative plant in Hollywood. This 
company expects a postwar sale of 
175,000,000 annually by its own art- 
ists. Columbia has two plants only, 
in Bridgeport and Hollywood, but is 
readying the old Remington Arms 
factory at Kings Mills, O.. which, 
when ready, will be able to turn out 
a vast number of discs yearly. 

Disc heads may not be so far off 
in their estimates of postwar sales 
when it's remembered that only an 
estimated 20'% of current home 
radio receivers are equipped with 
turntables. . Postwar there probably 
won't be a home set made without 
disc-reproduction equipment. Too, 
the Government only last week au- 
thorized ..the resumption of coin-ma- 
chine construction. Of the estimated 
450,000 jukeboxes in operation pre- 
war, a considerable number have 
been put out of action by simply 
wearing out. These will be replaced 
and untold thousands added to. them, 
all of which, of course, will help the 
manufacturers achieve their , sky- 
high sales estimates. 



For new crtist copies ant) I 
arronflemertis, write or phon* j 
PHIL KORNHEISER, Manage)/ .; 
Standard Exploitation Deptii.' 
The Big 3,^19 Broadwa^ 
New , York J9< Circle d-2939 i 

it 



REG. D. h 


^ AIR St 


-5 ALL 


A G E 


n c y 




OB CHS- S T U A S 


A T T B /. t 


T 1 0 N S 


HOI I » WOOD ' 




'■UN A 



Canada Sales Big 

•■■' .. . Washington. June , 5. 

. Production of phonograph records 
in the Montreal, area Of Canada, is 
at an all-time high and amounted 
to 4.500,000 discs in 1944, Depart- 
ment of Commerce reports. Demand 
for records is so great here thai 
Canadian manufacturers say they 
could keep going at their present 
pace for 10 years without glutting 
the market. 

In addition, large scale production 
of low-priced phonographs ■ and 
mounting use of juke boxes is ex- 
pected to increase ..the demand for 
platters and' manufacturers are ex- 
pected to concentrate on combo 
radio-phonograph units. When they 
switch back from war goods pro- 
duction. 

Meantime, the 25 percent wartime 
excise tax on radios and phono- 
graphs in Canada has been slashed 
trj 10 percent. 



Decca, Col., Victor 
Make Personnel Title 
Changes in Bunches 

With the advent of freer times in 
the recording industry, the prospec- 
tive loosening of manpower, ma- 
chinery and the pre-war status of 
materials, the major recording 
companies apparently are preparing 
for the expected postwar boom by 
revisions in personnel titles, addi- 
tions, etc. Decca's moves of last 
week are outstanding in this regard, 
i Jack Kapp, Decca president, cites 
j the changes in his organization, 
j; Firstly. Milton B. Rackmil. com- 
[-paiiy's. treasurer,' is named a v. p.T 
continuing his grip 00 . the firm's 
cash. Dave Kapp becomes the v. p. 
in charge of recording: under him 
will be Harry Meyerson. due in Fri- 
day from the Coast, where he was 
stationed for RCA-Viclor. to become 
the company's contact with publish- 
ers and artists. 

\ Samuel Yamin. Decca's attorney, 
Mias been named assistant treasurer: 
I and Leonard Schneider is upped to 
director of advertising and sales 
promotion. The latter post is the only 
formal change in itis position. Harry 
Kruse is named a v. p. in charge of 
branch office sales of Decca Distrib- 
uting, a subsidiary company, 
W. Trembeth (Trcm) Walker be- 
comes a v. p. of Brunswick Radio 
Corp., another subsid. in charge of 
plants and production. 

In the company's branch offices. 
Michael Connor, who had been an 
independent radio producer in Chi- 
cago, takes over as head of record- 
ing and World Transcriptions (an- 
other Decca subsid) work in Chi. 
Leonard Joy leaves N. Y. in a 
couple weeks as head of Decca and 
World recording in Hollywood. 

Mefford Runyon. a commander in 
the Navy until his discharge as of 
May 30 last, after which he returned 
tOis old post with CBS, is shifting 
to that organization's subsidiary, Co- 
lumbia Recording Corp. Runyon has 
resigned his post as all executive 
v. p. and as a member of the CBS 
board of directors, and on July 1 
moves to CRC as executive v. p. and 
member .of the board. He will head- 
quarter in Bridgeport, CRC's main 
offices. 

Runyon has been with CBS since 
1931, becoming treasurer a year 
later and a v. p. in 1936. He went 
into the Navy in 1942. 

At RCA-Victor, Frank M. Folsom. 
who has been v. p. in charge of the 
recording company, was boosted to 
executive v. p. with the same duties. 
At the same lime, John G. Wilson, 
who was in, charge of financial 
administration at Victor, was boosled 
to operating v. p. 



* Asterisks indicate a supporting floor show. New Yorkv 
Le.TiH.c/foN, «ii Hnieniicni floor show. . ■ . 



sliow; 



Chicago 

Jimmy Dorsf.v 'Panther. Room. "Sherman hotel; 950: $1.50-$2.50 rniriV 
Biz 'way down for Dorsey'.s band, Dinning Sisters, Bob Crum, etc., since 
leader dropped out ill a fortnight ago. Only 5,500 this time. 

Buddy Franklin (.New Walnut Room. Bismarck hotel: 405: $1.50-$2.50 
min. 1. Off-again-on-agaiu weather held it down here, as elsewhere Frank- 
lin and Enrica & Novello got 2,400. 

Dick l.nSallr (Mayfair Room. BTackstone hotel; 465; $2.50 min.V. Carl 
Brisson opened Friday (It. splitting 2,350— only spot in town that's upward 

George Olsen (Empire Room, Palmer House: 700; $3-$3.50 min.). Skid- 
ding here, too. although 8.200 wasn't bad at all lor Olsen. Henny Young* 
inan. Lathrop & Lee. . . , 

Ted Weems. (Boulevard Room, Stevens hotel: 650: $3-$3.50 min.). Weems 
and big show rated 7.800. 

Los Angeles ■ ; 

-Freddy Martin (Ambassador; 900; $1>$1.50). No change in business at 
usual 4.000 covers. .- . . 

Joe Reieliman (Bil^more; 900; $l--$l-50).. Solid.eoin at '-4,000 tabs. ,V - 

Location Jobs, Not in Hotels 

(Clitcfif/o). -.'•'•• 

Gay (-laridge (Chez Puree; 650; $3-$3.50 ' iiiii'i.). Sophie Tucker and 
Claridge drew solid 5.600. ,'''-' *v? 

Del Courtney (Blackhawk: 500; $2-2.50 min.). Sloughed off to 3.400 for 
Courtney. Imaginators, Marjorie Lane. 

Ted Lewis (Latin Quarter; 700: $3-$3.50 min ). Lewis keeping the pay. 
olas coming. With 5.500 this time. ■ 

(Los Angeles) 

Tony Pastor (Palladium. B. Hollywood, 5fh weclO. Biz is still down 
while Santa Anita is still up: 24,000 entrants. 

Charlie Barnet (Trianon, B, South Gate, 2nd week). SOI climbing- 110 
to 9,200. " 

.Leichton Noble (Slapsy Maxie's. N, Los Angeles. -251 h Week ). Took a 
good jump with late customers crowding in at 3,100. 

Carlos Molina, King Cole Trio (Trocadero, N, Hollywood, llth week). 
Chili bowlovcrs go for the Latin music with Chu Clui Martinez for 2500 
tabs. i - 

( :ii men Cavallaro (Giro's. N. Hollywood. 2nd week). No doubt about 
the maeslro's appeal, 2.600 covers. 



Music Dealers Convensh 
Jacks Up Some Prices 

National music dealers were in 
convention in New Tork al the 
Hotel Roosevell starting Monday (4) 
and among other things started giv- 
ing the music publishers sortie ideas 
on how to increase their margin of 
profit. 

Books and music folios are a spe- 
cial problem, which when bought in 
small quantities cost the average 
dealer 38% overhead. One sugges- 
tion was to raise the non-copyrighted 
$1 folios to $1.10. The copyrighted 
stuff has. been raised from $1 to_$1.25, 
thus permitting the dealers a better 
profit margin. Biz continues sensa- 
tional. Anything with notes on sells, 
it seems. 

Music dealers also voted to elim- 
inate the time-bonored 10% discount 
to music teachers, a venerable trade 
custom. 



Bloom Stays at Bourne 

Abe Bloom, scheduled to shift 
from Bourne, Inc., this week lo the 
professional managership of Bogat, 
Inc., firm set up by Saul Bornstein 
for maestro Xavier Cugat, wilt re- 
main with Bourne. Bogat post is to 
be taken by Johnny Green. 

Bloom and Bornstein had differ- 
ences over the assignment. 




MPCE Council Ratifies 
Membership of Quintet 

Members of the Music Publishers 
Contact Employees okayed five 
names submitted to them' by letter 
two weeks ago as candidates for 
membership. At a Council meeting 
Monday (4 1 evening action of- the 
membership w,as ratified, complet- 
ing a most unusual procedure by a 
union in regard to membership ap- 
plications. ; ' 

Foremost of" the five names, in- 
cluded in. the group the member- 
ship was asked to. certify, or reject, 
was Bernard L. Miller, theatrical 
attorney, who recently became a 
part owner in the Leeds Music firm. , 
operated by Lou Levy. Miller re- 
tains his legal practice. . Another 
was Max Schall. former band per- 
sonal manager, who .will step into 
Bourne. Inc.. as a contact man, with 
an executive position ii> the .firm to 
follow. Others are, Morris Diamond, 
witr veteran retui'ning to Dorsey 
Bros. Music; Garrett Romero, who 
goes to work for Southern Music, 
and Ben Slorck, with Grand Music. 



ONE-SONG CO. 

Jack Philbin, personal manager, 
has acquired a song by Teddy Powell 
and Larry Stock titled, "You Won't 
Be Satisfied Until You Break My 
Heart." and intends going into the 
music business with it. 

His firm is to be titled United 
Music Co. 



Metro-Walker 

Continued .from, page 41 ; 



JIMMIE HIGSON 
Musical Director of Radio 

I'<mk.v Carnilcliacl Kuilio 
.Sliow and Most linixiitniit 
Hudto OiroHoi* 

Use tills SxG VXSL- AT. record 
o( song hits of over ISO pub* 
Ushers, plus old favoi-iit-s. lit- 
clildrs I'.-.'id shcr-i'4 nurt lyrtps 
of chorus, SARtrt>t:S I'JtKli. 



into 
. ISmdhIvvji v 
Xcw York 



TUNE-DEX 



Happy Gotlay. Coast rep for Leeds 
Music, in N. Y. tor a six-weeks va- 
cation. 



wild will handle the reins of the disc 
company for the parent 'organisation; 

Whether Metro will use the Lion 
label legally laid out by music pub- 
lisher Jack Robbins. in whose music 
firms Metro holds a controlling in- 
terest, is problematical.. Robbins' 
disc firm is on paper only. It has 
no artists and the only time it has 
issued any pressings they were 
manufactured by Eli . Oberstein's 
then Hit Record Co., with Lion la- 
bels. Robbins got 1.000 pressings of 
each master made for the purpose of 
circulating them' among radio sta- 
tions. This was to acquaint the pub- 
lic with artists being built up and 
handled by the publisher's Robbins 
Artists Bureau. After the 1,000 discs 
of each master were turned out, the 
masters themselves became Ihe prop- 
erty of Oberstein, who was tree to 
issue them under bis own Hit label 



BOURNE, Ins'; 

799 Seventh Ave.. New York 19. N. V. 



NEW RADIO FEATURES 
.From the MILLS Catalogue 
• 

MAIL CALL 

THE BLOND SAILOR 

SWEET LORRAINE 

I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT 
YOU'RE IN LOVE WITH ME 

MILLS MUSIC. INC. 
1619 Broadway, New York 



Wednesday, 



ORCHESTRAS— MUSIC 



48 



NBC, CBS, Blue, Mutual Plugs 

Following is list o} the most played popular (tines on the networks for tht 
week beginning Monday and through SuntVay, May -26- June 3 from 5 p.m. 
to I aM. List represents the first approximately 25 leaders in alphabetical 
order (la some cases there are ties, accounting for a longer list). The 
compilations Mitbrac* the NBC. CBS, Blue. and Mutual Networks, as repre- 
tented by WEAF, WABC, WJZ and WOR, N. Y., and are based on data 
provided by Accurate Reporting Service, regular cheeking source of the 
music nuhlishing industry. 
TITLE 

A Friend of Yours— f "Great John t." . 

All Of My Life ; 

Bell Bottom Trousers ../.v.; ,.-.,...,...-,•.' ;. . 

Candy ..'.'. ....... i. , ....... 

Can't You Read Between the Lines?., , . ,,, . 

Counting the Days ... ..... .. ..;'. ....... . -. -...' ■: .', . ■'. . . . 

Dream . . . . ... .......... ... . . .. . .... . . 

Good Good Good .... .', ... . .'.--. ..... . .. .;. ... . , ; .-. .... 

Green Green Hills of •Home,-... . . . . ... ... .';.... 

If I Loved You — '"Carousel" .... :-, . . . . . ... . ... , 

I Hope to Die It 1 Told a Lie. . . ..... , . . . . .... . .... 

I Should Care— 1 "Thrill of a Romance"... .,;,-.. ., ... . 

I Wish I Knew- - (-"Diamond 1 Horseshoe" . . ... . . . . .. . 

June Is Bitsliii Out All Over— ""Carousel" . . 

Just a Prayer Away...............!.,....,.....:.,... '. 

Laura— i "Laura" '■/;, . , ... ...... ... . .-. . ... ... . ;.,',;. 

Sentimental Journey ... . .. . ... ... ... .... .... .... 

Stars In Your Eyes — f'l'an Americana" 
The More 1 See You— fDiamond Horseshoe" .'. . ...... 

There I've Said It Again ..... 



ThewMVtust Be a Way . . 
What Makes the Sunset. 
While You're Away . ,. .'. 
You Belong to My Heart- 



's .Caballerps" 



PUBLISHER 

.Burke 
.Berlin 
.Santly 
Feist 
.Shapiro 
.Santly 
Capitol 
Berlin 
.'Starlight 
,T. B. Harms - 
.Advanced 
. Dorsey 
. BVC 

.T. B. Harms 
.Shapiro 
.Robbing 
.Morris 
ASouthern 

BVC 
jValiant 
■Stevens 
.Miller 
.Remiek 
jl-Iarris . 



t Filmusical. ,; Legit Musical. ' ::t;B.iM.f;^fn-Hate, 



Peer, Mex. Society Set 
Deal for Five Years 

Ralph Peer, head of American Per- 
forming Rights Society, late last 
week completed a new deal with the 
Mexican Syndicate of Authors & 
Composers. . Peer's new deal • with 
MSAC is for live years, effective Jan. 
1, 1946. and is a renewal of a pre- 
vious five-year agreement that, ex- 
pires the end of this year. 

As usual, Peer's terms with MSAC 
call for an annual revision and rene- 
gotiation of financial terms. 



10 Best Sheet Sellers 

(Wee/: .Ending, June 2) 

Bell Bottom Trousers Santly 

Sentimental Journey ....Morris 

Dream Capitol 

Just A Prayer A way .... Shapiro 

I Should Care. , . . . .Dorsey 

Candy . .. . . . .Feist 

Sweetheart All Dreams .Shapiro 
Laura '., .............. .Robbins 

There 1- Said It Again... . .Valiant 

Dreams Getting Better. . Santly 



Mrs. Whiteman in Hosp 

Mrs. Paul (Margaret! Whiteman is 
in Doctors hospital, NT. 'Y. for a 
minor operation. 

It's something that has been stalled 
for some months. 



Hampton's 44 Shows At 
N.Y. Apollo Nets Him 27G 

It Lionel Hampton's orchestra 
didn't set a record for a number of 
theatre shows done in one week, the 
44 it turned it at the Apollo theatre, 
N. Y., last week is still something 
to think about. Doing eight, shows 
one day and nine another dining the 
run, the band topped its previous 
boxolfice record for the house by 
more than $5,000. 

Hampton drew $:)2,240 gross, of 
which $26,870 was net. On a 50-50 
basis, the leader earned $13,435 on 
the week for himself. His old mark 
at the house, set last year, was ap- 
proximately $21,500. 



MCA SEEKS DISMISSAL 
OF FINLEY TRUST SUIT 

Los Angeles, June 5, 

Music. Corporation of America 
filed a motion for dismissal' of the 
$3,000,000 suit brought against it by 
Larry Finley. who charges the cor- 
poration with violation of the Sher- 
man Anti-Trust Act.' 

MCA compares professional musi- 
cians with professional baseball 
players, citing the opinion of Su- 
preme Court Justice Holmes in the 
old suit of the Federal League 
against, organize/) baseball. Justice 
Holmes held then that the labor of 
human beings is not a commodity 
Or , an. article of commerce and does 
not come under the- provisions of 
the Sherman Act. 

Petition also stales that Finley's 
complaint does not state a valid 
claim in violation of the Act, nor an 
instance of : interstate commerce. 
Courts, the motion goes on to say, 
have held that there is nothing un- 
lawful in "exclusive contracts" tor 
the sale of goods or the rendition of 
services where there is and can be 
no monoply. Defendants hold that 
Finli y's complaint clearly indicates 
that MCA has no monoply on the 
band business. 

Motion for dismissal will be heard 
June 11 by Judge' J. F. T. O'Connor 
in U. S. District Court here. 



10 Best Sellers on Coin-Machines 



1. Sentimental Journey (lit (Morris). .. 

2. There I Said It Again («) (Valiant).... 

3. Laura (6) (Robbins)... 



.4. Bell Bottom Trousers (31 (Santly >. 

5. Dream (8) (Capitol) 

6. Candy. (Hi (Feist) ,. :. . 

T.-Just Prayer Away (8) (Shapiro) ... 

8. My. Dreams Getting Better <15h • Santly) j £?*'.- B ^-J^ • ; ' 

Biiig Crosby. 
Dick Hayme.s . 



\ Lcs Brown 

| Hal Mclntyre . . 

Vaughn Monroe. 
\ Freddy Martin... 
j Dick Haymes. . . . 
/ Tony Pastor. . . . . 
j Jesters . . ... . , . ... 

) Pied Pipers 

) Freddie-Martin . . 

\ Dinah Shore. 

"/ Jo Stafford , ,,.,'. 

Bing Crosby 



Sf.. You Belong to My Heart il ) (Harris), 
10. I Wish I Knew il) (BVC ).....'...,. . . 



.Columbia 
. . . .Victor 
. .. .Victor 

Victor 

, . . '. .Decca 
.... Victor 
. . . . .Decca 
... .Capitol 
. . . .Victor 
.... Victor 
. .Capitol 
Decca 
Columbia 
....... Hit 

. . . . Decca 
. Decca 



Teddy Powell Indicted 

For Draft Evasion! 

Teddy Powell, bandleader, free on 
bail for almost two years on charges 
of evading, the draft, is said to have 
forced- the showdown last week, | 
which culminated in his indictment 
on the charge by a N. Y. Federal 
grand ' jury. Powell has been in 
-N.: Y. 1 ' since- -the /.original charge 
forced him to disband his orchestra, 
waiting for developments in the 
case. Meantime, he had been writ- 
ing songs again and is in the process 
ot turning out the score for next 
fall's Copacabana, N. Y.. show. 

Government alleges Powell eon- 
spired with a N. Y, draft board 
member, who since committed sui- 
cide following' disclosures of irreg- 
ularities in- the cases of others, to 
evade induction. 



Tex Bitter and his western band 
off on a. five-week eastern tour. 



Decca's 30c Divvy 

Decca Records last week declared j 
a dividend of 30c a share to . all ] 
stockholders, payable June 28 to i 
those on record as of June 14. _ 

Divvy is similar to the company's 
past quarterly declarations. ■ 



Ben Selvin Checks In At 
Majestic As Prexy's Aide 

Ben Selvin checked into Majestic 
Recording Corp. this week as execu- 
tive assistant to . prexy Jimmy 
Walker. 

A ve.teran of 25 years' in the re- 
cording business, Selvin was veepee 
of Muzak for the last decade and 
Will continue until at least October 
in an advisory capacity there, until 
a successor is gotten. 



MAX DREYFUS SETS UP 
McHUGH-ADAMSON CO. 

New music firm designed to han- 
dle the output of the songwriting . 
team of Jimmy McIIugh and Harold 
Adamsoiij has been set up by Max 
Dreyfus. New firm, titled McIIugh 

* Adamson Music, Inc., for the pres- 
ent will be in existence only on pa- 
per, but eventually, according to 
Dreyfus,- will have its own staff. It's., 
similar to the publishing firm rer 
ceutly set up by Dreyfus for E. Y. 
"Yip" Harburg and Harold Arlen, 
and the Williamson catalog set up 
for Richard Rogers and Oscar Ham- 
merstein 2d. 

Initial score by McHugh and 
Adamson to go into the new firm 
will be the tunes done by them for 
the new Eddie Cantor picture. '< How- 
ever, -these tunes will be exploited 
by the Chappell staff. 
-Deal with Dreyfus calls for all 
songs turned out by them that have 
no ties via studio deals with other 
publishers. For example, the two 
writers still have obligations at 
20th-Fox. When completed the ma- 
terial done under those terms must 
necessarily go to Robbins Music, 
since the latter has a deal with 20th 
to publish all music stemming from 
that studio's films. . . 



Spike Jones back in Hollywood 
to work on,< the Chase & Sanborn 
summer air show. •*•..; 



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44 



VAUDEVILLE 



PftRIETY 



Wednesday. June 6, I945 



AGVA Sews Up Virtually All Upper 
N. Y. State Territory; Signs 35 Clubs 



American Guild of Variety Artists 
sewed up the upper N. Y, territory 
last week via the blanket signing of 
35 niterics to basic minimum agree- 
ments. Negotiations were . ■■hatwBed 
by Patrick Geracci, head of AGVA's 
Buffalo, N. Y.. branch prior, to his 
shoving off to the Coast to head the 
■ Los Angeles .local ot AGVA. replac- 
ing. Florine Bale, resigned; Geracci 
will reorganize the Coast office and 
in September resumes as heacj of the 
Buffalo local. ■: 

New spots signed arid their classi- 
fications follow by cities: .Rochester: 
Chateau* Swing Club, Casablanca. 
Brownie's. Times Square Club, Class 
A. with $75-50 'minimums, .latter for 
choristers.. , Club Bartlet, .Class B. 
$05-45. 

Syracuse: Andy's. Club Royale. 
Candy Club. Class A: Paramount 
Tavern. Class B. 

Binghamton: Club Omar. Class 
A: Kennedy's Inn, Class B: El Cliico 
and Chenango Grill. Class C. $60-40. 

Buffalo: McVan's. Glen Park 
Casino. ' Chez Ami, Ray Ott Ciub. 
Cataract House. Class A: Club Como. 
Stork Club, Havana Casino. Cotton 
Club. Class B: Club 'Aloha. Casa 
Nova. Club Moon Glo. Federal Gar- 
dens, Cocoanut Grove, Whitey 
Schmidt's, Club' Rainbow, Larry's. 
Henny's. Old Red Barn and Club 
Bon Ton.'^Class C. 

Upon issuance . of contracts this 
week all AGVA-franchised agents 
have been bulletined with an okay 
to book talent into these spots. 



Coney Jingling 



The 

Drunkenest 
Drunk You 
Ever Saw. 
The 

Laugliingest 
Laughter 
You Ever 
Heard. 
Put 

Together 
It's 




STEVE 
EVANS 

WEEK JUNE 7TH 
HIPPODROME, RALTIMORE 

MtiT.— MATT* ROSEN 



PERFORMERS NOW IN 
ARMED FORCES 

If yoa are in Sprcial Sn-vi.i v or not— 
lor Iramediatv use or post-war returu 
to iuoh 'business. 

Htrt Is a Service You'll Always 
Want 

FUN-MASTER GAG FILES 

Contain Modern Comedy Material foi 
All Type l'rrl oroirm 
Each Serin* Contains Over 100 
Sllre-Viro Gates- — «1.05 Knell 

No*. 1 Thru 10 Now Ready 

Make cheek* Payable to 
■ FACIA SMITH 
Mnll to "Fun-Master" 
300 W. B4tl. St.. New lork City 10, N.Y. 



"STOPPING THE SHOW" 

Roily Voting, Toronto (;iobe Mnll 

THE MACK TRIPLETS 

On Jour With Phil Soltalny 

Ewlu. .Materia] Personal Mst 

HARRY COHEN ~ 



1C97 Broadway 



PHIL FARRELL 

1650 Broaditay 



— ■ Continued from pas' 1 . as 

opening of the cradle of American 
carnival. 

^Singing, dancing, and refresh- 
ments continue to serve as a surf- 
side, trident of entertainment at the 
popcorn peninsula. Watering place 
in 1045 .is somewhat ■ reminiscent-, of 
halcyon days- of the '90s, when the 
island, was jampacked with bars and 
dancehalls. each doing bonanza bix 
around the clock,- Coney bonifaces 
say that the salt air of the seaside 
encourages drinking, and current 
clanging of cash registers appears to 
prove this medical theory; 

Oldlimcrs are pleased al number 
of cabarets and dance halls currently 
dotting island. Some 10 spots are 
spicked up and ready to gather in 
shekels from perspiring multitudes. 
Largest of hew Coney projects is 
Million Dollar Ballroom at Board- 
walk and 21st. on site of old Child's 
Restaurant. Operated by Coastal 
Am us;- Corp.. of., which ■ ; Lt. - Harold 
Stern is said to be a large stock- 
holder, it can accommodate some 
5.000 persons and is the first ball- 
room of its kind to appear on the 
Boardwalk. Opening night (May 26) 
Van Alexander's and Billy Arnold's 
bands were . on stand playing for 
2.000 dancers, who paid 76 cents 
each to get in. Tom Morton, former 
manager of Blue Barron, Lucky Mil- 
lander and Don Redman, is manag- 
ing the Million Dollar Ballroom. 
Coney vets think this has better 
than even chance to click, despite 
fact that it is far removed from 
principal artery of resort. Atlantis 
eatery and dancery, also on Board- 
walk, with Mousie Powell's aggre- 
gation furnishing dansapation, is 
doing brisk biz. particularly at night 
sessions. 

Irish Inns 

General mass of visitors pouring 
into resort, however, still make de- 
termined bee line for Irish inns on 
Bowery and Surf avenue, among 
more notable ones being Paddy 
Shea's Original Gilsey House, which 
doesn't feature professional enter- 
tainment; Original Shamrock House, 
"home of the reel and the jig" and 
singing waiters; Lane's Irish'' House, 
with singing waiters, and Stable 
Irish House with Allen Jackson's 
orchestra, and Rev. Oliver Mesheuy. 
preaching trumpet player, and 
Tommy Binfprd, on drums. Stable 
also renovated its signs, including 
large one which reads: "Prayer For 
Everybody: O Lord, please help me 
keep my damn nose out of other 
people's business." Feltman's, once 
island's foremost eatery, is operating 
on a considerably smaller basis this 
semester, and said to be on sales 
block, one of the prospective pur- 
chasers being Ben Fabricant. Also 
making money is Blue Bird Casino 
on Surf avenue. 

Onetime handsome Luna Park, 
built by Thompson and Dundy, and 
which went through one o£ its 
periodic fires last season, may not 
fully reopen this season. Most of 
park's rides and games were com- 
pletely destroyed in 1944. but there 
is a chance that a combine of Abe 
Seskin, Phil Pates and Chick Guelfi 
will work out a deal with Prudence 
Bonds, owners of property, to allow 
them to come inside park before 
July and set up a number of rides, 
games and fix up famed Chutes, 
operate the ballroom and swimming 
pool and also bring in circus and 
other shows under aegis of Billy 
Jackson, who is hep to Coney crowd 



THE 



FONTAINES 

Currently Appearing STRAND, Now York 

"Variety" says: "The Fontaines, a two-man, one-girl 
balances combo, rate socko in any visual medium, class or 
mass. The novelty ot the act is notable lor the fact that the 
slim gal- is the understander for most of the stunts, and most 
of them are toughies, too. 

"There isn't a dull moment; they look like a million, and 
they have a neat flash finish that gets them off to bofl 
rcturns " . Kahn. 

A ^ %^«A!J| "ST''* 

BEN 811 AN IN 



Thanks in 
HARRY MAl'KK and 
LEO MO ROAN 



psychology. Meeting of combine 
with Prudence was scheduled for 
past weekend. Meanwhile, Pates, 
Seskin and Guelfi signed a year's 
lease with Prudenco to operate from 
exterior of Luna to Surf avenue, 
width of some 300 feet, with space- 
enough for several ball games, 
dump-the-lady routine, photo gal- 
lery, refreshment stands, etc. Should 
deal for inside of Luna be consum- 
mated, Jackson may bring in "Bar- 
bary Coast" or "Little Old New 
...York" show in one of the theatres 
still standing amidst debris of last 
year's conflagration. This, of 
course, is subject to green light from 
City inspectors, who. are getting 
tougher about fire prevention, re- 
quirements at the island. ''. 

Steeplechase, other large lane of 
pleasure at the. spa, was operating 
10 out of 31 attractions; when caught 
Memorial Day. Help problem at 
Steeplechase is glim, and the Til- 
yous hit on idea of charging 14c' ad- 
mission to each of these 10 rides. 
For time being combo ticket is out. 
Rides in operation included Whip. 
Chicken. Caterpillar. Rocket Ship. 
Old Mill. Ferris Wheel. Express and 
Silver Streak. The Parachute was 
getting 50c Memorial Day. Steeple- 
chase is planning to go back 1o 
combo ticket <31 rides for $1,101 
later this month/ Management un- 
certain what to do about ballroom 
and. band. .Oeorge.C, Tilypy is man.-, 
aging park and James Onorato as- 
sisting. Frtihk Tilyoii, treasurer, is 
in the Navy, 

Freaks and Girlie Shows 
Coney's infatuation with freaks 
and girlie shows' hasn't diminished. 
Two principal sideshows. now oper- 
ating on island (both on Surf ave- 
nue l are Palace of Wonders and 
World Circus Side Show. Coney, 
as usual, has cornered world market 
in fat women, sword swallowers, 
missing links and India-rubber men. 
Palace of Wonders gives top billing 
to Anita, the "elephant face" girl, 
and Olga, the "headless" lass, while 
at World Circus the valentines 
herald the Great" Waldo, "human 
ostrich," Flo Carlson, "fat girl," 
Rosetta, "Queen of Sword.s" and 
Margie White's revue. Tirza Wine- 
Bath Girlie Show, also on island, 
doing nicely. 

Resort's waxworks, in reconstruct- 
ing their galaxy of attractions for 
this season, as usual, are concen- 
trating on the exciting and horror 
rather than the significant. At Eden 
Musee, principal Coney ceroplastic 
establishment. Fred Meers, manager, 
is shooting the waxworks on elec- 
trocution of Lepke Bu'chaltev, Lon- 
ergan murder and couple of other 
delicately-conceived tableaux. A 
bit of showbiz is represented by re- 
production of John Barrymore, hold- 
over from last season. At World in 
Wax, Stilhvell avenue emporium. 
Mussolini "execution" shares billing 
with Crosby and Sinatra. 

Coney, Parisian-style center for 
rides and games, has no new ones to 
tickle fancy of the mobs. Old rides, 
however, with exception of merry- 
go-rounds, do provide necessary 
stimulation and intimacy for lovers. 
As usual, flat rides are in heavy de- 
mand by young and arrant petters. 
Biggest attraction among gravitv 
rides continues to be the Cyclone, 
500-ioot-long thrill producer with 
80-foot peak, which was getting two 
bits admish Memorial Da3\ Rocket, 
repainted, was pegged at 20c, and 
Loop-o-plane, two bits. Merry-go- 
rounds were a jitney for moppets 
under 12, making this about the only 
ride attraction to come into Coney 
nickel category. Shooting gallery 
ops were having tough -time getting 
ammunition, -i. 

Anyone in metropolitan area need- 
ing pop brand ciggies can have their 
needs fulfilled at Coney by playing 
electrically -operated roll downs 
Visitor in roll-down parlors doesn't 
give a hoot, any more about winning 
x„ Wp ' e doU 0l ' arm adillo basket. 
All the mugg does is roll balls for 
LSMFT or the like. It may cost him 
two bucks to land pack of ciggies 
but he figures it's worth it if- only' 
to show off. his pitching skill for the 
moll, at his side. 

Seaside styles in food are pretty 
much the same with corn on cob at 
two bits.- and pizza for a dime. But 
the bow-wow remains the dominant 
comestible, despite its dubious in- 



Saranac Lake 



By Happy Brn way 

Saranac. N. Y.. June 5; 
Laus received her all-clear 
and entrained lor the Big 



Kay 
paper: 
Town. 

Lew Pellit. formerly of this col- 
ony, has been added to the an- 
nouncing staff of local station WBNZ. 
replacing Albert Bagdasarian, now 
with Saranac Study, and Craft Guild. 

Adele Gaffney. former stall worker 
of the. old NVA sana'torium, was. the 
first June bride of the. colony. 

Patricia Paddell. formerly of Zieg- 
fcld's "Show Boat" and "Babes' in 
Arms." will summer here. 

•Patricia Mitchell given the green 
light to return to New York and re- 
sume work. < • . • 
- Saranac Lake was I lie fi rst city in 
northern- Now York to go . v'er the 
Lop -in the 7th War Bond drive. Much' 
credit i.s due Benny Ressler, veteran 
vaude performer, who managed the 
drive. 

Kciwin Will< ins lel'i for Leahy 
Clinic. Boston, for a general checkup. 

Your columnist now under the 
personal observation of heart 
cialist Dr. Broomlield. ■-• 

Write lo those who are III, 



spe- 



New Owners of Chez 
. Paree Bldg. Give Spot 
Time to Find New Site 

uV^ev Chicago. June 8. '£ 

A stay of execution was granted 
Mike Fritzel and Joe Jaccb.sen, Chez 
Paree owners, last week by Aniline 
Corp. of America officials, who had 
served notice on them to vacate the 
building by July 31. 

Unwillingness of the N. Y. brass- 
hats of Aniline to work a hardship 
on F&J was given as the reason for 
the change of heart. Ops reported 
they have received the nod for an 
indefinite stopover at the spot, "until 
we're able to line up anotlief~~sitc~ 
here." Paree owners have been on 
the site 13 years. 

mDES'TuLLS^SOG 
IN RECORD LA. STAND 

^ hos Angeles. June 5. 

"Ice-Capades" washed up its 39- 
day stand at the Pan-Pacific Audi- 
torium with a gross of $630,000. 
about $100,000 more than last year's 
take, encompassing the same num- 
ber of days but with two perform- 
ances less. 

Company stays in town until July 
6. rehearsing the new show, which 
opens July 11 in Seattle. Next stop 
is Portland. July 24-Aug, 12. fol- 
lowed by a vacation. Troupe will 
resume in Cleveland Sept. 19, fol- 
lowed by a tour of the eastern sea- 
board and Canada, but without New 
York booking. After a swing of the 
south and midwest it winds up in 
Los Angeles. April 2S-June 2, 1946. 



Marvin Schenck Again 
Heads 'Night of Stars' 

Marvin Schenck. the Metro exec, 
is taking an encore a s chairman of 
the Uth annual "Night of Stars" 
benefit at Madison Sq; Garden. N. Y.. 
this fall. Paramount'* Bob Weitman | 
was chairman last year and will of- 
ficate again this year, with Ed. Sul- 
livan, the N. Y. Daily News column- 
ist, and Louis K. Sidney. Metro stu- 
dio executive, as co-chairmen. 

For the first few years Sidney was 
the topper, when he was headquar- 
tered here', and later Schenck took 
over. 



UC/s Other Dates 

Abbott & Costello go from the 
Roxy. N. Y.. where they open July 
3 for three weeks, to the Hippo- 
drome, Baltimore, July 26. 

They have a commitment also for 
the Earle. Philadelphia, Aug. 3 and 
thence back to Universal for an- 
other pic. 



] gredients. 



Wayne & Marlin Now 3 

Pittsburgh, June 5. 

Wayne & Marlin, standard act now 
at Terrace Room of William Penn 
Hotel, is adding a girl. She's Mar- 
lin's sister, and henceforth the act 
will be known as The Marlins. 

Femme has been rehearsing with 
the two boys for some time and will 
join them before team's present 
JejQgagenicnLeiids. . 



Eddie Sherman Kast 
Eddie Sherman, manager of Ab- 
bott & Costello and head of a book- 
ing office here, is expected in N. Y. 
from the Coast around the middle 
of June. .. 

Trip here will serve the two-fold 
purpose of eyeing the comedy duo 
while they're at the Roxy starting 
July 3 and bolstering his agency 
which recently lost several houses. 

Sherman is expected to be 
around five or six weeks. 



Atlantic City Marks 
Boardwalk's 75th 
Anniversary June 26 

Atlantic City. June 5. 
The boardwalk here is about to 
have a birthday, and A. C. i.s all set 
to do the anni in grand style. 

The diamond jubilee will be cele- 
brated- the week of June 24. It was' 
on June 2G, 1870. when a golden 
spike was driven into the eight-foot- 
wide. walk. That event will be ob- 
served with ceremony in front of 
Fountain Park. Scores of amateur 
performers will reenact the historic 
scene ill pantomime. • 

Bustles and beaver hats, ruffles 
and riotous beards will be in fashion 
here during Diamond Jubilee week. 
There arc a number of special events 
skedded. In addition to the Tues- 
day pantomime (June 26). there will 
be a sand castle contest for the kids " 
on Monday: a bicycle fashion fes- 
tival, Wednesday; oldtime songl'est 
and barber -shop quartet, champion- 
ship ■ contest, Thursday: national 
drum and bugle corps championship 
contest, and' juvenile parade, Satur- 
day; and the eastern slates gas-model 
airplane championship contest on 
Sunday, July 1. .' V : 

: , Supervising the., entire .program' Is 
Albert H. .SKearti manager of the 
city-owned Convention Hall. Ezra 
Bell, of the Hotel Morton, i.s chair- 
man of the jubilee pageant to be- 
held June 26. 

The first boardwalk cost $5,000. 
The city issued scrip for its- financ- 
ing. The walk has been rebuilt four 
times, now has an average width of 
60 feet, and is five miles in length. 
Two miles of the walk in the inlet 
and downtown sections, destroyed by 
the hurricant last fall, are being re- 
paired now. 




Dt'KINXI 
Till-: KXTIKG 
SKVKNTH 
M'Alt J.OAX llltlVE 



ARTHUR 

*BORAN 

M'ASTKR OF CF.KKMOXV OF THF. 
UNITED STATES 

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Tonrluy tlie A UorniiKliM of New Vm-k 

- 

AIno nniMilcHstiiift- Hi* Co in it* liti|icr- 
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GIBBONS ALE 

Dir.: Nat 'I Concert Artist < Bareaa 



AL TRACE 

And Hit 
SILLY SYMPHONISTS 



CURRENTLY 
SURF CLUB 
VIRGINIA REACH, VA. 

Dir.: STAN 7XCKF.lt 



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Fun-Moiter Gag Filet Not. 1 Thru 10 
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Each File Contains Over 100 Sock 
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east 



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NOW OVERSEAS FOR 
U.S.O.-CAMP SHOWS, INC. 



firm Ymrk 



Wednesday, June 6, 1915 



ISfitRIETY 



VAUDEVILLE 



45 



N. Y. Copacabana Declared 'Unfair 
By AGVA for Brushing Basic Pact 



The Copacabana, N.Y., nltery, has* 
been declared "unfair" as of June 
14 by American Guild of Variety 
Artists for failure to negotiate a 
minimum basic agreement. New 
show headed by Enric Madriguera's 
band and including Mitzi Green, 
Russell Swann and Mario & Floria 
has been set for that date (14), •■ - 

Action was leveled against nitery 
by Dave Fox, head of the N.Y. local 
of AGVA and sanctioned by Matt 
Shelvey, national administrator of 
the talent union, when it was 
charged that Monte Proser, opera- 
tor of the Copa, had refused to get 
together with AGVA after he had 
been apprised that he would have 
to sign a contract or else, 

Unless the breach is cemented in 
the meanwhile, no AGVA-niembcr 
performer will be allowed to play 
the spot nor will any AGVA-fran- 
chised agent be allowed' to book in 
acts. . • : 
' •••Union is currently negotiating a 
contract with the Versailles, N.Y., 
with Fox and operators of the latter 
spot getting, together on the week- 
end. • ';'■•/ : :" . : '.;'/.V,' r : : ."" ':'" . " \, " ' 

Wage terms do not figure princi- 
pally in the signaturing of Copa or 
Versailles, since both spots pay tal- 
ent far above the AGVA maximum. 
Contract is required more for reg r 
ulations governing refiearsal periods 
and a six-day week for chorines such 
as obtains in all other niteries under 
AGVA terms. 

Fox claims that- ^besides written 
communications on . the matter to 
Proser which have not been drawn 
replies, he and agents of the union 
had made personal visits to the nite- 
ry to see Proser, but were given 
the brush. ) .... 



Park Central's Hawaiian 
Rm. Temporarily Shelves 
Aquacade Club Plans 

Plans to open an aquacade at the 
Park Central hotel, N. Y., are being 
/shelved temporarily in favor of 
opening of the new Hawaiian room. 
New operation will augment the cur- 
rent Royal Palm lounge in that ho- 
tel, and will feature entertainment. 

Hawaiian lounge will be on the 
main floor in a room that is now 
being used for private functions. 

Meanwhile, . aquacade plans will 
wait pending completion of the Ha- 
waiian room. Franklyn Hughes has 
already been engaged to do the de- 
cor tor the water show. 



AGVA BOND PAYS OFF 
'BLUE HOLIDAY' CAST 

Cast of "Blue Holiday," vaude 
revue, which folded recently during 
its first week at the Belasco, N. Y., 
■was paid two weeks salary from the 
$13,000 bond posted with American 
Guild of Variety Artists. Irvin 
Shapiro, producer, had posted the 
coin prior (o the out of town open- 
ing. 

First week's salary had been paid 
oft at N. Y. local of AGVA May 25, 
with the second week's dough paid 
out at the same place last Friday (1). 

Show headed by Ethel Waters and 
having all sepia cast is said to have 
been a $45,000 floperoo. 



AFEI Halfway Home In 
$3,000,000 Bond Drive 

New York niteries have reached 
the halfway mark ,itr the $3,000,000 
War Bond drive sponsored by the 
Allied Food and Entertainment In- 
dn.stries of Greater New York. 
Majority of the bonds so far sold 
have been of the E series, 

Treasury Department •originally 
set a $1,000,000 quota for the niteries, 
but AFEI voluntarily upped the fig- 
ure to cover the price of a licet of 
B-29s. 



Rapee to Do Concerts 
Again With 75 Pc. Orch 

Enio Rapee, conductor of the Ra- 
dio City Music Hall, N. Y. Symphony 
orchestra, will go out on a 30-day 
concert tour in the fall with a 75- 
Piccc outfit; 

He'll play dates in New England 
and the South, It's his second coh- 
*<"'*■ routing. 



Jackson Named Director 
Of Luna Park Shows 

Billy Jackson, talent agent, was 
appointed director of amusements at 
Luna Pa,rk, Coney Island, N. Y., last 
week by Phil Pate and Abe Seskin, 
new lessees and operators for cur- 
rent season. 

Jackson will revamp the building 
formerly known as The Ole Opry 
House and call it Little Old New 
York. Decor will be a replica of the 
old Atlantic Gardens, which flour- 
ished as a music hall on the Bow- 
ery, N. Y., in the so-called mauve 
decade. In it, Jackson will project 
an oldtimer revue tagged "A Night 
at Tony Pastors." 

Jackson will also install a circus 
in the park's arena, with latter set 
to open latter part of June or early 
in July. 

Shuberts Not Involved 
Financially in Detroit 
Yaude-Burley Venture 

Shuberts disavow any- financial 
connection with the combo vauder 
burlesque revue starring 1 'Margie 
Hart which opened this week (4) at 
the Lafayette theatre, Detroit, 
booked in by A. & B. Dow Agency, 
N. Y. They're merely renting Dows 
the theatres, also some scenery and 
costumes from former Shubert pro- 
ductions. 

This stance came to light when 
American Guild of Variety Artists 
stepped in last week seeking to have 
a bond posted for the initial show to 
guarantee salaries. Being a vaude 
revue, the venture naturally came 
under jurisdiction of the vaude 
talent union. 

AGVA got in touch with the Shu- 
bert office about posting bond or 
letter of responsibility for the ven- 
ture with latter office referring the 
matter to the Dows. 

At Dow subsequently posted se- 
curity and acknowledged financial 
responsibility. 

Deal only covers the Margie Hart 
unit and will require additional 
bonds if and when the Dows go 
through with additional units for the 
National, Washington, D. C, and 
Great Northern, Chicago. 

AGVA deal is for 14 performances 
weekly. 



0DT STILL FROWNS 
ON BIG STATE FAIRS 

Washington, Juiie 5. 

While confirming the story in "Va- 
riety," couple of weeks back, that 
local and county fairs will be per- 
mitted this summer,. Col. J. Monroe 
Johnson, of ODT, announced last 
weekend that regional and state 
fairs may hot be held this year be- 
cause of the transportation problem. 

He requested managers of state 
and regional fairs to cancel, and 
asked local fair managers not to 
stage feature shows "at such times 
that they will add throngs of fair- 
goers to rush-hour crowds."., : 



JOB NOT STEADY 



Martin Warner Leaves Morris Office 
■ After 34 Years ."-,.:'' 



Martin Wagner, who for more than 
34 years headed the concert departs 
ment of the William Morris agency, 
resigned that organization last week. 
He's gone west to take over the con- 
cert dept. with Orsalti agency on the 
Coast. - ■'•/ '• - o . ■;■ 

Resignation came as a surprise to 
the industry. Wagner was supposed 
to have owned a 5% slice of the 
business and was guaranteed a life- 
time job under the terms of the will 
of the late William Morris, founder 
of the . agency. 



NVA's 'Clown Nights' 
Folding for Summer 

National Variety Artists has dis- 
continued its "Clown Night" series 
for the summer ' months. They will 
be resumed in September, 

Weekly feature provided showcas- 
ing for new talent and occasionally 
opened the way for comebacks for 
some of the old-timer members. 



ve 



Two Tanks Sol 
Problem on Ice 

Problem which has so far prevent- 
ed the booking of ice shows in vaude 
houses is being solved by. Jerry 
Rosen of the Stanford Zucker agency 
via the simple expedient of using 
two tanks, one always in advance of 
the other. ; . 

Until now it's been impractical for 
the blades shows to play consecutive 
stands because it takes around eight, 
hours to freeze a skating surface and 
a. slightly lesser time to melt the. ice. 
Consequently equipment and casts 
couldn't reach the next stop in time, 
for' the first show. And they couldn't 
lay ~ off every other ' week". ■'; ■'. 

However, with use of two tanks, 
one of which will be set up ahead 
of the show while a second crew 
goes back to retrieve the equipment 
left at the previous stand and pro- 
ceeds to the next, is seen as opening 
up the ice-field to vaude houses. Pre- 
vious shows touring the variety cir- 
cuits have used muck-ice. It's not 
satisfactory. 

First show t.o install the new sys- 
tem is now being submitted to vau- 
deries by Rosen, who has produced 
"Follies on Ice," which opens at the 
State theatre, Hartford, June 22. 
Show has a skating line of 10 and 
will use non-skating principals, in- 
cluding Vic Hyde and Three Sam- 
uels. Layout is also set for the Steel 
Pier, Atlantic City, June 30, for eight 
days. Rosen later plans to package 
the show with the Al Trace orches- 
tra. 

. Widespread use of this system,, 
however, is not likely to come about 
until more vital materials are avail- 
able. Most tanks are already in use 
in arena shows and niteries, 

Only one previous skate-show has 
ever been submitted for the variety 
circuits. Some years ago Charlie 
Yates condensed an arena show, 
"Skating Vanities," produced by the 
promoter of tennis matches, Bill 
O'Brien. Project, however, had to be 
abandoned because of inability to 
make consecutive bookings because 
of the time necessary to defrost the 
unit. 



Kilby, Romm to Coast 

Harry Kilby, cafe department 
head of General Amus. Corp., will 
take, a three-week trip to the Coast, 
leaving N. Y. June 20, in an effort to 
line up names for nitery appearances 
here. 

Harry Romm, GAC act department 
head; will be leaving the same date 
to start production of his film at the 
Monogram, studios..,., . , .'. .. , . ... 



C0M0 INTO THEATRES 
AT HEAD OF GAC UNIT 

Perry Como, who'll have a six- 
week vacation from the Chesterfield 
show beginning August 2, will fill in 
with a series of vaude dates. 

He's being submitted at the head 
ot a package show consisting of 
Clyde Lucas band, DiGitanos, Mod- 
ernaires with Paula Kelly and Jerry 
Mann and Betty Linde. 



AGVA, Chi EMA, Defer 
Pact Talks Temporarily 

Blanket parting of Entertainment 
Managers Assn;, organization of west- 
ern agents working out of Chicago, 
by the American Guild of Variety 
Artists, vaude talent union, will be 
held in abeyance until after the an- 
nual meet and election of officers 
of the agent group scheduled for to- 
morrow (7). : . ; - . 
:;' Matt Shelvey. national, administra- 
tor of AGVA, 'returned from Chicago 
last week, Where lie had gone for 
a series of confabs with the agent 
group. He also huddled with Michi- 
gan State Bookers Assn. at its De- 
troit headquarters and is hopeful 
that both combos will be signed and 
franchisee! by AGVA before the 
month is out. Both" groups have been 
operating under a verbal under- 
standing but have not actually been 
inked yet. 

Shelvey left for Boston yesterday 
(5) to preside at and address general 
membership meeting of the Boston 
local of AGVA. 



Major Vaude Theatres to Start 
Thurs. Openings Week of Sept 13 



An Affront 

Agent.s for Irene Bordoni, 
Chanteuse current at the Blue 
Angel, N. Y., and Helen Kane, 
, the boop-a-dopp singing come- 
dienne, submitted them to Billy 
Rose last week, figuring the pro- 
ducer wanted them for his "Con- 
cert Varieties," which preemed 
at the Ziegfeld, N. Y., last Friday 
night (1). 

When contracts were about to 
be negotiated the agents found 
Rose wanted them for "Toast of 
the Town," new Diamond Horse- 
shoe revue which" follows current 
show and skedded to have a cast 
of oldtimers. 

Both gals nixed deal upon 
grounds "they didn't want to be 
dated." .'•• 



Theatrical Photog, 
Chi Hotel and Eatery 
Named in Suits by 0PA 

- Chicago, June 5; 

Maurice Seymour, theatrical 
photographer, was named in a suit 
filed by Chicago OPA director James 
F, Riley, Jr. in Circuit Court Thurs- 
day (31), seeking treble damages 
and injunctions to prevent further 
overcharges on photographs. Actual 
amount of damages sought were un- 
estimated, according to Riley, be- 
cause Seymour hasn't filed with his 
ration board a statement of prices 
he charged for photos in March, 1942, 
OPA's "base period." 

OPA also secured a judgment of 
$2,463 against the Chicagoan, Loop 
hotel, from Judge Walter J. LaBuy 
in U. S. District Court, for food 
overcharges in the hotel's Tiffany 
Room, and secured order from Fed- 
eral Judge John P. Barnes against 
Barney's, w. k. near northside steak 
house, to show cause why the eatery 
shouldn't be held in contempt 'of 
court for violation of an OPA in- 
junction. 

Barney's was accused by Govern- 
ment lawyers of illegally acquiring 
79,260 red points through the sale of 
rationed fats to the J. & M. Popcorn 
Co., and then obtaining meat with 
the points. 



4- Uniform Thursday openings in all 
major key-city vaudeville theatres 
will begin the week of Sept. 13, all 
Paramount and RKO houses and a 
string of independently operated 
theatres in the east and midwest 
being ready to launch new pictures 
and stage shows on Thursdays. Plan 
is to make it easier for talent agen- 
cies to route acts and units around 
the country. Only house riot defi- 
nitely set on the new plan is War- 
ner's Earle, Philadelphia, which is 
expected to come along soon. • 
Idea for a uniform Thursday 
opening-day all over the country 
originated in the Music Corp. of 
America theatre department, 
headed by Johnny Dugan. All 
other agency men backed it up due 
to the fact that different openings 
days often forced them to foregp 
consecutive bookings in key - the- 
atres. When an act or band opened 
one house on a Friday and closed 
on Thursday, the succeeding week 
had to be spit up into one-nighters, 
three-day theatres, etc., if the fol- 
lowing bookings was , into a house 
operating on a Thursday opening. 
Too, the agents and bookers feel .,' 
that Wednesday is a stronger clos- 
ing night. 

Involved in switching to Thursday 
openings are Paramount-booked 
houses in Omaha, Minneapolis, Buf- 
falo, Chicago; RKO's Palace, Cleve- : 
land; and the Oriental, Chicago; 
Riverside, Milwaukee; Circle, . In- 
dianapolis, latter three being inde- 
pendently booked. Three-day the- 
atres also will shift opening days to 
conform. For' example. Palace, Co- 
lumbus, O., will become a Monday 
to Wednesday operation instead of 
Tuesday to Thursday. Akron will 
shift to a Thursday to Sunday 
policy. 

In order to start the Thursday 
opening plan, all houses now open- 
ing on Fridays will play only a six- 
day week the week of Sept. 6. 



JOHN SCOTT TROTTER 
♦ ILL; MAY NIX TOUR 

John Scott Trotter, bandleader on 
the Bing Crosby airshow, is reported 
to have suffered a heart attack at his 
California home, according to advice 
from the Coast and may not be able 
to make his date at the Strand the- 
atre, N. Y., July 13 or 20. It was 
previously reported that Trotter had 
been in ill-health and was advised 
by his medicos to forego his trip east. 

Trotter is scheduled to appear at 
the head of a package consisting of 
talent from The Groaner's radio 
program, unit to include the Chari- 
oteers and Eugenia Baird. 



Lou Walters Disposes 
Of Colonial Inn, Florida 
Spot, to Lansky Bros. 

Lou Walters sold the Colonial Inn, 
Hallendale, Fla„ to the Lansky Bros., 
who operate the Green Acres, also in 
that vicinity. Price was $85,000. 

Walters, who operates the Latin 
Quarters, N. Y. and Detroit, as well 
as the Terrace Room, Miami Beach, 
closed the ' Colonial Inn last season 
after a short period of operation be- 
cause of the light local transporta- 
tion situation. He will concentrate 
on refurbishing the Terrace ' Room, 
planning an outdoor cafe, along with 
a cocktail lounge and a nitery on 
that site. 

The Colonial Inn was originally 
operated by Ben Marden, who closed 
it after two years in the red. . 



Mvius, mcntalist, starts a repeat 
date at the Cotillion Room of the 
Pierre hotel, N. Y, June 26. 



LOEW 

BOOKING 
AGENCY 

GiNtKAi txfcunvf officii' 
LOEW BUILDING ANNEX 

;1«W.ttd St., N. 1. C - Myonl V-7MO 



Wesson Bios, have been signed for 
the Paramount, N. Y. for the June 27 
show. ... 



mm 



46 



U&RIETY 



Wednesday, June 6. 194; 



Variety Bills 

WEEK OF JUNE 8 

Numcrali In connection with bills below Indicate opening tin; of eliow. 
whether fall or entit neck. 



Loew 



kbw vokk crav 
c»i>it»i co 

'Tiny Lornbrirdu Ore 
j'urie j isvoo' . 
. .Ij>es - Adonis . - 

niui'i! vinm . 

Plteniufl &• -T" Ooys 
SliKc C.I 

.-Karl, Jmi k -Holly 



.Inno.Kesii' : ' 
I hippy Fell oh 
iVilli-'r Tiros *■ .'Lot! 
AMrlnh Kolllut S ■ 
WASHINGTON" 
Cnpitol O) 
CaUes Bros 
Dirk' Bin-Mr} 
UlC.lin .Miller .Jlliil'i 



mi:\v vokk in v 

Paramount <(i) 

.Terry W.il.1 '.liil. • 
Allan .Tunes * 
'(lit- l.amli 
Kilcen ' Biirlon . 
Lvn Shirley 
Bob Cou>> 

CHICAGO 
Chicago .('til- 
I.oVe, 1 1 lie & sum' 

J nil II Merrill. 
I'hldie IVahotfy- 
r; ( IIU Alill 

K>Siil <«) • 
T.uls Mussel! Till 
Warva- l.unis 
JimiK AVjitHfiu 
Brown" Dots- 
Jelly liol.l 

Walter Green 



MIAMI 

Ol.vnipin ((',) 

I'.nllip Sis 
Hoy J. >■ • i IK I J< ' 
,'Mui" Sie.-l. 
.(nivkl.v (Ire.-Ir- . 
The Samuel* 
OMAHA 
Ornhc'ftni (<i) 
Conne,- JUictt'i II 
Bill llnrdo Ud 

SO. II KM I • 
Palace. (1Mb only.)' 

iTute'-.wnniirfiii iw 

Oniric X- ChOol.k'S 
Jew ic .I.HIies 
tOl'.KIIO 

r»miM«iiiii <h-ioi 

Duke Kill?) Wtiil ( ii •■ 
i'liUi'H 1,'huikles 
Jesse - * .Mines 



RKO 



HOSTOX 
Itiihlon Ct) 

Gnomic Aulil ore 

Tip T'uj. ,V- Toe 

X Jtne * -Waterfall 



MoFnrliiiid J , Ore 
dent Bullanline 
Belli Farrell ' 
SAX J KAN( ISCO 



Cabaret Bi 



NEW YORK CITY 



■tilt's Gay »"» 

Elliol Gilberl ' 
Ber-n4.e-Gr.iuer 
Harold Willard . 
Jack ltyan . .. 
Charles Strickland. 
Jimmy Bums 
Bill Kelsey 
Gay mi's OnnrtetU 

Itltic Angel 
Mildred Bnih>y 

I M'i 1 M Hll> lllll;'. RO> S 

hem) Boidonl 
Burton's Birds.' 
Bobby short 
Chittison Trio 
t'tlfe Society 
(I Itlimn) 
.rinimy Save ' ' 
Josh Wliiie 
Dolores Mnrtirr 
Krnnelll Spctiier 
Kim Kra ri 
Olio Field (S) ' 
I'hil Moure Ore 

Cafe Society 

(Dotvnlonn) 

A nil lint ha \va> 
Mary Lou-WlilS-' 
KIwimkI' Smith" 
lid Mall Ore .' ' 

Carnival 
W lloveler l)Vr» 
I Alorroeans* 
The cibsons 
I'lniiie Miilloy 
Kay ft' Kaiul 
Whirlwinds . 
Don McCrane Ore • 
Art Mitoney Oi'c 
CHRtnn Rouse 
OlKa Baclnnova 
Atlia Kuznelzoff 
Simeon Kaiv.aelt 
Cndolban Ore 
Club 18 
A I tlixon 
Joe Mann 
Ann Denis 
Claye Dixon 



llv.ify Jo t>iiJtf y 
llolel Pierre 

Di (i'iihiio's! . 
Stanley Mi'l'm 0>6 
Wall) 

llolel ri«*« 

Bob (.',141111 Ore , 
liildexnfde 

llolel ICiHiai'YClt 

Kfidle Stone L're 
llort'T sfrti(l> |*l(l3tl 

Kii> ■ Kimhor 
lloj F.i<\ did ■ 
(liisl'e Clemellte Ore 
.Sa'iTa 

llolel .SI. Ileitis 

Josephine ttouxinn 
Ileal riec . Oomez 
I' led iMiller Ore 

II I Tall 

Vincent l.opry. Ore 
llolel Hahlorr-A 
ll**rni'os- \VHltltm^ .'I 



i '.'i nt ' 
\ n loria fontova 
N- Ul uitilyvj hriti Ore 
leeliinil 

I'.oy'd lioiiiher 
Kiin Man i-M- Oi e -■ 

Di>(Juiiiie> ,.V <;liVn* 
illiilln> Kflly'h 

f.a iluhio . 
.lea n Colelna 
Ilndya Lynn 
..In Ann Cull; er 
Ajonia 
Uirlieo 

Ho;:, la 

Dili ltd' fa ge 

I'll • A Itv.'S 

J ut» t'a |.el lo' I li e 
l.a- filllKA 

Dully Man n .' 
u iles 

Sua a tulos I! 

Baron \- lleiiiay 

APui Si,.ii- 

MarT. sir lid . 

la Mnrllnlitlic 
J la ri > Xtieiiinan 



BOOKING THE NATION'S LEADING. INDEPENDENT 
VAUDEVU.LE THEATRES. 

EDWARD SHERMAN AGENCY 



NEW YORK 

PARAMOUNT BUILDING 



BEVERLY HILLS. CAL 

CALIFORNIA BANK BlOfi 



Netv Acts 



BARKY WOOD-1'ATSY KELLY. 
Songs and Fatter 
20 Mins. 

Eaiif, Washington 

Barry Wood opens this act by 
mike-ing "I Feel a Song Coming 
On." "Dreams Getting Better, 
"Saturday Night" and "I Should 
Care." Out jumps the ebullient 
Patsy Kellv from the wings, kisses a 
gUy in the orchestra and comes up 
to the mike for a merry exchange 
with Wood. 

. Their pater is fresh and engaging. 
It is all about, the trouble -Miss Kelly 
has in getting a man. She- creates a 
boisterous line of chatter, during 
which she kisses three more men in 
the orchestra. House conductor Jo 
Lombardi also gels into the act, and 
they duet on "A Tree Grows in 
Brooklyn." and Miss Kelly solos. 

Comedienne i: volatile, amusing 
and, in a way. wowed the first audi- 
ence Saturday afternoon (2). .Her 
assaults on the orchestra likewise 
entertaining. Took , six bows when 
caught. . ■ Arke. 



HARRY 8TEFFEN 
Electric Guitar 
8 Mins. 
Slate, N. Y. 

Coaxing plenty of music and nov- 
elty effect's out of his lG-aliingcd 
Westinghoiiser, Harry .Stell'en kicks 
in a satisfactory turn spotted sec- 
ond at the State: Opens with Ha- 
waiian melody, then into quick 
switch for impressions ol steamboat 
whistles, a wireless SOS signal. Jack 
Benny's off-tune Addle version of 
"Love in Bloom." divebomber sound 
effects and a couple of femmes 
arguing via telephone. 

Single handles announcements 
modestly and makes good appear- 
ance. He's back to straight music for 
"Bells of St. Mary's." featuring 
chime effects, and closes out with 
locomotive Intro followed by "St. 
Louis Blues." Suitable for family- 
time vaude and modestly budgeted 
niteries. DoiiM, 



Irene Mnnninp 
COI.I'.M HI s 
l'alliw (]-:-14) 

I.ulu llelle & S'uy 



(.allien (i:il« (111 

J Te.'iKiml.-n Ore 
Windy r,.i.l< 
.lohn Calvert 



Warner 



m:« vokk citv 

MrrniKl W 

Shep Fields Ore 
Jlineviieh K's w/.l'y 
'I'he Foniainea 
J.eiuiy dale 

run vill i phi v 

>:nrtc («) 
T. Armstrong Ore 
lied * Cm-ley 



Slim « Siv.-ets 
Slepiii Fulfliil 
WASHIMilOX 
' fjii'le C) 

ltoxvclles 

I I'a vis 

'I'he Willi H. 
Hoi, ,V J I tlol.iiid 
lleljiiul I ii.li line 
Andrea Kin'K .'■ 



XI-: W YOKK CITV 
Mlisie Hull (?) 

Anehulina 
■Win Dullai' 
Kdivard Iteiehcll 
JSevlittl'd Cril'tlli 
Ml), .ludd 
Tuny Cultan 
Urn Cronin 
Sid ( ideanale 

Knvy (it) 
T S S Deinaieo 
Jolui Holes 
Tile Pilehnlen 
Jaeltle Chliisoll 
lloddy .MeDonall 

i.6x<; isi.A>n 
•la ma lea (<-l«> 

Plevens Bros & . B'r 
Jaeli JJnnn. Co 
3-Tanreiu Co 
Lorraine alillcr 
J'anl Sinltlt 



WASIIIXdTOX 
Howard (S) 

foil li I T'.asie Cue 
I'ollS ,V i.oiiie 
Jloivell ,11- Coivsej- 
.TiHiTn> Hushing 
SUorl.v Davis 

AKRON 
Palace (x-ll) 

V Monro* Ore 
Cue Kibbee 
Xigsy TalHiil 

4 jVorluil Sis 
Jeiliine HfMin ln» 



CITV 

<:>- loi 



Al'I.AXTIC 
SI eel I'lev 

I hi n n J i/'os 
r, .1 leliiareos . 
l*W I'nrhi-r 

HAI TIMOlii: 
llipiiodrouie (M> 
Charlie Spival. Ore- 
Ste\e I'.'vans 
t'na Cooper 



America's Leading Independent 
: ' Agent ' 

EDDIE SMITH 

1501 Broadway 

New York 



(?-») 

I.eila BlitUe 
Jieti'a.v A' Aioore 
Itud.i \ , aseo 
(One to lilli 

UOl XI) KKOOK 
HriMili (11-1(1) 

I.o(la. Tilahe 
A.' A l! Kh'liards 
- Jl ml) -Vrsco : 
(Tieo to' 1111) 

! riiii.AiiKi.i'inn 

<'nrinuu (X) 
FIi.v Mis Willis 
S lliirnioniea J?eeds 
■\Vayne & MnlTin 

(Two 10 any 
spRixaViKiJi 

four I Suiiuro (i-lli.i 

Hob Nerson .• 
June I.oi'raine 
Ti'lie Oioi'olntPcrs 
(Three to All) 



Stale (;-») 

I.nhe. * Til, pi, . 

Joe llanlev 
(lll-l!!) 

Hiiiiniii :\i,,ss . ■'; 
(Three to.-iill) ■ 
CAMhjiX 
Tdivcrs (K.I (I). 
Louis a- clnM-i... 
J.illl- Four. - 
A-Heo..*. Drake-' '- 
Allan Hem,'. 
" Kinas 

II AK'II llltll 
Slate (»-i«) 
i.ouis 1'riiuil Ore 
Holly Jiolls 
Ijhiiii Vi- .Claire 

i'iiii.aoki.imua 

WilloW linns Park 
(jOtli only) 

J.ulte * Hank 
Jo" Tlaiiley 
('l-hree - In till) 



alarcia ICent 
\'in(.-ent Bern'on 
Gordon Andiewa O 

topai iiliao-.i 
Xavier Cn-tral Oro ■ 
(leorjrie .Price 
Ciireitts . . • 
l.ollls' liel Campo 
1 1 ihla Hninos 
Doll Dennis - 
Joel llei-roil 

COu Ri'llitv 
1 i n in Poll, i ire 
Din in oud niil'f-csboe 
Bob Hall 
Johnny Kurke 
Iiioncl K'ayc 
Bmiria Ft-nneis 
Hazel Mnnsreau 4 
Marcia i>;ile 
( 'ceil l.ctvi'n 
Cloria LeJToy 
Billy Banks 
Hil! Quentmeyer -. 
Aiitchel] Brother 
Slieliaei Kdwarda 
Mort U.eid Ore 
Viucenl Tra vera' Ore 

4110 ( lob 
Benny Goodman Ore 
Mnchito Bd 

Uttvana-Mudriil 
Flores & PeCorduba 
.liniiny Simon 
Seiioi-.aJ iirdo 
Maria Louisa Lopea 
Carlos Varolii Ore 
Hotel Ambassador 
Louis Betancouri O 
Jules Landc Ore 

Hotel Aslor 
Sominy Ka> e. Oi c 
•lose Moi'aml Ore' 
lion Perry Ore 
Hotel Bilniont 
' I*ln7.a 
flale Roller 1 9 
Jay Seiler 
Bill KussHl 
K.-ulli yiK Jiufry TTers 
Xino Morales Ore 
t^ysou lie Ore. - 
Hotel lliltmore 
Henry Busse Cn-o 
Hitrrys 

. Hotel ConimOO'nre 

Miahel (lornes CM-e- 

HoleJ nivie 
Don Baker Ore 
Hotel Eriisno 
Jose .C'orler. ( ir<- 
IChscx House 
Slan Keller Ore 
I tilth Clea'ry- 

llotel I.exlllKlon 
Monii Kal . 
Tapu Kana 
Tiiliina- 
Maile 
.\Io1iihnha 

llarohl Aloma Ore 
Hotel I.Imi'oIii 

Ersklne' Il'kins Ore 
Hotel Ne« \oi-Kei 
Joan . Hyldoft 
'J'erry llrerit • . 
I'hil Ttomnlno; 
.\eil Tontaiito 
Arnold Shoda 
Sonny Dunham Ore 
llolel I'eiiiitt.vlviiiils 
C.eoVRe I'nxlondi 
Alan Dale 



Friuikie llv.-is 

lliau Moore 
Hiirj is T'i i.o : . 
Danny Dnmela ' 
So, -asses Ore 
t>lik lOrollos Ore 
l-aljll Oiiiiri*.( 
iim.v- Dix 
Maiizoiie-Abholt O 
■rill Cill.erl 
* * 1-a Pierre 
1 ion Saxon 
Harold «■ l.ola 
Itmisoti Wonders 
Ben Uina 
Winl Walsh 
.Many Be,-k Ore 

I.o Itobiiii rtTeo 
lane Dillon 
Thelma t.'arp»nl..r 
.Hindoo I'.oMir 
lose Mellis 

Cedrie Wallace 3 . 
I.eon * lr..ltlie'. 

Kdilie Davis 
' el, ice I Is - 
Flora Drake 
Heidi llaid.n 
Da mil Huberts - 
Sherry Briilon 
Art Waiter Ore 

Monte Tnrlo 
Olck' Caspjin-i, Ore 
Jeuii F Minn-ay ' 

Lady Ann,; 
Alheelu Ore 

Obi RiinihaOtan 
OI>ia Woyiova . 
Sadie Banks 
Allllil Cal l i .-r 
Joe l..nl'oi : ift Ore 
llosers r'Orner 
ll.H'i) -Lefeourl Oi . 
Clatk's llnvvaiians 
Ifn rohl Cii cen 
l''resliiiien 
Mil's. Trio 
fvorii Kobblers 
Siy Selia.l"/ Die 
S|iiiy - s ISoof 
Sniiy ,,; 
Carie't & Boicfe 
Ja)tie Ma|niers 
Nlorli ( tub 
Morales fire ■ 
Krnie Hoist Ore 
Slan Keller Ore 

Versatile* 
■tin* l'iikcns 

Copsr-y .lit A> ert 
Bob Ho). kins 
Hob ; 1>ou|thi's 
.Maria n Niles 
-M Bergere Oro 

Villnice Kant . 

Al Itol.iiis,,,, . 
Alkali Ike 
Mil.-, Itdssiliano 
Moore Sis . . 
Tinj Clark . 
Ki1ille..Ashini(Ti' Ore 

Kaaxlluir 

Cab fuiiu-Ya> Ore 
Coniil f.e Boy ■ 
Day. Duivn k Dusk 
.I'l'tlrl . Bailey ' 
Bill Bailey 
I'e.'M c* .Ma r,| net te 
CiinK * .'-Blown ~ 
Doroihi Siuiliers 
Claude Hopkins Or, 



BIG BILL 

Sengs 

9 Mins. 
Apollo. N. Y. 

Big Bill is an apparent newcomer 

10 professional show-business, carry- 
ing awkward stage mannerisms and 
wearing Sunday best of ancient de- 
sign. But this tall Negro does sing 
a mean brand of race-blues, voice 
delivery and folk quality of his 
offerings being reminiscent of a 
Leadbelly without social-conscious- 
ness. ■■ ... 

Accompanying himself on a guitar 
strung over his shoulder, his songs 
lean toward the indigo, but content 
of which, is lively and fresh. Re- 
sulted in a near show-stop. 

With propet' exploitation he could 
be developed into a singer for cafes 
which feature novel entertainment. 

Jose. 



Night Club Reviews 



BILLY MITCHELL 
Comedy . 
10 Mins. 
Apollo, N. Y. 

This, portly colored boy has obvi- 
ously been around for some time 
but apparently hasn't played the 
houses in which "Variety" catches 
its New Acts. Apparently for good 
reason, too. His material isn't strong 
enough for the standard spots, being 
cut along ancient lines, and fairly 
pointless for the most part. He does 
better in the song department, being 
able to sock across a number despite 
the weak lines contained therein. 

Mitchell sets himself off immedi- 
ately along sight lines, being garbed 
in .rompers and flat-derbv. but he's 
unable to continue long with that 
advantage. j 0 se. 



Adams Reopens Aug. 31 

Adams theatre, Newark, plans to 
reopen Aug. 31. 

House hasn't yet booked opening 
show, but has Louis Jordan down 
for week of Nov. 15. 



DON DOR SKY 
Trapeze 
5 Mins. . 
State, N. Y. 

Fast traveling single used to open 
bill here has .youth, assurance and 
daring. Attractively garbed in blue 
sailor-type costume. Dorsey runs 
through scries, of. thrillers, oil flying 
trapeze to score neatly with a one- 
leg balance while bar is swinging 
a"nd a routine of heel-and-knec grabs. 
Clincher is a one-knee grab at close 
which earns good hand. . . 

Dorsey' is well suited for vaiidc. 
outdoors or niteries using . circus- 
type turn.s. :•-'•' :- ; Doiin. 



Lathi <tiiai*i<'tv Chi 

Chicago, June 1. 
Ted lietttt Orch (15) with Ger- 
aldiitc Du Bois, 3 Heed Sisters, 
Audrey Zivuiis, Putin Thomas, Dewey 
Sisters 12), Pott! Wliite, Roy Peace, 
Irving Kostal Orchestra (5); $3 mid 
$3.50 liiuiiniil))i. 

Everybody's happy on Randolph 
street, particularly. Ralph Bergetv 
who sees very, few, if any empty 
tables in the next few weeks with 
the return of Ted Lewis, his band 
and show. Lewis' played to standout 
biz .'the last time Ire was here and is 
expected to repeat this time. 

There isn't much that can be said 
about Lewis and his methods that 
hasn't been said time and time again. 
He's an ace showman and his touch 
and pacing keeps an '-hour and a half 
session moving wilh rapidity and 
precision. From his opening song. 
"Be Yourself." to (he finale things 
moved swiftly, all tied up with spe- 
cial lyrics sung by Lewis, Paul White, 
who is a pantomimic find, has re- 
placed Snowball Whitlicr. now in the 
Army, in doing the "Me and My 
Shadow" routine and is given every 
opportunity by Lewis to show his 
talents. The early trtovic bit scene 
isn't very funny and could well bo 
eliminated but when he teams up 
with Roy Peach, further down on the 
bill, they slap, the show with their 
dancing and comedy antics. Reed 
Sisters score with brace. of songs. 

Dewey Sisters click with expert 
acrobatics, including back bends, 
splits, aerial somersaults and other 
tricks, and Geialdine DuBois, a 
beauty dressed to display a nifty pair 
of gams, tosses off several songs for 
a hit", followed by Patty Thomas, who 
clicks with"Sesh of fast heel and toe 
kicking to "I'll Be Seeing You in My 
Dreams"' and "Hawaiian War Chant." 
Au.ch-cy Zimms is terrific with baton 
twirling. A hit. 

Lewis is outstanding in the "Sunny- 
side of the Street" and "Just Around 
the Corner" (lumbers and his senti- 
mental ode to his high Jiat. All in all 
when you've sat through the show 
you know you've been entertained. 
The Lewis band, under the baton of 
Sol Klein, and li ving Kostal's five- 
piece combo, alternate on the dance 
tunes to the complete satisfaction of 
the dancers. .'-.-■■ Morg. 

Kill more Hoof. IV. V. 

(BU.TMORE HOTEL) 

Henry Biissc ©rch (17) U'itli Pliii 
■Gray. Roberta; Cardini, Fred & 
Elaine Barry: no minimum, cover $1 
weekdays, $l.r>o il'eeJceitds. 

Biltmore Root hist summer used 
an ice show and a minor name band 
to draw patronage. This year it's 
offering Henry Busse's orchestra and 
the. crack performances of Cardini 
and the dance team of Fred and 
Elaine Barry. Business should be 
healthy, for it's all well worth the 
attention of the class mob from 
which the Biltmore draws its pa- 
tronage. 

Bussels orchestra, fresh 'from 'a run 
at the N. Y. Strand theatre, where its 
efforts were deemed only fair by this 
reviewer, does a much better job on 
the Roof. It keeps its stuff within 
earable bounds, keeping the" dance 
floor well occupied opening night 

Roberta and Phil Gray vocal 
with the outfit, both being average. 

Cardini's card, colored-ball and 
cigaret manipulations held a goodlv 
opening-night crowd in rapt atten- 
tion. Beside being one of the clev- 
erest sleight-of-hand artists avail- 
able for this close-lo-the-audicncc 
type of work, Cardini is a master of 
showmanship. 

Routines and execution by Fred 
and Elaine Barry are in the same 
category. Doubling from "Up in 
Central Park." they're a fresh-look- 
ing couple with modern dance ideas 
and a cute wav of presenting them. 
This audience didn't want to let them 
off. and rightly so. They recently 
also doubled into the Wedgwood 
Room of the Waldorf: Wood; 



ANN HATHAWAY 

Songs 

7 Mins. 

Cafe Society Downtown, N. Y. 

Sultry-voiced singer lacks experi- 
ence. Miss Hathawav gives off plenty 
s.a. along visual lines, being garbed 
in a form-fitting, beaded gown with 
bare midriff, but projection isn't up 
to par. 

Pipes "Don't Blame Me," "Between 
Devil and Deep Blue Sea" and a 
blues number with a voice that's 
pitched far below what it should be 
naturally. She loses volume and 
tone as a result Jose. 

Borrah Minevilch Harmonica Ras- 
cals, current at the Strand, N. Y.. 
set. for the Waldorf-Astoria. N. Y., 
June 28. Also booked for the Palmer 
House, Chicago, in November. 



Marine Ilooiii. Chi 

(EDGE WATER BEACH HOTEL) 

,„ : Chicago, June 2. 

Wayne King Orch (18), GaudsmiUt 
Bros. (2). Stylists (8), Roscntari, 
DeerM g, Nancy Evans, Allen DeWitt. 
Dorothy Hild Dancers (12), Three 
Bars: $3-$3.50 minimum. 



Its Beach-Walk time again at the" 
Edgevvater Beach, it says here. Oc- 
casion also marks the return of 
Wayne King, whose w.k. sweet, 
stringy aggregation shows up well 
as a result of the macslro's long re- 
conversion - t'rom-khaki-to-mnfti pe- 
riod, during which rehearsals were 
plenty and gruelling. Only four of 
the original bandsmen -remain, to 
cue what a grind it's been. 

Dorothy- Hild is right in there 
pitching -with- just what this stanza 
needed— -the nostalgic touch. Fol- 
lowing a ■ sentimental "glad to be 
back" pitch by King. Miss Hild's line 
tees things off with whirls to "Merry 
Widow" score, backed admirably by 
King and the eight Stylists, mixed 
vocal group. Onc-two-three-fotir 
tempo continues ii\ the next turn, a 
Strauss medley by the band, which 
payees .love. 

A dog act following this solid dose 



of Lobar and Strauss is kinda inenn 
gruous. but the Gaudsmiths and two 
kingsize poodles vend their standaVM 
wares pleasantly, three-high with 
pooch on top getting them off noisilv 

Nancy Evans, pert chantiess nuts 
over a nicely-varied quartet of tui*i 
—"Beguine," "Sentimental Journcv" 
"Ciri - Bin - Bin," "Summertime'^, 
and the "Hild dollies, be-plumed in 
white, win another big nod with 
"Flamingo," also providing eye-nil. 
ing background for Rosemary' Deer- 
ing's dainty ballet to "Clair de 
Lime." -v 

Band ties things up with medley of 
pop tunes, during which Allen De- 
Witt does the vocal ol "Temptation" 
with a virile punch, and the Three 
Bars, voCal ahds instrumental male 
trio, make the rounds o( the tables 
during intermission. All in all. a 
solid sendoff lor the King. Mike. 

« oronrl. Phillv 

Pliiliulelohia, May 30. 
..Milt Brition Orch (14) trith 
Buddy Raymond, Joe Brittoii, Siismi 
Carol, Billy Burns. Janet Caret; no 
cocer. $2 niin. 



This is the first time the Coronet 
has tried a band as its main attrac- 
tion, It's not bad nightclub fare; 
what with Britton's boys milking a 
junior edition -'of "Helzapoppin" out 
of their stint, .: ■ 

With: dead-panned- Mill ''Brittoii 
acting as m.c, the show proceeds at 
a hectic pace. The dizzy doings in- 
clude a couple of song and dance 
turns by Btfd.dy Raymond whose 
mannerisms remind one of Danny 
Kaye, when the latter was on the 
way up. 

Joe Briilon and the other zanies 
in the band do a neat bit of cutting 
up. Best bit is the band's takeoff 
on the "old masters," each bandsman 
wearing mask and hair-disguise of 
the erstwhile musical greats. Finale 
in which music and instruments are 
tossed around winds things up in 
proper mood. 

Susan Carol has a pleasing set of 
pipes but should use beter judgment 
in her choice of tunes. Current 
repertoire is dated. Newer songs 
would enhance her stature. 

Billy Raymond, sepia hoofer, has 
an unusual style and knocks himself 
out trying to please — which he does. 

Also in the tcrps department is 
blonde Janet Caret, whose forte is 
a whirling-dervish sort of routine, 
plus a cape dance to Castillian music 
which is well-executed and well-re- 
ceived. 

The new Coronet line is pleasing 
lo the eye both in looks and in its 
routines. 

Room virtually capacity when 
reviewed (Tllurs. dinner) . Shal. 



Samovar. Monll 

Montreal, June 1. 
Gil Johnson. Myt< San-din & Rii//» 
Rowan, Roberta Welsh, Roberto & 
Alicia, Carl Grauer. Bill Skimier 
Orch. (8), Bill Afooriy, Relic/ Orch 
(31 ; $2 win. 



This spot goes in more for the 
Russian atmosphere than for lavislj 
floor show. There is no girl line and 
the entertainment is strictly on the 
minor side. 

Singer Roberta Welsh scores in a 
wide variety of songs from the pops 
to old timers. Her voice is smooth 
and warm, but she might do well to 
perk up here repertory a little. 

Gil Johnson is just so-so as a 
singer, but his dancing makes "P 
for what he lacks vocally. A good 
stylist with average voice, Johnson 
does some neal acrobatic dancing 
that overshadows the weak vocals. 

As for Myk San-din and Ruth 
Rowan, they * .bill themselves as 
"Dances from India," but, according 
to audience reaction, .nobody in the 
house was ever in India. There 
were yawns galore. 

Roberto and Alicia show some 
fancy footwork in Spanish and gyp- 
sy dances. Nothing phoney about 
their work. 

The Skinner band does as well as 
it can witht eight men, but Bill 
Moody is nicely received with his 
relief trio. Laid. 



'Bell Bottom' 

5S ContiMied from page 1 ss 

kids, along with radio plugs in its. 
cleaned-up version, the tune is get- 
ting around faster than a B-29 over 
Tokyo. ';--.'.■ 

Nobody knows where- or when 
"Bell Bottom Trousers" originally 
started, but Moe Jaffe, bandleader- 
songwriter ("Collegiate," "K You 
Are But a Dream" and others) intro- 
duced it at servicemen's benefits 
while working Philadelphia location 
jobs. It caused plenty of snickers 
among the tars who passed it on'to 
soldiers. 

Jaffe then wrote a clean version 
of the song and handed it over to 
Sanlly-Joy for publication. How- 
ever, the indigo versions persisted 
and in addition many improvements 
over the originals were improvised. 
Except over the- air. you're, likely to 
hear it. in a form that shouldn't be 
heard by junior. 



Wedm-sday, June 6, 1915 



Sam Adams on The Boxscore' 

Shmuel Hopkins Adams explains the how-come of ' Variety's' - critics 
boxscore in his biography of "Alexander Wootlcott. His Life and His 
•World," published by Regnal & Hitchcock. Tome is just out, drawing 
" the praises of book reviewers. Author admired the lale Sime Silver- 
man, founder and publisher of "Variety." and often visited the one- 
time popular retreat atop the "Variety" Bid?, on. West 46th St., N. Y. 
In the book he refers to Sime's editing of the paper as "cockily inde- 
pendent . . . he didn't give a damn for anyone and didn't care a damn 
who knew it . , .'• he disliked and distrusted the Algonquin Round 
Table ( which Woollcott dominated) and regarded, it as a clique , . . 
that judgments upon the drama were determined in conspiratorial 
conclave." ' , i - 

"Variety" proposed to "approximate the surenesx of cri tical judg- 
ment through a' weekly resume. . . .. Jack Pulaski Was assigned to the 
job . . . but he did not convict the "Algonquin clique' of conspiracy. 
It did result in establishing 'Variety's' famous 'Drama Critics Box- 
score.' which is today standard in the American theatre.; ,' , Woollcott 
"was pretty-'consislently low man . . . vying with him for this lowly 
distinction was no less a nersonage than Percy Hammond . . . One 
avowed purpose of the 'Variety' feature was to dissuade the critics 
from neutrality. It succeeded. 'No opinions' (on shows) virtually 
vanished , . . Woollcott was probably influenced toward more positive 
forecast . . . he showed less hesitancy thereafter to put himself on 
record." At the time Woollcott was critic for the N. Y. Times. ' ' 



P^RIETY 



LEGITIMATE 



47 



Guild to Present Lunts 
In 1 of 3 Next Season 

The -Theatre Guild has three new 
productions set for next season. 

Guild, in conjunction with John 
C. 'Wilson, will present Alfred Lunt 
and Lynn Fonlanne in Terence Ral- 
tigan's comedy, "Love in Idleness." 
this fall. Latter, is the Lunts' Lon- 
don hit of the past winter; they're 
now doing it in France for the GIs. 
Lunt will direct,. 

Shakespeare's "'Winter's Tale." 
with B. Iden Payne' directing, and 
a new version o( Ibsen's, "Peer 
Gynt" are also due. "Winter's Tale" 
may get a . siimnier tryout in' West- 
port, Conn„ first. 



Kronenberger (PM) Wins 'Variety' 
Boxscore; No 'No Opinions' First Time 



Tor- the first: time in 22 seasons 
that "Variety" has kept a boxscore 
of drama-critics on New York dailies, 
all reviewers expressed themselves 
definitely about every show covered 
during the 1944-45 season. Not a 
single "no opinion" was expressed: 
reviews, by Critics who reviewed in 
quite vague terms. Heretofore. 11 
winners of the animal "contest" 
had a clean, record in thaT respect. 
Primary purpose of the, boxscore has 



llilWc he' wrote himself out" of (lie 
bag by explaining why; -John Chap- 
man, of the News, took a shot at 
him particularly. 

Ward Morehouse, of the Sun. bet- 
tered his standing in the score by 
coming in a good' third with .843. 
He tied Nichols in having. 11 wrong's 
but covered fewer shows (70). Rob- 
ert Coleman, Mirror, who was head 
man some years ago. moved up two 
notches over his standing last year, 
being fourth with a .817. but. Chap- 
lin an dropped ' 'l')-om 'i'mrd t5 TiJ'th! 



Jobless Actors 
At Lowest Ebb 



Another war summer finds unem- 
ployment among legit actors at low 
ebb. Even though the number of 
summer stocks is curtailed again; 
jobs with USO-Camp Shows • are 
| plentiful, especially since an addi- 
tional, bunch of shows is being 
. readied. iTJlCl'.e are, as mai'vy sumnier 
| musical stocks bsing readied as here- 
tofore, if not more. Hundreds of 
pros Who were out of show business 
• for varying periods have returned, a 
; flock of players having rejoined 
. Equity during' the past year. . .- : '.' 
| Broadway has more shows lichtcri 
' than in many seasons at this 1 ijite 
[ of the year. 'and while closings ■ are 
anticipated, a goodly percentage, of 
,' attractions has registered fairly ex 



Equity Bankroll Soars to Million, 
DullzeO Urging 'War Chest' As An 
Aid to Prevent Mgr. 'Interference' 



Not in the Script 

New Haven;.' June '5. 
. One of those typical break-in 
incidents look place at the Shu- 
bert- in New Hav'en .when "Ma- 
rinka" received its baptism' there 
last week. .;. - 

At the musical's. most dramatic , 
moment. Rcinhold ' Sehunzel: as 
Emperor Franz Josef, .was mp* 
posed to enter a room and arrest 
his own son for treason, a' 
jammed rtoorlatch found Schun- 
/.el on the outside looking in, 
while Jerry Wayne tried franti- 
cally to loosen the apparatus. 

Mounting audience '•' laughter -. 
made it difficult for Wayne aim 
Joan ;. Roberts to keep siraigbt. 
faces. They almost lost their 
composure when Schunr.el, final- 
ly entering after a • stagehand' 
crept., oh with a screwdriver, 
quipped softo voce; "So you 
wouldiift . let me 'in, .eh'.'" , . „:_. 



Transit Curbs 
Hit B'way B O. 



♦ Equity, the most financially .solid 
jot' all talent unio.is,. now has a mil-; 
( lioii dollar bankroll, it was reve-led 
| by Paul Dullzellat the association's 
i annual meeJiig and election last- 
[Friday d> a! the Hoiel Astor, N. Y. 
I Executive head. and treasurer or -the 
i legit outfit told' the 700 at.enCtes 
i that "ire need a war. chest because 
jt. mi pagers know 'a bout. It, there is 
•!'•'«« chance of them' interfering- with. 
- Equi.y. Some .memoes want to 
, know what's to be done with the 
; money. Well., lei's sr.ve it. We don't 
, know whe her reran version, from the 
war machine will affect us.'' 

While' Equity':-: •financial security 
looms big. it. is said that the stage- 
hands and iiiiisieV.hs unions have- 
surpluses of- beiween SlO.000.000 and 
$15,000,000 each. ; '. 

1 Equity's fiscal year' e'idirig March . 
31 saw the union with an earned. 
: surplus of $75,'232, S10.958 more than 
the profit in 1943-44, the. total surplus 
being $1,012.57!. It. wax the sfrong- 
fS &K >.hift>1ni{; . V ^i l'.y=cai's_„ctekf)itfi ,Uie'^. 
' large membership in service,- who 
'are hot .pay in?, dues. ■ .Most of the 
surplus ciime .frniii initiation 1. e.s 
(S100 each), there being 750 ' new 
.members during the year, plus 603 
actors who were re.'us atecl. Also 
included is coin- from alien actors, 
. who pay' a percentage of their sal-' 
ai'ies, while the observance of strict 



N. Y. Drama Critics Baxscore 

Season of 1944-45 
(JUNE 1, 1944-MAY 31, 1945) 



Key l» abbreviations: SR (shows reviewed), K 


(rishl), W 


(WrOHK), 


O mo opinion clearly expressed), Pc(. (percentage). 










SR. 


R. 


W. 


O. 


Pel. 


LOUIS KRONENBERGER (PMl .... 


81, 


72 


9 


0 


.88!) 


LEWIS NICHOLS (Times) '. 


Kl 


70 


a 


0 


.884 


WARD MOREHOUSE (Sun) 


70 


59 


n 


.0 


.84.1 


ROBEKT COLEMAN (Mirror).. 


82 


Ii7 


15 


0 


.817 


JOHN CHAPMAN (News)- 


81 


86 


15 


0 


.815 


HOWARD BARNES (Herald Tribune)... 


(18 


54 


14 


0 


.794 


ROBERT-GARLAND (Journal- American) 


75 


58 


1'7 


0 


.773 


Mil. El. 1. A WALDORF (Post) .... 


73 


58 


17 


0 


.787 


BURTON KASCOE (World-Telegram) ... 


81 


52 ' 


2!) 


0 


.842 


"VARIETY" 'Combined) 


8,'i 


73 


10 


0 


.880 



By Memorial Dav. last Wednesday, 
it was indicated (hat the season- was economy is, another factor. There 
! tended engagements. anfUaetors in | about: washed up . for a number of : »' <-' ™» Eqiuiyaes and 400 Chorus 
'. those.,;' ttraction.s will welcome a rest attractions. There were 25 matinees.- 111 ", Jl> '' K :n •'•■'•'vice.' 
; period. Production has slowed down ; 10 f»i which sold out plavctf to' ,.f,; lel ' e ' *246.2(34 banke.-l on de- 
mand no' pew shows are expected into "standing- room, but thereafter busi- ' l '"' sa - »>^'/neiu»»n-j»^6rt^««rii#f)t»» 
[rehearsal for some lime, but three ness slipped all along the line, ex- ' s managerial .guarantees and not 
! attractions now Irving out. will pi'ob- i eeptions being the smashes which • coll ."; m * W/OI™ >" savings accounts, 
ably open on Broadway during June -are sold out weeks in advance. - Just . . t '! 1 clnuv intercut, as do the se- 
or July, they being VMarinka." "Oh j how Broadway will fare during sum- Cl,,, '. ,es 0u "_ e< !- .-Recently, Equity 
Brother'' and "The Wind Is Ninety. 

J. C. Thompson Signs 
ATAM Accord in Chi; 
Drops Operetta Series 



been lo suggest indirectly to, the 
critics lo say what's good , and what 
isn't, instead of thinking up.taglir.es 
for their notices. 

Louis Kronenberger of PM and 
Lewis Nichols, of the Times, whit 
have been running neck and neck 
since the start of the war, did it 
again, the former being the winner 
for 1944-45. Last season the Times' 
critic copped bul was second at the 
past mid-year eotml in January.. It's 
the second time Krpnenberger gol 
"Variety's" mythical award, he -won 
in 1942-43. -' ' - 

The PM reviewer covered 81 
shows, calling 'cm right 72 times and 
guessing wrong iline times, his per- 
centage being .889. Nichols caught 
the same numbered' preitiieres. bei'ng 
right 70, times, his percentage being 
.884. Incidentally, it was Kronen- 
berger who came in for some jji'il i- 
eism recently from fellow critics, 
when he ref.iised to x lccl , a best 
play, despite the welter, of conced- 
■edly good things, and . they didn't 



| although -it looked as though he 
would be in Ihe money at Jhe mid- 
year' Howard Barnes, who ■ also 
i-ovei s pictures,' has about the same 
rating as last. year although his per- 
centage is livs. 

Kuscoe in lite Cellar 
Last by many lengths is Burton 



Rascoe. World-Telegram. Ife covered 
81 shows, being right 52 times but 
wrong on 29 notices, that cons! I - 
Ui.ing a record number of missp-- 
since the start of the scoring. His 
.842 is !e<s 'than his standing of last 
season, when he also tagged along, . 

A veal- ago there, were 18 "no 
opinions," At the time most review- 
ers were s.i-caiied second stringers. 
JJ. is evident that as they became 
'seasoned they became more confir, 
fiei.il "dn calling 'cm. 

"Variety's'.' staff comparatively 
was none too hot, although l ln- score' 
of. .880 was a good second to the 
winner's. All 83 openings were cov- 
ered, the muggs being right 7.1. times 
but they. guessed wron's dn 10 shows. 



mer is still undetermined. purehasect S2;) 000 m war loan bonds. 

Transportation hardships mav .be " u P> n S 'ts - boltings of Government 
catching up with Broadway, and- ft i ^*' Kl f "< nl feasury notes to $230,000. 
is believed that the volume of visU 1 T " tal mtimb^h.p of 3,987 is also, 
tors is less than usual at this time. : " d '"-arty increase over the previous 
when, heretofore, southerners sea- .! ., E< * u ' f . members 
sohaiiy were among the larger 'influx 1 ,."'"« h th »t being -a 

of. vacationers. And summer busi- i •"V ! ?,V t mcfease Horn the obituaries 
ness will largely depend on the previous year. 

Chicago Junes i number of people coming 'to the ' .Balloting, wi the contested election 
Coincidental wh anno , cement metropolis. Reconversion of wvfr f' councilor, proceeded qme ly and 

House 1 m ; ^ % ^^m pS^X^^^ 

poor bus ness it's learned James C. ', Porary condition, for when the war, ™ L -^° ' ' f ' 
Thompson, OHC head, signed an . v,Hh Japan is over, experts predict , ^ « " 1 '""^ J 

Assn. of Theatrical Agents and '. the biggest business for farlo.'ies " * Ag »<' >" "'■; %^ v ^f} 
Managers minimum basic agreement and mercantile enlerpr.ses m the j ' ' g'' .\ ^le EmhV^ 

ycs'.e.'.-iay ,4,. history of the; nation, a l-ush period ^' <' ( ' ; |«'. >Hr* '""J 

Thompson gave as reason for,- of prosperiM^s-H^ed. to las, , ^ ^ ^ ^ ^\^'% h \^ 
operetta foldcroo the fact that no ai least live .years. Madv Clir'st i™< nii.«.n'forf mrfv 

new show is available to follow- Present objective of V-J Day 'has ; * * c '". ; " '"Vrtl^ck ' 
"Mme. Du Barry" and "Countess concentrated- the attention of Naval. 1 1» ^ ^ 
Marina." each of which held for two Army and governmental leaders. ^ > » * '"»' lh «. » ^> 
weeks bul got miserable takcs-.V15,- The swing to Ihe Coast is. mounting 1 ,".'„., S ' . t Tor ■> e bes 
000 a week for the two weeks of daily for there will bo ^oncon* rated : ™. ^ ! ^XdZm 
-TTTT^ry" and *. 5.000 last week ; the tvar might that will hop off for , SZtS^^ to&U 
for ' "Mariua"-while hou-e was the Orient. Pall lines are imccr- ^ urohis- of 

scaled for $58,829 a week. Plan for ; standably congested, troop and n«.-,! $) ^ 1 a v ' ^ Ji e ' *fi' ove, 
this summer was lo present light U rial moven.e.t.s having Tlie; right ]^; ^ n ^^^^ 
operas thai were Hot as familiar to . of way. and increased priorities on 1 > 0J1 ' n " 



Chicagoans as last year's program. 
It's iK'.U'Wprthy, therefore, that the 
1944 of'ti ing.-— "Rose '. Marie-,'' "New 
Moon." "Merry Widow," etc.. . all 
1. r led- a, xl - true war(ioi's< s — got 
grosses as high as $27,000. whereas 
this year's' brace, both little -known 
to the public, took terrific nosJdiycs. 
Ill si'i'nihg Ihe ATAM contrac' lor 



^ Variety , Boxscore Winners 

Key: SR. Show s Review ed; R. Ri;bl;.W. Wroiis: O, No .opinion.. 





SR, 


R. 


W. 


O. 


Pet. 


, :i:f- , :>4— Craig .(Mail) . ;'/••;'•.•,".".■.,.:, ,■, . 


. 78 


53 


19 


H. 


, .877 


•i4-"J5— POLLOCK (Brooklyn Eagle.) ... 


., 97 


73 


24 


0. 


:753 


"Jf>-'2«— GABRIEL (Sun;) v'.v.-'i'j . ..'. '.-'.'. 


,109 . 


90 


18 




.828 


"li>--r<— GABRIEL .(Sun) 


. 105 


' 90 


15 


ir 


.857 


'■r,-y.K— atkinson (Times, . . . ;•; 


. 94 


81 ' 


12 


' 1 ; 


' ,882 


'.'JK-'2!t — LITTLE l.Post>. '.;,',....'. v. 


: so 


'72 


Hi 


1 


.809 


•sn-'M-RRim'.N (Pom ) . ..,.'...., . 


. 88 


79 


.'- , 9 


0 


.898 


':t»l-':;i— BROWN (Post )' .. . . . 


. 104 


85 


18 


1 :"' 


.817 


'31 -'32— G A BRIE L (American) ... 


,109 


roii 


8 ' 


1 


.917 


T.2-'33— GABRIEL (American) 


. 1.03 . 


89 


i 13 


1 


.804 


'S3-',14— BROWN ( Post I . . 


. 98 


89 


8 


1 


". .908 


•34-'::s_-BROWN (Post) ' v 


. 9(1 


77 


12 


. 1- 
■ fl 


• .855 


">r>-'3o— G ABKIEL (American ) ,,. ... 


. 90 ■' 


82 


8 


.920 


'SC'Sf—COLKMAX (Miritoi'l ,,,''..'; .;, ..-:. 


. 82 


75 : 


•5 


■ 2" ; 


"' .914 


•3T--::r_BROWN I Post t ,.;.'-. . .......... . 


. 82 


r>8 


4 


0 


,935 


•.•!K-'3H— ANDERSON ,.lourual-Amel'icaii I 


. 73 


82 


11 


0 


. ,849 


'SO-MO— LOCK RIDGE (Sun) ; 


,73 


115 


8 


0 


.890 


'*«-•< I— WATTS- (-Herald Tribune 1 . 


. lili. 


57 


3 


' f) 


.950 


'<l-'*2— KRONENBERGER ,)>M ) ,.. ... . 


. 85 


(It). 


8 


n 


.923 


r 42-'43—L<K'K RIDGE •Suit! 


. 32 


2,!' 




■ ii 


,90<i 


i:;--44— NICHOLS (Times I 


. •>!•' 


(!:-. 


t'. 


t. 


MV1 




. t,l ■ 


• 71' 


i> 


t 


.1*1) 



plane travel arc also 'war imisls, 
EVep civilians rctuining from the 
Coast are having difficulties. .in get- 
ting accommodation!!. 

Within the last, 10 days business in 
midlown bars dropped way off be- 
cause so many men in uniform are 
on ' their way to the Pacific. New 
York's 'temporary service populaiion 
house manage)-. Thompson refused Wili; hovytver.- -be partially iDCCCMseit tm ' ( ^, 
lo ink for four: years, as is usual, , by ' the. steadily increasiiig numbei 
limiting- it to one year only. Also of men coming hack' lYom Die Kuro- 
ht.ld out for substitut ing. "Chicago" 
for "New York" in all claii-cs in 
pact, '".assert in is he wants light lo 
pick a local. man if anything were to 
•liapppii to Phil Carlin. pr- i ent mm-, 
ater. Latter, taken :ofT the job by 
the union May 14. the . night "Du 
Barry", opened, having held hi.\ 

union ci'.i-d only. Iwo! ..weeks, is back iiljc Theatre Confociicc of N, Y. at 
managing the hoi, sc. It'll be (lark ' ^ husi,:; ss .meeting, .•■turting -here 
ihdcl'in.ilely. however;, due to 'book' Sal nri'ay (!M. 
ing'.di.Tiicultii s. , . : . •;' Confab, to 'be i.( l-.i at Loyol,, C, . 

. niunity the'aire.. "also, calls • lor , lec- 
tion '"of officers - and cou-'l.'UU'ohal 
.•illH-iKllK'il'-', ■-.."•' ",'■'■:'• "' 

Pallas. June 5. r ■-. '..;- . -.•-;.,•. '. 

I'< rniir.-.ioii of the State Fair of 



in , the bank, but; ordcrc-| the pur- 
chase of $15,000 in war bonrls. 



CLEAR DALLAS HURDLES 



LA. Legit Season Gets 
Hypoed This Summer 

" •.. Hollywood. June 5. 
Ifea\y.' summep legit season gels 
ay h< re. June. 20. with 
"School Eor Brides", opeiiim! at the 
Mayan theatre. I'rank McCoy, pro-' 
ducer. is in town recasling his sliovv 
with Coa: 1 tale„l. 'Meanwhile. Ar- 
thur Crnssmai, starts; casting next 
week for "Trio," controver.-iel play,' 
which, open* at the Bch.sco July 10, 
with I.ois Wluclcr ' playing the 
Plans -for national playwriting con- I, mine lc; d . rule she created in New 
lest will be made by National Cath- York. : 

' Gro.-sniaiv has also .- .acquired rights 
lo "t/Ule Jerks' James." which ..he 
will. i.,r.odui:e here. ai'U r "T)-.io" gets 
along. - Paul Schrcihinan: holder of. 
Ihe Bi iasco lea-e. is figuring on slag- 
in:' a' number of plays: including 
''The Bad Man," starring Leo C'ar- 
riilo. . : ."'.'.'■ 



. pean front,. 

Catholic Theatre Parley 
Plans for Script Contest 



Chicago. June' 



T( xas lor '.the .'Old Globe Theatre , to 
.lie lb' d as .a k-mpnrar.v home Tor 
' tile new Dallas Civic repclorv Ihea- 
Ire has. ch.ared iT.i.'M.' hurdh s. 

Tin' liieairc of whieli' Kitgcne Mc- 
Dtri.ii il , .is |,r( /. cud .pilargo Jonc- 
' in;Uii'- iny. (lili ftnr. v: ill occupy the 
building nirl tree bin pay for Im- 
|ii-e\ i .in nls. maiiiU nitmi? and operat- 
ing. The Sts-le Pair would get a 
-jjivre of lh»- iic.t.' 

T!i.- t)a!fc<;-Tiitatr< . IncV, is looking 
.I'Oi'UH'il U v. : rri t : -<- e.-i elii-n .of it' 



Ben Washer Out 

,Wi.i«iMt- OWcer- Ben. Washer, 
head, p.a, of. the Irving Be -tin (}i 
nius'cal. "This Is The Ai'm.v.", ar- 
i'jv.ed In .Nev. ; York y e.- tci'day (5 1, 
lining in from the Phiiippiiv s. In. 
■ ( i-vice three years. \V.ashs-r. :f«ri1i'< f, 
legil-pix ' p.a,, gels Oui of imifm'in 
uid of the we'l;. He lost 25 pounds 
w hile in s< r\ ice. ' 

"Ai iny ." i.ovr in. the South' Pwcillc. 



SUNDGAARD'S PREEM 

A: .i;in. Tex.. June 5. 
tt'iii Li premiere of- 'The C,,;.t 
C'ampaigii." written by Arnold Silild- 
,\aard' nf N'tiw York, resldr hi |)h:j * 
vv.r'gW;. of t!?> University -'of . TeviiV 
v.; s In-'d id the ii-iivt-. si.l.\"s Hogg 
nioVidi.lal audi'.o: iuni Tuesi'i.y eve- 
n.ng. with War Bonds and stamps 
;,i-;mi?sion, '-.','. 



".ill coniiiMie (lure cnfitiu-r i month. I ' Ko'lowing the bond premieLe, Itje 
Wis'iM' reports, then shift to thelpiiiy has been scheduled for «,rr£it-. 
Miv. ii | i. .iv ar li-ej-lre . mVi i!-t,'iiiK tin : (Vol ral Pacific lor three niont lis.' N., j lar run on Wednesday, Friday *nd 
.Globe lyl only one ,v**M. , s,ici'es»oi' as p.a. h;is b(.cn appointed. | Saturday evenings. 

•>•: -''V'"' .' ■'•-•■".' : ' •' v ' ' " .'- ".■:•'■•'■'." , '"'•' -.'■'. ' .. , ' '• 



48 



LEGITIMATE 



PRrmety 



Wednesday, June 6, 19 1; 



Loan Companies Agree to Break Up | te J e ™ w ™£rd 
Deals With Drama Schools in Chi 



Plays on Broadway 



Chicago. Juno 5. + 
Most important development to ] 
date in the probe of Chi'.-: voice-arid- I 
drania-school racket was chalked up 
last .week by the State's Aitonvey > '( 
office, which announced. following! 
confab with attorneys for time-pay- !.; 
ment companies, that latter have 
agreed to break up, their tie-in ar- 
rangements with school operators. 
. Move, is noteworthy, -according to 
assistant State's Attorney Ola P. 
-bight tool, because it trips. raelseteer- 
iug tyros, in the business at; the 
source. He also said he turned back 
seveiv cancelled promissory notes 
during the week to as inahy dis- 
gruntled students who had unnaid 
balances of anywhere. from $150 to 

.,$200 on t he loan companies' books 
and were hanged, in, view of their 

. affidavits against school operators, on 
file with the S. A.v.'if they'd pay any 
more. Notes were cancelled out 
after huddle of .students, operator- 
and loan bosses, with the- assistant 
•S. A. refcrecing. 
■-. Light toot praised ''Variety" for its 
part in the campaign., remarking he 
-was following suggestions - for im- 
provement mapped in story, that ap- 
peared in "Variety" last April 25. 
State's Attorney's oflice; he said, is 
campaigning, also for a '-clean ad- 
vertising" angle for the schools, 
purpose of which is to; make them 
''cut out telling these kids they're, 
prospective starlets" and other 
"sure road to stardom" . gimmicks. 
Probe winds up here Friday (8 1. 



Krellberg's Stamford 

Tryout Before B way , 



turns- 
"Live 



legit 
Life 



"Sherman S. Krellberg, 
Boljisco theatre. N. Y.. 
producer this fall with 
Again" by Dan Totheroh. 
' It will be tried out first in Clus 
Schir.nier. Jr's stock July 2 at .Stam- 
ford. The same troupe will try out 
another new play. . 



The Sidney Howard memorial 
award of S1.5(I0 will go to Tennosi-oe 
Williams for his "The Glass Menage- 
rie," Playhouse. N. Y.. which was 
cited, by the. N. Y. Critic.-. Circle, it 
has been announced In the Play- 
«; rights- Co; The late dramatist wiis : 
i| tin- original • group, ol writer- 
managers' who . formed 'the flay- [ 
pre/, of the i Wrights, others being Maxwell An- 
derson. S. N. Bofit'iiuln. Klmer Ki.ce 
and Rober.t E Sherwood. 

When Howard died. .'.Jit-. iflSil, his 
associates. decided on an annual cash 
prize to an American playwright 
having 'no previous success in the 
theatre. The award was given "bill 
twice since then.' Playwrights not 
being in accord on a selection, or be- 
cause of a dearth of writing talent. 

"Tucker's- People." dramatized by 
Hire from Ira Wolfcit's novel, has 
been added 'to. the Playwrights pro- 
duction schedule. Script was held. 



IIoIIvwimmI l»i mil ore 



.!(, Mr 



) I 



Kill! Hull 
I 111 Mills 

10 [)■ 



K 



III. 



I II,;. n In , !>.•••) I, 1.11,1 I, I Ill lllll.cil 1111,1 

rsntln.ifi'.-i -il, u s. I'liiirfuii'-'i. Slum \\ 0- 
: li oil il.iMiin mitl. Vii tin' Miiiiii-: jVniini'a 

) si.,,, |,-. |;„„tii. I i.-.i In Kiiiifiiiiiir. »u- 

! |i.-.iv,s,,il..ii,~,viii,,l,,l SaTiil Sul,l,..i . l.alli'l li> 
; -\ lit nll.\ Til, I"!'." Si'llilU!. .1,, ,M ii-ty.i IH-I . iImI.II'.- 
". MayV-H, li),"|i;,lisl.K li.ll.lv; li.SUliiiVs. In 
I K...II.IM. Kiihii anil: Man ly,v< Si;lien,'k .. 

. ..ii.lii, i„> iji.i.i-isf Hum ; '"l>i'H>,\ Hl"At\'m. 
j N. V .',\l;i> SI. (■".:' *« li.|i; 
.1. wiili W. i'.ill.'i 
Mil.,- .r«ii, iii 



NOT SO PRIVATE NOW 

... , Berkeley. Gal.. June 5. 
"The Private /Life of the Master 
Race" by Bertolt Brecht. German 
poet and. playwright who .is now . 

residing in California, will be given ' by Jed Harris, whose rights recently 
il.-. world premiere at the Little The- lapsed. Behrman's "Duhnigan's 
aire. University of California, on ■ Daughter" may be produced by an- 
Judc' X. • ". [other, management because of "eer- 

Diiected by Henry Schnitzlor. tain problems." 



K'lli.ll UuH.'sh'.ik . . . 
Mi. i, i.iv.-.Kt..:. , . . . 
lii.'ii.ia ,i!i,..s.s.itii, . . . 
.r..iut.na»i:i-' iinetniH-.. . 

IV.il, Itl'iUi.MI, . . .... . 

.M.SM \ \f\,r. !,-. ....... 

An- in. ,.i:i M.ni.ii . . 

»- W.-vllj Wll.-ihi 
I. ill I,- Miss !•««'»> , . 
I>,.,n ill < ii . . . . 

S>'.'ivl;,i i- s. . . ....... 



. Vl.'I.M Muuiv 

..'.■.tti-l.ri!,- li-.ivnl, 
. . .IliH.H, i tCll:is.-lt 
... .William (Snfluli 
Aillia i |ii,-|,.\, 

Shii'li'i I: I 

...... liuss la, ,«„ 

...... Mar) WU-KiW 

. .", . .Iiiana i-,.iiliiv 
.. :l",uilvl!l ItiiinlHi 
.';...-.: HI la-.,Mii,u'i 

,-, :'.i>ini en. .in 

i .liii-KMiir;.ti>i-.lali 
! Klrainm l'iviili-s 
I llri.i'llhi SI lain 
Krn.'M Tujlui 

Ounarai 

.•I. . 



24 Clicks of 83 Proems 



Hop count was 59 
the previous season. . • 

There were . 21 estirnated bij 
winners and three moderate sue 
cesses. Most of the money attrae 
tioiis were given- nation-wide mag 



mmm ^, Continued from page 1 mmmmm . 
nine more than ' lor around $150,000. and 



Sing Out 

| -Sweet Land" on the wrong- side of. 
I the ledger for $130,000. ., 
i The Pulitzer committee and the 
j N, Y. drama critics, who fluffed mak- 
I ing y citations for '43-44, had. no 



publicity.' which will, doubtless . trouble in naming winners .this time. 



Abroad 



The May Pavilion 

London. May 17. 

J'f>». U.iul.1 

i s U|> 



. liKiiitl.'lii.l. .il' no« 
tlliw a. IK U,v William l.iiis, ,i:iil.. I 
h> tt illiain Ajiilsll-iiiiH. At Plii-ailill 
'U.ill, .Mai Jii. -iS... 

'Marls l-'ilzhi-rliPll.- . 

Hli-liaiiP BiinwK.y Slwi-liln 
lii.iimc,. erii,, .. „f \\ i\li*. 
(.in.'^ti ('IkH'Ii.i 1.'. 

Kins Oiii'Ke III 

Mi. Omniil 

Ji.'v. Kuliei.'l Hurl ..... .11 

Hiinry Mi riilctli.n 

('.nllil-.'Sfi ill*. .Ifis-y 

i'l'il.i-ss l,-;U»lilii> 



I., 



...... Man Kill* 

..Pl-anli All. 1, In 

lain. I1J-I 

.Mina-I AU-.I ' 

.l.'lviJei'K'k ValU 
. .IVr.-> UiMiiliui 

hnril 1 .,u-l 

....SliiT.lt K.'il 
...lVKK.v ItanlKi, 
UwyaiiK. \\ iiii ii> 



II7.JII0 

assist iii lengthening their runs. 
There is some clill'erence of opinion 
about the: rating tii' several spring 
."f'i | v i'4s "k.M 'Cortofl'ices ••■end -Mcket 
agencies point to those shows land- 
. ing in the money. 

\ In '43-44 there Were 70 new shows 
; in all. 20 being classed as successful. 
Two which came near the season's 
. end and were accorded moderate 

.rating were doubtful of having been J westr'though it "was 
protitable. one definitely having 1 
ended in the red. so that .'44-45 ap- 
pears, jo be better than it looks. How 
production was stepped up is proven 
by the fact that in '42-4.') there were 
only 55 new shows. 



Harvey" and "The Class Menage 
j rie" bei.ng selected by the respective 
. groups. In theatre circles it is be- 
. lieved that any. one • of six attrac- 
ftions could have been named with- 
i out much dissent, such as "I Remem- 
f ber . Mania." "A Bell For Adano." 
I "The Late George Apley" and "Dear 

Ruth." . 
| Attraction listed among, the . flops 
is "Catherine Was Great" (Mae 
a boxofl'ice 

wonder. Production cost was too 
high. Conversely "Central Park" is 
claimed , to have . cost less than 
■ Catherine" and the musical got all 
its investment in around six weeks. 
The strejigth of the hits is reflected 
Eight musicals are classed among j j,, a record number slated to con- 
the.hits but there were .major earn- ■ tinue next season, although a ' few 
allies among the tuners. Outstand- j w ill take a summer lavotT. The 14 



Broadway is delinitely Gilbert an<T 
Sulli\-an-minded . this spring, . with 
"Hollywood Pinafore" arriving a 
week lifter "Memphis Bound." both 
being wide variations, of the original 
"Pinafore" and both using tunes 
from other G.&S. scores. "Holly- 
wood" should do well, having as good' 
;i chance as "Memphis." 

George.'S. Kaufman has a field day 
in -travesiving the film capilaTs pecTi 
pie and (heir foibles, while his idea 
of . outdoing G.&S, s satirical lyrics 
with his own barbs is. on the whole, 
finite successful. The result is an 
•evening of humor abetted by notable 
%1'lodies. The. comedy may be more 
appreciated by people in show busi- 
ness but it has been indicated before 
j that average playgoers are often avid, 
|and knowing, about events rele- 
vant to Hollywood and Broadway 
j personalities. 

I Kaufman's long-time aversion to 
Hollywood is obvious. The film cap- 
ital really gets a..,.,gom.g,-oy,e.i;.; t.n, 
"Once in a Lifetime" he and Moss 



"Up In Central Park." "Carousel.' 
•'Bloomer Girl" and "Song of Nor- \ 
way." the latter originating on the ! 
Coast. It's notable that "Oklahoma!"" 



It is quite a coincidence that two . 
plays about the Prince Regent (later ) ln f among the new musicals were . , lew attractions slated to hold over 
George IV of England! should- hit 
London within a few weeks of each 
other. "The Gay Pavilion," written 
last year, was originally named "Sec- 
ond Lady." When the management 
discovered that - "The First Gentle- 
man," written in 19.18. was already 
on tour before a London season, al 
the New theatre, the name was 
changed. 

"The First Gentleman" is in Scot 



are: "Adano." "Anna Lucasta." 
"Bloomer Girl.". "Carousel." "Dear 
Ruth." "Haryey." ■ "Mama." "Mem- 
phis Bound.'' "On the Town," "Nor- 
whieh recently started its third year i way," "Menagerie." "Apley." "Holly- 
on Broadway, despite a road or "na- i wood Pinafore" and "U'p'in Central 
tionar company still maintains ca- : Park." In addition there are "Okla- 
pacity pace against the new musi- J homa!." "Voice of the Turtle" (which 
cals. On. the debit side are "Seven will be its third season), probably 
which played six ! "Life ' With Father" and possibly 
'Kiss and Tell." 



Lively Arts. 

land doing big business with Robert ' months to grosses of around $45 000 

Wendv' (^yrmaUon^) Hilfer *n The ' W ?^ ly - ,haM Ume ' ! Sh « ws whith P»**« »»* during 

l«» t H\l/,.,n y ^v^n^1 a "j , lh.'"^L ; Vel \*»>. d have fancd to recap- ! their tryouls. in addition to "Glad to 

tore its investment, reportedly shy.' See You." were 
around $130,000: "Rhapsody." esti- j ice." "Bonanza.' 



lead. John Byron plays the same 
role with t Iio Regent as a young 
man. Mrs. Fitzherbcrt being played 
by Mary Ellis instead of. Miss Hiller. 

It. is questionable whether "The 
Gay Pavilion" would have stood 
much chance if it had not been such 
an obvious twist on the abdication 
theme of the Duke of Windsor and 
the former Mrs. Simpson. It shows 
that the predecessor of the present 
Duchess of Windsor decided it her 
. .duty to allow her man to become 
king and to marry Princess Caroline 
of Brunswick, although he was al- 
ready married to her iMrs. . Fitz- 
herbert ). : - 

I "Variety" feels that, for historical 
accuracy, the first act of "The Gav 
Pavilion" should have been played in 
"Variety's" own London office— 8. St. 
Martin's Place, which was Mrs. Fitz- 
herbert's reputed London residence, 
instead of an address in Park street. I 

Again, from- an historical point of 
view, who would have guessed that 
Ricliard Brinslcy Sheridan, the Noel 
Coward of the Regency, was such a 
confidante of King George III, Wil- 
liam Pitt anil the Regent himself, as 
the current play, suggests?, • 

But the .management had no 
qualms in presenting the King and 
Queen of England 150 years ago as 
guttural-speaking Germans, one ol 
them a certifiable lunatic who shook 
hands with oak trees. It will be in- 
teresting to see Robert Morlcy's pres- 
entation of the same character next 
month. -Astute Hollywood will.surelv. 
■wait to. see which will show the 
greater motion picture possibilities.; 
■ ; -■■'■;•' Grjtv. 



S230.00I1; "Lady Says Yes 



"Errand for Bern- 
Bill Comes Back." 
["Dinner lor Three." "Brief Holiday." 
I "I'll Be Wajting." "Merely Coinci- 
; denial." -"Laughing Water." "Mar- 
■ liago is tor Single People." "The 
; Young Know Best." "Tangled Web.'" 
i "Champagne For Everybody." "The 
up a fortune oiil of Clover Ring," "Bella's Got a Feller." 
extent of more than ! latter being withdrawn aftei 



mated to have-been a total loss, red 
being over • $250,000: "Sadie Thomp- 
son." which cost less but was also 
a distinct bloomer: ."Firebrand Of 
Florence," claimed to have cost 
$225,000: "Glad to See You." said to. 
have burned 
town to the 



scarlet ■ hearsals started. 
HITS 



re- 



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MODERATES 



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COAST TALENT EYED 

; . Hollywood. June 5. 
M. S. Meyers, head of the new 
little Theatre-Civic Centre in Phoe- 
nix, Ariz., is in town lining up ttil- 
ent for a summer season of stock 
legiters. 

First . show, slated for at, earlv 
July start, will be "Blithe Spirit." ' 



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HOLDOVERS FROM PREVIOUS SEASONS 



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REVIVALS 

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'J'.'lni.iMf' 



Kaufman Puzzler 

The film bunch in New York 
and a sizable contingent from 
Hollywood who atlended the 
premiere of "Hollywood Pina- 
fore" are frankly puzzled about 
George S. Kaufman's . persistent 
stance on the picture business. 
Firstly, it's not as if he were a 
frustrated writer, hence, his 
openly anti-films attitude is 
given greater consideration. 

But. they argue, it's one thing 
to be inimical and forthright in 
one's prejudices, but it's some- 
thing else again to be factual. 
Hollywood can stand ribbing, 
and perhaps some of it is still 
justified, they concede, but the 
executive bunch from tile, pic- 
ture business feels that Kauf- 
man's viewpoint is dated by 
some 15 years. What he and 
Moss Hart may have felt about 
the pic biz. as exemplified in 
their satire on Hollywood, "Once 
in a Lifetime." is one thing, but 
certainly in this day and age the 
writer is in a strategic spot re- 
gardless of what Kaufman 
thinks. 

The Gilbert & Sullivan mod- 
ernized, satire, as Kaufman has 
done it, accent* "Louhedda Hop- 
sons." the Hollywood columnist, 
as "Little Miss Butter-Up." but 
the keynote is the lowly writer, 
attired in penal garb, as Victor 
Moore and all others deride him. 
It so happens there's nothing 
"lowly" about film writers today, 
and the pix biz has so: grown up 
that Kaufman's perspective is 
awry, the skeptics emphasize. 



'all -the Hollywood studios got tn 
gethor and agreed they'll not offer 
a dime under $250,000 for am- seri M 
The Hollywood characters Tr'2 
composites rather, than recngnizabu 
caricatures. However, LouhiZ, 
Hopsons as the film gossip ciilnmhiS 
is no secret. She warbles the K 
man version of "Little Butlercun" 
which has become "Butler-Up" At 
the end Louhedda transposes pouter 
and rtackslraw in her column, which 
explains how the writer become" 
head man at the studio while main 
guy appears in stripes. 

■Show is musical "comedy rather 
limn operetta: It's played in one 
set. is peopled by some of the piet- 
■liest. girls . on Broadwav, .some of 
whom con sing very- well, And there 
are gorgeous costumes. The mel- 
odies are not restricted lo "H M S 
Pinalore." there being' numbers from 
G.&S.'s "Yeoman ol the Guard" 
I "Three Little Maids Are We" I "Pj 
rates of Penzance" ("A Policeihaifs 
Lot Is Not a Happy One"); among 
others. The musical numbers are not 
programmed, management assuming 
that "everybody" is more than fa- 
miliar with G.&S. 

William Gaxton and Victor Moore 
arc starring together again, as "Live- 
eye." who sports a black patch over 
his loll peeper to show he's a pira- 
tical guy. and Porter, the studio 
boss, respectively. They are still the 
best- liked - l egit: team of their time 
and certainly tteliver the fun. Moore 
toys with a lyric, tune for which is 
"I'm the Ruler of the King's Navee" 
there being nothing maritime about 
the lyric. They score with a duet 

toO. ..:.'.. 

Shirley Booth, with her hair now 
on the blonde side, is featured and 
was a pleasant siu prise to first night- 
ers as the chatter-writer, also the 
way she handled •'Butlcr-up." Miss • 
Booth has been in straight shows for 
seasons, also on the air ("Duffv's 
Tavorn"1. It's her first musical, and 
excellent. Individual hit at the pre. 
..y-ie.re.. was. scored bv Viola Esce,n in . 
an extended ballet called "Success 
Story." staged by Anthony Tudor, 
vyhich earns her special billing, too. 

Annamar.v Dickey, one of the 
Metropolitan Opera beauts, is a tall, 
striking soprano who has been heard 
in other musicals and is well-known, 
too. as a radio and nilerv songbird. 
She goes over verv big. ' Top male 
warblers are George Rasely. also of 
the Met. and. Gilbert Russell, known 
too in operatic circles. In addition to 
their singing they are good as a 
director and the downtrodden writer. 
Ru.-s Brown turns in a good job as 
the studio's brash press agent. 

"Hollywood Pinafore." at $(i top, 
will probably attract picntv of Gil- 
bert and Sullivan fans wlio should 
like the new lyrics. Average the- 
atregoers will likewise. Iber. 



It on ml Trip 



'litl.ir.l lla., uiaii imiilinMliiii i>(. i-iiniaiij l,v 
rj litl aiiil-KKKiiialil lientntlii. KaaliiiM 
)e Wall»w, Sut.ifv Blii,].iii,.r. Tlnl)l» 
iol!s. K.lilin Nua.uii ami Paliii-ln Kirk- 
ill. Sl;,|{..|| i.y l>..|ili,illl ; mMllniiH. Sau.lial 

"'■ i. .1 al Itillllmli.. N V, Mil, ai, 

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.", .Si.lu.'.i Ulnek uier 
...JVllil'la kiiklutlil 
-. I'unl Martin 

lime '\Vi,ilo*r 

K.lilli MelKPl* 

I'M, II," Niis:,M,t 

;.All«i>la .lny» 

..Itnlierl Wnn.ll.iini 

I'iiyilll. BniliKii 

Vinta Oaan 

K.lwanl n„wli,.v 

. M i. 1.. Sli-o-ns 



You'd inner think it was possible! 

"Round trip" is a hotfoot with a 
one-way ticket. To Cain's Ware- 
house. Kufili. 
(Closed Sdtiirdoi/ (2i ujler seceii 
■performances.) 



Outdoor Vaude 



Hart also brushed off Hollywood. In 
' Pinafore" his pet hates are present, 
loo. but in a more polished manner. 
SubliHe: "Or the Lad Who Loved a 
.Salary tips off what the author 
thinks about the ' way the Coast 
losses around -money— to some peo- 
ple—but not to writers, says he 

According to the libretto the 
senpters in the Pinafore Piets studio 
comprise a chain gang, garbed in 
slnpes and manacled. Ralph Rack- 
straw is the top scenarist, but he's 
in stripes, too. getting. 75 bucks per 
week, contrasting with femme stars 
whose stipend is in the thousands. 

A story conference in the second 
act is the show's comic highlight. 
Joseph, Porter, head of the outfit be- 
ing advised by Dick Live-eve. clutch- 
ing I'll',;, ageiit. to make ii prestige 
picture.' So "you can. sell ■ a lot of 
stinkers and make plenty of inonev " 
So Porter telephones New York with 
the idea or getting the rights fo "the 
Late George Apley" (also produced 
hy Max Gordon). But the deal is 
oil because Pinafore Pictures Corp 
insists on paying $500,000 for the 
rights-.and . the suppo-ed asking 
price was only $150,000! (Victor 
Moore complains. "The\ said $200.- 
0(10 is the absolute limit they will 
aecepl Which is a switch oil Nuu- 
tiaJly Johnson s gag of last year that 



r'onl.iiuied rrom pa<r 1 asi 

I inciter of Hartford, Conn,, and 
.Springfield. Mass.. i.s already work-' 
! ing on the idea of giant vaude .shows 
I in baseball parks. He's dickering for 
| the radio show of Ed East and Polly. 
J Deal as yet isn't completed, but de- 
; fails are set and inking is said to be 
a mere formality. 

Present plan calls for construe! ion 
of a stage with eight-foot aprons ex- 
tending from, a truck. Vehicle is then 
parked in the center of the field and 
spiked down. Additional seats are 
theii installed around the improvised 
.stage. Such a layout is also practical 
for fairs, and once permanent units 
are formed, package can travel any- 
where. 

This plan was tried out last year 
iii the South by. Earl New berry, a 
Jacksonville. Fla., promoter who 
stages concerts in auditoriums 
throughout the South. Roy Acuff. the, 
hillbilly singer, on these shindigs 
grossed, as high as $8,000 per evening. 

II was natural that this idea start 
in th.: Southern states, as many au- 
ditoriums do not have air condition- 
ing and shows have lo be taken out- 
doors. At that promoters found that 
with, proper attractions they could 
gross more than they ordinarily 
could in an auditorium. 



VediicsJay, Jinn* 6, 1915 



LEGITIMATE 



49 



Chicago Spotty; 'Jake Hot $18,500, 
Tather 11G, Turtle U^G, Ruth' 20y 2 G 



. Chicago, June 5. + 

Biz was way down 'for some but 
fairly steady for. others', 'Decoration 
Day and -rainy weather being cited 
for skids in some instances. "Count- 
ess Marilza." second of the Shubert- 
Opcra House Corp. summer oper- 
ettas, opened Monday'/ 1 28 i and did 
:$15.S0O. only $500 better than its pre- 
decessor. "Mine, du Barry." to cue a 
hall to the proceedings this Sunday 
1 10>. "Jacobowsky and the Colonel." 
on the other hand, did fine $18,500. 
play being hel d ' river wogk to — week, 
"Life With Father." making its 
third bow here, opened Tuesday (29) 
and got fair $11,000 in first seven 
performances: "Dear Ruth" wasn't 
quite capacity but still managed to 
snag $20,500 because of 50c markup 
for Decoration Day matinee, and 
"Voice of the Turtle'' got lowest to 
date— $17,500— in its nine - month 
stay. ' 

Estimates for Last Week 

"Countess Mai it/a," Opera House 
• 3.600; $3.60 ). House is sealed at 
over $58,000. which . gives an idea of 
the stale of affairs here. Did $15,500. 

"Rear Ruth," Harris (7th week) 
-a.000; $3,60).. .. H.ar>-is...:w'asn'.t ...jam-: 
packed all week, but "Ruth" man- 
aged to haul down another $20,500, 
capacity, by tacking another 50c on 
Decoration Day matinee. '!.>''.. 

"Jacobowsky and the Colonel," 
Blackslune (3rd week) (1,200: $3.60 >. 
Fine $18,500. 

"Life With rather." Erlanger 
(1.500: $3). Got $11,000 in first seven 
performances, not bad. considering 
tliis is its third stand here. 

"Voice of the Turtle," Selwyn 
(1.000; $3.60>. Lowest to date— 
$17:500. , : 

MARINKA' TERRIFIC 



'Mill' Breaks L. A. Mark 
For Attendance at 43G 

Los Angeles. June 5. 
Scoring what is reported to be the 
biggest week in its entire history. 
Civic Light Opera Assil.'s "Red Mill" 
hit $43,000 on its second stanza at 
the Philharmonic Auditorium. .Al- 
though both "Lady in the Dark" and 
"Song of Norway" hit the peak of 
$44-.8O0 for one week in their stays 
here, their scale was higher than 
"Mill" and less people saw the shows. 

Ken Murray's "Blackouts of 1945" 
went up to $16,000 for the f53d 
frame, thanks to the Memorial Day 
holiday matinee. "Honey in the 
Hay" was good for another climb to 
$3,000 at the Musart. 

Bowing into the Biltmore for a 
three-week stand Sunday, night wias 
"Ten Little Indians," with a good 
advance, indicating solid coin for its 
stay. ... 



ladies' 16G, Hub; 
We Whiz 19G 



$15,300 IN4J..H. 

New Haven, June 5.. 

"Mar-Hika." with only. a fair ad- 
vance sale, rocketed to. s.r.o. when 
the click signal got around, follow- 
ing an enthusiastic preeni reception 
at Shubert last weekend (31-2). 
Scaled at $4.20 top. four shows 
snared, a terrific estimated $15,300. 

It was a smash finale for the regu- 
lar season, which enjoyed the busiest 
September-June period in years. 



Boston. June 5. 

Two theatres,, the Shubert with 
"Good Night. Ladies" in ninth week 
and the Wilbur with "Soldiers Wife" 
in second week, copped all biz lasl 
week with other houses dark. Ad- 
vance sales for two newcomers, 
"Wind Is 90" at Colonial and "Oh. 
Brother": at Plymouth boded well. 
Marinka" is coming to Shubert. June 
19. and "Snafu" opens at Colonial 
the night before. "Blithe Spirit." 
with Elissa Landi. opens season of 
Cambridge Summer Theatre June 11. 
Estimates for Last Week 

"Good Night. Ladies," Shubert 
(1.500: $2.50). Hotsy $16,000. against 
$14,000 week before. Seems to be 
no way to stop it. 

"Soldier's Wife," Wilbur (1.241: 
$3 1. Whiz $19,000. one grand ahead 
of. first week. Closes June 9. 



Hayes-'Harriet' SRO 

$24,000 in Seattle 

Seattle, June 5.. 

In for two weeks at the Metropol- 
itan, Helen Hayes in "Harriet" is do- 
ing virtually capacity at every per- 
formance. 

House, seating 1.500, is scaled from 
$3.75, with the gross first week an 
estimated $24,000. This is exclusive 
of the Federal tax of 60c. and city 
tax of 15c. on that, price ducat. Only 
a few gallery scats were unsold first 
week. 



Mi/ Has Philly 
To Itself, $37,500 



-'-.'. Philadelphia, June 5.' 
With temperatures that smack of 
March weather, it seems increasingly 
regrettable thai Philly s legits shut- 
tered so soon, cooling systems or no. 
There have been plenty reports that 
the -.1945-46 -season— wilf .start early.-.-, 
probably in the fore-part of August— : [ top grossing show 
but the ironic thing is that this city to a new high 
will probably be sweltering in a 
spell of its really torrid summer 
weather by then. 

Fact remains that there is nothing 
on the immediate horizon for the 
Shubert. Locust and Walnut, which 
that" 



B'way Tapers Off But Carousel' Up 
To Pace List at $47,500, Passing 
Tark', 'Pinafore' 19^G in 1st 4 

Although chilly June was still fa- 1 ads to counteract mixed notices but 
vocable to Broadway theatres, busi- weak: $3,000. • 

ness generally nosed down last week, "Foolish Nolion " Reck irn i oU. 
with a number of attractions regis- ! $4 20 > Final and im week? 4erJ 
tering new lows. Indications are r woil on tig s?a e fir iXerilthouBh 
that closing notices will be hastened , ha' re steifdilv detuned b? £ 
for a number of shows during the • 4ni wetks? $i! 000? St 
month. :. Couple of musicals are wc . wx , ek e; „. Hei . tffo announced 
i known to have dropped as much as: ..,„■. „ , 6l . ' - " " - . 
; $5,000. if not more, and even some of iri „ , ;* , r rv ti'.,„ 48,n ^ S,rect . ,3,s » wcek> 
the topflight straight hits felt the ■■/ 'C -92a: $4,201, Owners are naming 

: thoroughbreds after this hit: nags 
! may not win. (two did) consistently, 
but show doc's: $19,000; capacity. 
"Hats Off to Ice." Center ( 49th 



offish trend to some degree, even 
though slight. 

"Hollywood Pinafore" drew a 50-. 
50 split in the notices, but the. de- 
mand for tickets indicates it has a 
strong chance-. First lull week of 
"Memphis Bound," the other "Pina- 
fore" version, was fairly good but not 
expepti.oiiaJ......"CarpUscr;;becaiiie the 

its business' going 



Estimates for Last Week 

Keys: C <Comedi/>, D tDrumct). 
CD iCQiiredy-Dramin. R (ftci'iie), 
M tMunicnl), O (.Operetta). 
"A. Bell for Achtno.V Cort (26th 
means that "Oklahoma!" will have ' week) -<D-l'.0«4:-$4.20). Most stand- ^our'''^•o^'a"^'BI^eh^*^^iJ(ii ,;; • 
everything to itself. That's no break i outs were hardly affected by the off-. , 'i' ^ ' ' P r ,, „ ' !UU ' , i-,V •' 
for many local_ playgoers, because ish .trend: -only a-. slight dip here;,' *V SS - re,l v Bijou (115th 



week) (R-2.944: $1.98). Played six 
times last Week to approximately 
$17,010, only fair for rink revue, but . 
.Sunday " 3 > saw material improve- 
. men!'. 

"'Hollywood Pinafore," " Alvin : (1st 
.wee!: I iM-1.357: $6). Opened last 
I Thursday (31); drew mixed notices 
i but starting grosses quite promising; 
quoted at $19,600 in first four times. 
, "I Remember Mama." Music Box 
(33d week i (C-940; $4,201. • One of 
the .real .standouts continues to sell 



the triumphant Theatre. Guild musi- 
cal is entirely, sold out . for. this 
month, . with July and August seats, 
which went on sale yesterday 1 4), 
going like the usual hotcakes... Last 
week's gross again , hit $37.500.. with 
all the standees the fire marshal 
would allow. The Forrest is set for 



"Kiss anil Tell.? Bijou 
. w.eeki lC-614; S3.00). Management 
. figures on playing into another sum- 
Anna Lncasta." Mansfield (40th •„„,,. allcl wi „ mHVC badc ,„ Biltmore, 

which ha 



$21,500: virtual capacity. 



capacity house, uStu.La>r Day ano i Z^Mt 3 ^ 



week) (D-1.041: $3.60). Sold all 
night performances with one excep- 
tion and then- gross only slightly' ah 
lecled; $20,000. 

Bloomer Girl," Shubert (35 th 

hit 



probably for 
after. 



some long lime there- 



HANNA, CLEVL, 447G 
FOR 29 SHOWS IN 44-45 



'Carrolls' Big $16,800 
In 1st Week at Del 

« 

: . ' Detroit. June ft. 

Late season here is holding vip 
nicely with, two houses temporarily 
back in operation on the rialto. 

"The Two Mrs, Carrolls." in its 
first week at the_Cass. grossed $16,-. 
800 at a $3 lop.. The play continues 
for another week with nothing set 
to follow. 

The 'Lafayette relit Sunday after- 
noon with Jack Lester's vaudeville 
assemblage tagged "Red Hot and 
Blue." Top acts in the show include 
Margie Hart. Lili St. Cyr. Nick Long. 
Jr.. Lowe. Hite & Stanley, Frank 
Paris Marionettes, and others. Top 
price for the "revue" is $1.50. 



Van Druten's Problem 
On 'Turtle' Replacements 

Chicago. June 5. 

Problem of cast replacements for 
"1 Remember Mama" and "Voice Of 
the Turtle" interrupted John van 
Druten's sojourn in California.. . He 
stopped over here en route to N. Y. 
last week. •'.-.' ; 

Dramatist revealed he'll replace 
Joan Tetzel in "Mama" with Frances 
Heflin and will go into a huddle with 
Alfred de Liagre. Jr.. on who'll re- 
place Betty Field in the, , N t Y. 
"Turtle" cast and Belly Lawford. 
.who leaves the. Chi cast of the' latter 
at the. end of its run here. 



'Female Orson Welles' 

Ruby Reed, who calls herself ; "the 
female Orson Welles." has written a 
drama called "No Rest for the 
Weary." which she is staging and 
will present, at the Cherry Lane 
theatre, Greenwich Village. N. Y.. 

Play schedules performances on 
Sunday and Monday during June, 
because Paul Gilmorc. has. a com- 
pany playing "The Bishop Misbe- 
haves." from Tuesday to Saturday, 
inclusive, at the same theatre..- . . 



'ROSE-MARIE' STAR INKED 

Los Angeles. June 5. 
'■• Irene Maiming draws the tills -role 
5n "Rose-Marie," to be produced by 
Eclwiq Lester for the Civic Light 
Opera Assn. at the Philharmonic 
Auditorium. 

Sigmund Romberg operetta, start- 
ing July 2, will be the wihdup of the 
association's season. 



San Carlo Opera Fine 
$20,000 in Washington 

Washington, June 5. 

San Carlo Opera Co. in a Season of 
repertoire got $21,000 in eight per- 
formances at the National theatre 
last week. Every .performance, ex- 
cept Tuesday night, was a sellout. 

"Marinka" coming in tonight (5). 
Audiences have been slow, in buying. 
Show has an advance of $10,000. 
mostly in the balconies. Opened in 
New Haven last week to good 
notices. 

Nothing is booked after "Marinka." 
which will run two weeks, but 
"Chicken Every Sunday" is a pros- 
pect. 

'Desert Song' Sellout 

$30,400 in Frisco 

San Francisco. June 5. 

First week of "Desert Song" was 
a sellout at 1.776-seat Curran the- 
atre at $3.90 top. the San Francisco 
Civic Opera Co. grossing estimated 
$30,400. ' 

Geary theatre, next door, did an 
ordinary $13,400 for its Gladys 
George-Victor Kilian revival Of 
"Rain," with $3 top for the 1.550- 
seat house. 



has not been off from capacity pace 
since opening early in fall: $33,000. 

"Carousel." Majestic ' 7th week I 
(M- 1.681: $6 1. Recent arrival on 
"musical block" (44th street) is an- 
other smash: while others dropped, 
it went to new high: $47.. ICO. 

'Common Ground," Golden 16th 
„, . iweekl (C-789: $3.K0>. Management 

r-, ' Cleveland Jtjne a. ; bopcfu i but attendance has not 
Hayma. Cleveland s sole legit stand. : climbed ' as - expected: approached 
closed its seasons books last week it? flrin 

with a total gross of $447,000 for 29 I T . " , , ... „' „ i„» 
road attractions. Average take was ! /Dark. of the Moon, 4. lh Street 
estimated $15,400 per show, accord- i 1 ' uh u wee , k 1 "D--W19: M.lJOt. This 
ing to Milt Krantz. house manager. * trt »fi h t PW incidental music 

who said it was' the most profitable i ™s been doing very well: close to 
year the. house has had in 15 *18;5p0 



em esters. 

t "Carmen Jones." which started its 
; cross-country tour at the Halina the 
j week of May 21. gave it a new b.o. 
I record by ringing, up a terrific $43.- 
I 900 for 10 perfprmances. It was a 
| sellout. On a technicality. "Winged 
! Victory" drew a slightly bigger gross 
but : it was sponsored by the Carl 
| Hanna management at the larger- 
seated Public Music Hall in civic 
auditorium. ' 



"Dear Ruth," Miller (25th week) 
i C-940: $4.20). Only show ' that 
played an extra performance last 
week and in niry; times the gross ap- 
proximated $20,500. 

"Follow the Girls," Broadhurst 
(60th week) (M-1.179; $4.80 ). Eased 
off last week to around $26,000. bid 
should run through summer: moved 
here from 4.4th Street. 

"Fox hole i n the JEarlor." Booth (2d 
week) (D-7I2: $3.60). Extra space 



Inside Stuff-Legit 



Current Road Shows 

. (Period Corerinu ' Jnne 4-16) 
"Blackouts of 1945"— El Capitaii. 

Hollywood (4-16). 
"Carmen Jones"— Phil. And.. L. A- 

(4-16). 

"Dear Ruth"— Harris, Chi (4-10), 
"Desert Sons"— Curran. Frisco ( 11- 

16'. : ' 

"Good Nile I.adies'v — Sliuber'l. 
Boston 14-16). 

••'Harrief—Mctro. Seattle (4-91. 
. "Jacobowsky and the Colonel"— 
Blackstoiie. Chi (4-9). ' ' . V 

'•rJfc : With Fiither" '2(1 Co. i — 
ErlangeV. Chi (4-16 K 

'■Marinka"— Nat l. Wash. in-lfiV 

"Oh Brother"— Plymouth. Bost. '4- 
10). 

"Oklahoma!" '2d Co.) — Forrest, 
Philly (4-16). •. ; , ' 

"Rain''— Geary. Frisco 1 1.1 -16 1. 

"Red, Hot and Blue" (1st Co )— 
Shubcrt-Lafayette. Detroit .'( 4-1 li ')..:... 

"Red, Hot and Blue" (2nd Co.)-- 
Gl>. Northern. Chi. (-11-16), .. . . 

-Soldier's Wife" — .Wilbur, "Bost. 
'4-9). . 

"fen -Utile Indians" <2d Co.) - 
Biltmore. L. A. '11-161. 

"Two Mrs. Carrolls" — Cass. Det. 
'4-9). 

"Voice of Turtle" '2d Co.) - S(A' 
wyn. Chi '4-16). 

"Wind Is 9»»" — Colonial, Bo.-t. 
'4-16). 



Burns Mantle, dean of New York critics, took over John Chapman's 
Sunday (3) column in the News lo set forth his 10 best plays of the sea- \ 
son. He dissented, from the opinions that resnlted in prizes to two plays, i 
"If The Glass Menagerie' is the best drama of the year, as the critics, 
insist, and if 'Harvey' is the best play of the year, as declared by the i 
Pulitzer Committee, then I . am a Chinaman." Mantle then selects "A i 
Bell For Adano" as best, also saying it to be "the season's most important i 
play" . . . and "if it isn't, the best is 'I Remember Mama'." Both are | 
adaptations from books or stories. ;. m 

Mantle rates "The Hasty Heart"- as the best original play of the year. '■ 
placing "Harvey" second, but he'd settle' for "Dear Ruth." while "The Late : 
George Apley." he says, is worthy of. either award. His best- 10 listing; 
has "Adano'' topping, the others being: "Mama." "Menagerie." "Harvey." i 
"Hasty Heart." "Apley," "Rulh." "Soldier's Wife," "Foolish Notion" and 
"Anna Lucasla." in that order. 

Mantle believes that the major awards were made "not for the quality 
of the. written plays but ill both instances for .the individual performance , 
of their respective stars." He referred lo Lauretle Taylor in "Menagerie" 
and Frank. Fay in "Harvey," a how to the casting sagacity of the respective ' 
managements, Eddie Dowling and Brock Pembciion. ■ . - . 

Army Special Services has run off' its presses the script for John Pat-, 
rick's current Broadway comedy. "The Itasly Heart." Production rights 
to the play have been given the Army by producers Howard Lindsay and 
Russol Crouse, for performance by and for GIs only, anywhere in the 
World except: in the United Kingdom'. - . ■ ''-....' ;."•'.'"- 

This is the only current Broadway success acquired for GI use in 1945. 
Last year Special Services acquired .rights to. published and sent; out the 
| following plays: "Watch On the Rhine.'' "Over 21," "Three Men On a 
' Horse," "The Male Animal" and "What a Life;" In: addition they .had 
offered them last season /"There Shall Be No. Night." "Abe Lincoln In. 
Illinois'" and "Arsenic and Old Lace.'' but -never- 'scripted them for GI use. 

"The Wind Is Ninety." by Capt. Ralph Nelson, is essentially a one-setter, 
but three baggage cars were required to haul the production to Boston last 
week. One reason is a revolving stage, employed to bring on miniature 
scenes for flashback .interludes The show uses almost as much electrical 
apparatus as a musical. Settings were- designed by Frederick Fox. 

When "-N-iriety" opened I he cast had nol sufficiently rehearsed within 
the sc< ilrryv and players did not reach the miniatures quickly enough, so 
part of the performance was skipped. After rehearsing Sunday (3-)' the 
show is ; going on this/week as originally intended: It is the second play 
TH'priuecd lhis season by Lee . Shubert' and Albert de' Courville. first being 
••'Te'iV Little' Indians," still on Broadway 'Plymouth).: ... 

. In addition to two letters in- the current Life from indignant Chinook; 
Mont., rcsi'li n(s,..taking press agent Dick Maney to task for referring to 
his liomt! town as "a nest of mangy Cre< s" (quoted in a recent Life profile 
on Maney bv Russel Crouse ). Chinook's neighboring Havre Daily New*jtie- 
votctl a haif-coHimn -on its editorial page (nst week to an editorial headed 
"Unappn cii.iive Dick," F.dilorial "denounced" Maney for his snootinpss 
(!( <( rioinf; his present vvhcre.ibouls (New York) where. "he hartgs around 
an atniosf-hi re-to. wnich fresh air' is alien." 



cooling system; $7,000, 
i " "Kiss Them for Jit," Fulton ilUh 
'week) (C-946: $4.20). Better here 
than at Bclasco with lakinys. around 
$9,500: okay on summer basis. 
. "Laffing Room Only," Winter Gar- 
den 1 23d week) (R-1.522; $(>). Slipped 
to around S27.000: some -doubt about- 
playing tlirough summer b:.t new 
-edition talked .-bout. . .' 

"L'4te Georse Apley," Lyceum 
.( 28th week ) (C-993; S4.20). Off last • 
' week, when count was around $14,- 
000: will lay off at end of month, 
j: "Life With Father," Empire ( 287th 
1 week ) 'C-1.082; S3.60). New leads 
,ih. run leader, which is expected to 
span another summer: around $9,000. 

"Memphis Bound," Broadway (2d 
-week) (M-I.900: S4.80). First full 
week estimated around $26,000: good 
j money for colored musical, which. 

however, must move; Beksco next 
: week. 

"Oklahoma!", St. James ' 114th 
week) (M-l,505: $4.80). Grosses 
chance for most attractions but there 
is only deviation in number of' 
! s'rndees here: $31,000. 

"On the Town." 44th Street '23d 
week) (M-1.362: $5.40). Slipped to 
around $30,500; one of season's win- 
ner.-'; moved here from Adclphi. 

"Round Trip,'' Biltmore. Opened 
and closed: severely panned: played 
seven times. 

"School for Brides," Ambassador 
(44th week) (C-1.U7; $3.60). Allen 
Ke-uns replaced Roscoe Karns: cool 
weather a break for this one. as lor 
others: around $7,000. getting by. 

"Sons of Norway," Imperial '31st 
weeki (0-1.427; $6). Doesn't vary 
much, and last week copped fine 
gross that aoproximated $40,500; 
Coast musical is real good thing. 

"Ten Little Indians," Plymouth 
i48th week) (D-1,070; $3.60). Dipped 
more than exne.jted and got around 
$9.5(10 but still making money. 

"The Glass Menajrerie," Playhouse 
(9th week) 'CD-8K5; $4.20). Advance 
sale extends through, summer; hit 
sells out all times; over $18,500. 

"The Hastv Heart," Hudson (22d 
week) 'D-1.094: $3.60). Went off 
like the field and claimed around 
$9,000: makes money at that level. 

"The Overtons," Forrest tl7lh 
week ) (CD-1.060: $4.60). Gels enough 
to show operating profit; around 
$8 500 last week. 

"The Voice-' of the Turtle," Morosco 
169th week) (C-939; $4.20). Eased 
off somewhat but gelling excellent 
money; takiii"s last week approxi- 
ma Ing $19,000. 

"lip in Central Park," Century 
< 17th week) (0-1,713; $6). Slipped 
last week to around $42,000: moves 
to Broadway next -week where- it 
should rnsilv ride through summer. 
REVIVALS 
"The Barretts of Wimpole .Street," 
Barrymore (D- 1,096; $4.20). Final 
and :11th. week; outstanding revival 
; of season got. around $18,000 last 
week. 

••Othello.- N. Y. Citv Center iD- 
2.:693: $2.40). Will wind up next 
''Simd.'vY, GO): playing three-week re- 
peal after corking road lour.' 

'. VAUDE-REVUE ' . '/ 
i "Concert Varieties," Ziegfeld 
• 1.626: .$4.20). Opened last Friday 
( 1 >: distinctly divided press. 

NEIGHBORHOOD 
!. ''Relierea," Flatbush, Brooklyn. 

"Too Many Husbands," Queens- 
- b'oro. L. I. 

Abie's Irish ' Rose,", Windsor, 



Broiiji, 
"Blossom Time," 



Mosque, Newark! 



The Anvil Theatre is moving to the 
Pi'ovin.ccfiwn Playhouse, Province- - 
town; Mass.. tec -a 10-week season of 
-imimcr stock, with David Alcxaivicr 

riir'ecilnc ■ 



so 



LEGITIMATE 



Wednesday. June 6. 19 J5 



Plays Out of Tcwn 



>lariiikn 

New II iven 

nulla 1 ,iii..l H i 



Mn ?1 

Ink? If- I ■ fc'i'l ' -I'M ll-'i'r.v .n i':?nt 

ill '^lilVM inil V ill'. hii'tSlrii t OHiltt»i.l,\ ' -,in . " I \\ «/■; Vir-.t ^ 
. /Ig.a-'^iM's,- St Viit'll'.li.Y: tt'Oi.'tC'l ..SUi.il 1 :7 l'!,li>\ 

, Yi-uj. 1 .*:^ ■ \)!ttHon, >h r M: ! ' :'toi'l : ! K, ' '■' :..f'ii'. is 

LiMl<<'., ■.'Kiiiwvi-K'Ii:' Ka III la n : 1> ,■!,'•-■?;: I I.'"'i.'.t 

■aian'mi .tf ' . t't'utiii'pM ,)i»nn . in'i \ if.: 
■Waine riiiiin.' Vtiii'TOi, Unix M 1,11::., I,i' 

till llilllni'N i:tVilllM.!il . hr.llltit/ fliil, = 

:lll'l lialti-l A lb ■■I'i ilia - I i i h - U, svll ni^-. Un.^ 
Hi.-l ' ha.e.' e' f 'i'. J 'l I'lini'S*. .:..\i.-i ryv^i-i.iia'i'Viii'iilv -il;, 
' .rrt'M'.'ti' liV : Marl't'i ■'iiw.l'.. I'Vo . .a.V; m< ■ 1 i/Mia 

t|.,ii-. II .Kflla.-li* 1 . ■ fii'i 1 lif*.« I. ilt';» 'I ".ft 

: K t\ IC:iuill'aUt.'U iniin-.il at stnji„,||- 
MlVii.. VI :\ ' :tl fl ft fit, tap. ■ 

'Js"a II"-- ■■ , ■ ''/I' M.iu VV 

v( '*',.iltil :, ; .>'*' IJUJleiiilu 1 l-Vt'.'; ISMm" '' I 1 ! -i..vii.r.t 

:>tj.:iij>*<4i.;,,v..':', ;,•■,'.'■,'..■', ;,. .'',\lf>iif|n ■'' : \'U , ':'<M' , 1, 



vtt..' .'tlM-i-ii'iV lUiiliillil'.f 

■ ''Till vC,,v,-.hY. h, ...'ll.i.iin' 

■t*-:-*» ;-, '-J 
sn.-iHukn..;,. -v.'.-'. ... K.'. 
,-,<;w>'M ; i.,ai!,i..»ii,S:. 

lUaiiat'iia.'Sayii.iiv. ,..'','. ;',.. 
""('.tljjii.ss.s , l,.;l il'lliC-lia ■'-'''.,• - 

\V Vil H . -, . .■„ ... ... 

- ■ 'll-.'i r 1 w r.j r'...il'V' , .^' ; '"" ■ : I 
' T'.i.. 1 u!» i .!l.TM! M:t;l.ll'':1 1'/.y 

, i >H.ijii :.!.i 1 i>y:i^:-.'- r ' , -. \ 

S 'U nit V- •:ii,>, t Vii : 

lii^iii^iunu -'I' '.I'ify . . . ; 

V S.i i' t '4 if* . : i; i i '.j>* . :l«; 'Miii.yiiiV' 



. f ' I'll 11' 



■W'ii 
lllli.i 



j)l . a 111 W S ,1. Sljli ! 1,1 (>!' Voll'llll' 1(1 

I, his ■ \ k:i\ (•Ontl'.ibutiOi'sy 
i Romo VuiOtM.it and Luba Mlnllfia 
i ' In'! r u'l \v»>H uwItT i.amedv 
".'I .--".li'ili s. rill l>i)!'i dialog ami , Hilly. 
; T'nrmt 1 iv.isi '•••s Willi siit.M»! .1 fu.ir 
i 115.01..,: v-. IV.'l.fi 1 tier 1- .1 sin i oiryiirn 1 
I lijin oi' siiis- and. ./,nm. Ttivlm', llnOiio, 
; I tVtViii'ni'ii Seluuw •! HT(I E.hel Li"\ -.'.v 
, i.r'o \ > II Willi .sliT.HiW. '■■rotes, iUi n 
■ • hvwy imkini, -a avow oiitwm ^sitiu'k- 
• '] » f 1 A .e'loyit'. I fiiuarcl K t > ii; >tt r.it-'s 
' ii,voraUU> - nwnltoi) . ibr his c!iinuTi.\ 
and .' .iicin .; elm, Lil<;'w i i t.lU" 
, .iavoiable column . vmi's comment 011 
thy Vera Ciip'sbte Siil.yiii.s; dinl 0..1H- 
in .1 11'. . :nl)K- 
H swiid &.bm-l's st;v-;'ii.i,'! ol I'lK 



in t.-ai» .lid a few U*it IVeo is 
>.U'il wi'itU'ir iiinl coiu'civtid, .and 
.•oiiipctt'iuly acted, with .1 moral 01 
boor •for b?i'cavwl. iibisons at the 

i ivcl .Comi'dy lmc.< tioltl.v insoric* 
hfi t* and IlicVtt.to relievo tragic siS- 

■ iiiiioancc without: marrins it, 
i CHi'iai'iv 1 is-: h on typical Aiiun icaii 
1 ii-iiy on lawn of Milelulid s»i de- 
1 pictiii'j old city home, all worried 
I about boy 10 ;.ir 1 n c « w«okiv 
Bjit l.vi, :l « Dot: It trlifc; .Blanchf 
\w!in :u.\n* w ilo. and Frances Bell 
•s tlioir son. Dun . nitchtt;'.--. vvi.w, 
(oinad ,by Dau'.s children, Donald. 
■Dev. in as Chr's and .Joyce Vail Pat- 
ten .loan, rejoice -over letter. from 
lWitv ■':'■■■ .' :■ ■ :." ■ 

But Dan, pf .ved with SoleiVdid re- 

ii itnt by Wendell C01 ey aooear 



Literati 



■".llv.il;: I.!. 



■' l.:!: 3 " 1:7. - a:: l>yiny : . l'M'^> 



lur .fl.ibil'v 

',■,■.. •■..Wl'lWl.iiv'-i:','*. 
.. .■l>'i:i,r.« 'yi:iliPlii 
;,','; : , "i-.'lil'c',' :,l, ; «M'i\ 
■ ,*!■* 1 : 1 >t : .|i:ii v -.. V 
.".I'. /■(Siih'fl i)l'':!'»i 
; i.''i-.flif*' ■f''-il't*<5 
M'. It "t |!il : r...H 
,,l ml. «' n-M*!!- 
l»i.ty,s;..^;'.. (iiVlrrjltV 



medics 
W: irth.y 
afc alt 



■of soiie. aivd. story is , n 
Nimieroiis beaiuilul ei 



Grill i t of A !>f>oa Is, smacked i'osimas 
tor CJencral Kra nk ('. Walker clown 
in ett\ sliji |>lv Mrinrl.n Hi in the 
Conn's unanimous decision smOK 
Esquiro • ll,i; back its .s-eond class 
ilia i linsfYp'r i v i I Cfies. ' D |>se't i ins ■■ a Wf* 
•.rict etinil deeish u|>holtlina \V alker'.- 
ban I'll the ma a as immoral. Arnold 
bluntly tokl the P. O. Dept. to stick 
. , •■,... . , , to de!:veri:i!; mail in.-:x»'0 "t sack': le 

. ' n S'lS^'S ! W '." 

j Both are riead. Dair u au!s a and decide .what mltilit otleiid pej- 

' -l cii.no.e 01 hi- loved tok'S. : and ;>le oi re:inemen'." '■ ■ '■;■■; 



.1iid«r Arnold Okay* Esquire J "Cartoons," , each sell tag ovor " I.tjotj. 
Jtidae Thm mtin Arnold of the U. S 00 ^ 



Cerf's "T: 



■: and 



comrade. Kirk Donn'as, . lias 



lied bv e()inbuiin- li'.h!.s v ith I oi) \ lo'nsKv brit .1 i hvoiit-li it before 
colonel co\tnoiinH and .set c.iesi^n- . .| A > ,i ,.„.;„,■ ;■;,■'., .. ... m, ,,„„ 



This ami if'ahzed vers eii of the 
■ "Mityerlinv:" theme is dre tor a >>>m- 
nvi nD.'cmj on . Bi .lyr'wuy in July; 
Pi'odiKition b tier brine a'ons an 
tivei coat— -\l wall nrobiblv be. needed 
when winter Will probably ftinl 
"Marinka" still rui det k. 

K.n ' sheer beantv. 'oi' pTcsentatibii 
Shbw should be rb'e to hold its own 
ayniiist, 01 in some cas. s out-hnie. 
current New York sontf-and'dance 
hits. Visual deparfnieut, how'evei, 
does not constitute Die lull measure 
of the production's assets A, rlcetdr 
only sinqabV seme p us what ah 
most anioimts to a.jjlethora ol daiie- 
in". make lor very s tisf'aet.orv en- 
tertainment Only in. comedy is the 



Apin rrl, both male and lernalo, and 
scenic layouts are, prime factor-, m 
lilaeiii'.' the eyr -filliils; porti in rif llie 
nroc.a ami on, a Irish plan ■ Bone. 



Oh. llrnlli<*r 



■M: 



,.H..\':ii: 

;ivii.f]'ii 



Xilllifi... !l**lt. 

Flf It 1 



II IIS 

;;' ■fvitwt.eii j,j 

.VI ! r iii'>, ■ S;'i ir|ii(>|.. | it:vi.: 
,Ki>s,r.'iV, fnj'f l^i 
Ml. 11 l- ilni- r ... 
srt-^ :Vi ; ::i;ns. 

iji t^J 1 ,.1,1:;, j. . , 

wn'i. i.s'„ins ', 

it'ii.,:. . .'^ ; . ,:*, .'',".'■. .'v /.'^ ,; 
■I ,0 l >.- ; ■ .;';■ : 

A? -.l,i : it>r 1 ■ 'r'-'tVv'.^ t;:'i x,<. ,.■;■.',■; 
,.:Vl|lf'l:i:i ■- li,'-,i'.l,l.«.;''l!:M... 



- Boston, 

It-'i ::m'hI- I'-il;.':' 

%Ah ill 



At-'rUM'!" 
■lii.M.Ou 

■< )'i»!«II«'ll ■ 



,,,)utit 4. 

U ' r n 11 - 

I.H/.^CIfMf' 
nii,,r ;.Ai..| 1 >',.'ri 
i» ftlnliif 
il , "J , t>4fiutn^:' 



•\ tele tram ,uii\<- with news of 
[Dan's rie„,h, Dan \ainh ti I. s to 
I prevent rieli\'i>rv, Their h<" voatehes 
I his tamily break down, rnitside the 
J vn>> 01 his effprts ,to rarnt n l them 
1 He . cannot bear fo, admit that be is 
I dead.' They cannot see him and only 
Unmfv seiiM 1 : his presence- ~ — -.■•■— 
1 Alter some pretty potent tension 



Arnold stated the Postmaster Gen- 
eral hasn't the power to decide 
w hat is good tin the public to read 
and tlieii to torce compliance w.th 
hus ideas by piitfing. editors who. 
don't obey at a competitive disad- 
vanlaee." iRe\oeafion order would 
have cost Esquire $5110,1)00 yearly.) 
| Deelai ins; -that Federal censoi ship. 
freedom, of the. press, and freecloni 

voiced. Court said pla nl.y; "We .hope' 



ii,. 



In this situation lamily tnemmies ,.„■ ( . om| , e ti t i v ,. onteinrl.-e were 
I'eviN'e the past.. Dan v aleln s w hue . 

iiis 'own. .self as a. iiine-y«:ii>olrt Vlad l. , , , . 

inl . the picture. He watches ' tn!s ^ tl "' "' ; ;i!!i '' u,;,t ;i . sovenr- 
a youib. as a:l:t'eljo,w' 



: i-om._ 
i himself a 



SlopiViVIe''''. is ■■a'" 
Simon &,.Sfhuste,i bestseller snui |, e v 
expatidii)s his, eoiiiedic collection 
into a .iorthcomiiii! ,$l bonk. [,a u -,h. 
[\}<i. .Stock," ioi Glosset &■ Diin(;m 
..publication, a.iiain Illustrated bv 
Call Hosr who di„ ::Tt - '' G&D is 
now a, Randpni . House alV.l.ate Cerf 

is pnv oi rh i:;i".V;!,:... ; v ; ' ; 'i 

CHATTER 

Robert, Bellaire. United Presss for- 
eign correspondent, .newest -member' 
of Writers' War Board. 
. .Richard L Brown, of Chicago 
tips that Peoples and Places, mohtli- 
ly mas{, will resume publication' -tin*'' 
month He's m,e. ' ■", . 1 

Bill- Ornstein's piece. ''Movies tor , 
the Theatres at War,", appears irt 
latest issue of Su i.(ij>. mattazuyei He's 
A I eir.o . t r ade _pi.es » . a i.d e_ i 1 1 : N e w Ym k. 
Stars and Stripes,. ,G 1 daily news- 
paper,, started publis'hiiis; a Patillq 
edition !iu .Honolulu . la! t Week:, the 
til st- time that SIS has invaded the 



11 1 



!1 v oaine hi 



;_■:., ■■'.ChivH >ih'r.ii-i. { tenant s 

,.-/■.■.( i'lyji l.'.iiii'i.n . .full of ' 
■ S; , |u , s ',''■]{•' >'' m dwclUns. 

. , K. ll'.l.lll. ■ t'v-;\ SI.M1., - ^ 



. O.t 

w ile.. i*'s a second lieu- 
,oft to \vai and _d eaHj . 
Some bittei . Imc 
upon the fiitilitv ,ot w a r. 



Onuj 
ideal 



-.Inl 

t .:, It 
•JAni 



i TrtitiilitiU . 

r :i ' tlOlSH'-OH : 

XtiiVftUIn f. . 



\l'lvYH W '1-1 
..r-.'ru.ll.fMin.i'.'llf.ii'l,,,-!' 

;...'.;:'; l.y:- R.'ii.«',ii 

,' ;■ . , |.'',ll l ■■ A tin. 

:'.-.-. :.:..Hiij'il W.ili ..' 

.tilillll si,,,,, I, 



In. a farce bil'lt around a . trio ol 
biu-'lais turned honest through ob- 
scure influence ol love, , Hugh Ilei- 



t'iuhten an exchange of convei sat.ion. 
between the spirit and: his earlier 
eoiinterpails ■''.", 

Dsspei ltoly Dan struetsles to reach 
his parents to - assuane tbeii .ariet, 
Finally he learns that lie can milize. 
their memories throuiib a sort of 
spi ri t- World nienta I tele pat h \ The 
mOral. which may seem empty to 



show weak, and this shorl com iny ,| i x -i I draws laughs through his elee- l simie of those whose loved tines 'have 



-gi^es: evidence of- bcin^ m 

. With the exception of the final fa first act .which sets a fun pace the 
curtain', still, in the. experimental , other two tail to follow. Yet .worse 
slaje. authors have done very cred- j plays have had Ions runs and this 
itably in transnnsm ; the stoi-y of one h,s sold, the screen l isjhtls to 
"iVlayerlim:-" . Irom ..the i calm ol tray- Paramount on a deal cal lin<! for a 



edy mtn the more y atily ine : state 
oi iultilled loniiuire Book maintains 
a good, share of: the oriu oal drama 
but iinas down on a modernized 
finale that Sends 'em out iii a cheer- 
ful mood. Dialog in general, is okay , 
but requires infection ol more lauah 

liiies. :,-.-v". : :;.:.'.i.'- \ ,; --; :'i' ; ' .-'■.■■■{' "',-;: 
Score plucks at piaeticallv c\ery 
strins of the gamut "One Touch of 
•Vienna." -'Sigh by Night," "The :Cab 
Song" "One Last Love Song." "I 
A<lm,t." .and "II I Never Walt;-. 
Again" are a few ol the ditties that 
should soon be riding the air Lyrics 
t's a whole are, good, a number oi 
iiv lanccs being , standout 



$75,000 guarantee and a. percentage 
of the theatre gross up to a ceiling 

oi sarin ooo. .^i.-''-' 
-, Inexplicably, Allen Kilmer, a pen- 
iviU:ys artist, earnestly played by Don 
j Gibson, takes a nao in a vacated 
! D iytona Beach mansion. At same 
l.ttme. it is being burglarized by Her- 
bert, as Charles Craddock. and his 
pretty aide. Sue Atkin. (Susana 
Gai-nettl. Sue notes resemblance oi 
artist, to a portrait,, on \vall. and 
Ciaddock finds some letters which 
state that the son of household has 
long been missing. .Crooks persuade 
artist to oosc as returning scion. 
Complications- start when artist 



I Terpsichore rates ovc, time pav fo, f , ,S J »V fc ^« .}V* supposed sis- 
this: particular assignment. Solos. ,tI ' Mal 1 Gnsgrave., played- not al- 
duos. ensembles, ballet and all stops Mm w^] T". vlC j' on b - v Arlee " 
in between blend into a hooTini? ^ helan , M : l| eh to-do - heie coneern- 
fea-t that - offers a wide vanety ol 1 '-('" I'assment , of ;artist over 

topflight diversion in this rleoait- 



lomeii oiu million dead or whose 
niei'i now lace death, is that there 
is comtort in the thought that the 
spirit.: lives' on. . ' ' ; :: :; 

The play actually holds up well 
'The Wind, Is Ninety.' -with a good 
title taken trofn aerial term mean- 
ing east wind— which in this crs ' 
waits imaginary kisses to , family 
from overseas — certainly stirs 

It.it lias a serious flaw, a.-vart trom 
a ce-itain slowaiess of tempo. 4 is the 
dubious timeliness ol the piece, Yet 
a majority of- the audience did not 
mind., and good acting all around got 
wow hands. Set 'is a knockout, 

I':"'.: ■ '.'■.".'■ •'■!/'.: " .-I Dnmc, 



this is the last time that 

men t agency w ill attempf to compel J Pacific war theatre 
the., .acceptance of, its literal v .or ] Di Heriiitin Lis-auer w'riting a 
mjnrt staudartjs i elating to niateiial [ biography of King Philip ' III of 
adnnrtedly out obscene." . | Spain, based rm research work 

j turned into the Warners library tor 

The AdventfU c;s : Of Don loan 
Mill, CaiiilV's "iVfale Cill," eollec- 
tion of 112 GI eom-o strips fust pub- ■ 
lis.hed :b.y Simon <>•. Sei.usli'i-. has all 
1 1 1 e :a i.i.i!i or^^ r ily o 1 t.i c\< ;iiiii p 1 1 (>i i f; licrV. 
profits, donated to. Ai my .Einergeiicv , 
Relief. ■■-,::: ; I'v'-'..^- . - ";;' .'"■:';, 

Xesltc . Grinliiell. ; jJubiiejiy, director : 
Co i. Maetiiillan, resigns .luive 1 " to 
build up her health and- t-i be : with, 
her lather in . Boston; H er aide, 

on for 



. Buck Home l or Bonus 

'-./-';-':'.-'.,-'■"-.-.':.:■ ■:".. -.- -, '' -. ■.. ",v- * ! - 
Virg.nla I' \vir. of the ,'sta(T.. of the. 
St Lotus Post-Dispatch rPulit/.er) 
has leceivad a brums in the form of 
one: year's salary, for her work in the 
European war theatre before, being: 
disaeei^dited ^ 

by- the high command. Miss I. win 
■and - a reporter for a Boston news- 
paper disregarded Army .orders- and 

entered Berlin before the Nazis capit- j. Cynthia S, Walsh, will car 
ulaied to the Russians in the ■ Ger- j Mi>» Gr.inn.ell.. 
man capital. Joseph Pulitzer Said I It's- Dr., Cy Liungertord nri\v , Wel.l- : 
•AIis's Irwin, who wrote three, stories i. known .cai loom- 1 of Pittsburgh T'ost- 
from Berlin before being disaccred- ! Gazelle whose work, is wfdely-re- 
i.ted, had done an outstanding job: ! i»'i!'.'cd throughout- the eoii.iitn,l was 
She, was in Eivglancl with the Red , awarded the ihonorai v degree ot 
Ctoss beit.vre being 'transferred as ; a ' DQ.ctof of Art. b> Washington and 
wai correspondent, . . i Jefterson College, Wasliingtiin,, Pa„ 

^ — . at its annual eonliiiieiieeineiit eveer- 



" Buftalo. 



-May 30. 



nient. Ronnie Cunningham leads the 
temme contingent and her work 
brings palm-blisters to an apprecia- 



sister's -kisses, and second act de- 
teriorates with a bathing girl scene 
lor w ant of something better to keep 
it going. Mpre of Miss Garnett; not 



tive' audience. ,'.Tack Gansert isCOres \ P^' 1 ™ 1 ^ to dcveVop miieh after,first 
eo.uallv well at the head Of the male 1 w0lll i' help -.hetre. • Wittier lines 

all around also would help, 

■ n-..„ f„„, , • -.':'*' ■■■.'■■•■-■ •„ I. . Third at t has crooks exoosed. to- 

^2^1^*" -Roberts .getlier wdth sly-family lawyer. Julian 
Z S O k ' :,,,ollla! , success since il Trumbull (Forrest I On ) But Ma- 
opened here, a couple of seasons ago j lM( ,n's , aunt, played flutleringh by- 

Catherine Doucet. has been, shiitten 



placed her on a spot irOnt the :"c:an 
she repeat?'' angle. That she comes 
through in' the title, role.-, registers, 
beyond a doubt via the cordial re- 
ception given, her e'ear voice, her 
dancing , ability, . her. acting skill and 
her personal : charm. Jerry Wayne, 
eiiry n - the opposite lead of Prince 
Rudolph, doesn't s-em to have 
leached, full maturity in the musical 
-comedy field. A bit on the aiito- 
niaton, side, premiere found him not 
fully • warmed up to his role,' Also 



People soy this book would moke 
/ the most fascinating movie! 



Written by popular 
C i r y I ■ Birtmi n 
famtd dancing star 
of "Rio Rita" and 
other Broadway 
smash successes, 
Praised by Walter 
Winchell as "the ro- 
mance which re 
t -ewers embraced." 



by Craddock-:; and "artist's, attempted 
getaway also is toiled through 
Cupid's arrows wielded aggressively 
by . Miss. Cosgrave. 

When this play foregoes high 
drama and conmies itself to farce, 
where it belongs, it goes fairly well. 
Herbert does not have enough to do 
as the oiily real comedian. Eva Con- 
don, Sally Archdeacon. Kendall Brv- 
son and Lyle Bettger ably play mi- 
j nor parts. . 

I Pijv . should be able to pen this one 

".tip;. - ;■ ■-;■!.;-'':■';. ':|', -:.;';.M.; ;■;;'•■. Dame. : 





The Wind In Mii^ v 

Boston. June 

".Vllifil ile.- f'uutvillr an! Kl'iiia-i I 

■ ■•: ^l-.oi: < in tlii. ar i^ I,,- i - hi, 

Italiih • \i.u,,i,, Ivaim uiiii.-li- rui'. i 
AVVlHlt'll, i.'oi-..;:-..- Hei:l. I.yli-Il, : ; IOi:a : ii|...i lli.j.l' 
.Kill, , Dim l)i,v,-|..,l i,-. a .■ (•„,„, ill,. 

sni.il.i^... I''i«li.i : i,-k, J ; '.,x: ■ < ; iwi nil, ■■>,':, s-a i. :,ii„ 
l-',)i-, li. I ji-ij.-fl ai crliun U Haslnii .linip I 



llna:ii'..i:j^;,^,','vy; : 

■tfniiHi.i\ :-.;,,.i.\M. s 
jiimi»y; .:;;■,,;:;';',:: 
i in is 

Wrh, , v ;-i 
!.»>;<'■ '■ liH<sfif,i;. ■, :: 

All Wli*,}'!;-!, 

,f li'iffi'.;.,. ', .■:.i;'t i ::, , I-;; 
lili-tl : |^-.S|ii'li:i»*lil:. 
I i.i.ii . . 's.'i'd . 

■ si.,.i,ff,' l -:;; ...,■';.-.■;, 

' H 1 ,.,-,:'. : ! '. I, 
; y-:il(l:f|,, ;-,: ': 

\ "nine :Ai'ati- .. 
Si»rt»l!.i.|: l.it'Uti'lci: 



.■;,:;•;. ....Hb'iii'lw y'ui-Uii. 
• ..ii'Ver ,: -Vati.. .f'aU^ii- 
■ ;■. ..■; ; ■.'■..It-.V:.-..' Kl'.'i iii'ia 

, . : . l\:rVi.!i \| l;f U^V:!i 
. . I,, .'. t.)iil|-il,i.:i»^A liii 

■,.;.",.■.,.-■: ■.viVfiiv. i; ,-- 
,. :■;■; ;-'.'.- .-Mfii l.ja.Uf; 

.-.*.■.■,. :•, . Ssi.ll 

. ;■.-,-. :-.,..l-'i ;t.itr,..^ :iti,.i,i 

'. I lift; i«- : '\'.;iii 'lAatii.-ii,- 

. . . W>»i.iii.-ir .Ciif.j 
.■.".. .:.':.■. f\',ii-!i' .tiitiififi^' 1 
..... M . • I • Mif|.M 
'., ;: , : .: .. ..'.I ■*') Hi's • :t- n.'il*N-#jiT I ■ 
■; . . .'. ,1 1'Mti y. H' o-niiiiil 

:-;.,fl,ili'll'l!t ' A'f>l >,m:a',!a 



ftorrairiice * €n. s PliiUdrlpliia $2.50 



SAMUEL FRENCH 

... »'i:>«'fc.,-is::iii- : , .;;.. : .;:' ... 
Plat Brokers ami 



P ich n • plenty of heart-throbs tied 
! daringly to American war tragedies 
j of today, this drama deals With the 
|'i etiii'D to his. lamily of a dead sol- 
r dier. It's, all based on mental telep- 
j athy, spiritualism and more than a 
l ioiich of Christian Science to b lot 
J RV f'bOut as delicate a theme Vs the 
I theatre cou'd produce at thi tim> 
! and/would, in lesser hands with less 
j competent acting, be Offensive to 
I those who have lost their" l?Y>s, as 
j well a, mawkish or inaudlin, A year 
of two alter the war ends would 



■: . .M a s - T-tro w ri .a ii ii l ,, .:i:;l.iiU * .AI>-('u v - ji: 
uf .'viiiii'i.a.v,-'. i>i, UliiV', 'i.i|.| rt 'l>t : :'.y.l(i,''|.i: 
:.!'V;'iltnvy: • '.loliii ■ ■ .AI-N-ii'i'lrV^ ' Willi 
V.t.< ti-ls .;s-l n.!4i-il ll'y. Alafiiiti: ",i a-a-ilit; : 
-(11a il(i.'J,'A .''■', I .P'wfi.-.: A'l.:|. : l<;Vlif : nn'."P,- 
li|.i.'ii(iii,.:Alin:-,:at. •|.",.'-*' .■>; ' ; .:.| 



AVIiii'-i iai)' 
K-niiili'l. 
Mi ' 

ii'iiiiiva;- 
Itmi i In, 



Frank McCoy, currently doing, an 
•Oft From Buftalo." comes lip with 
tins second virgin script, foi tryotlt 
by his summer stock. Day before 
opening he ducked for California to 
stage Coast production ol ' School tor 
Brides" He should have stood in 
Bull- this one needs, him., and badly, 

"Warrior/' which is definitely a. 
misrtomei, pivots, superficially - be- 
tvveeii high comedy of the ■ career- 
woman in industry type and hea\-y- 
handed farce , of the blessed event 
School. There are some Well-written 
and saucy scenes but they tail to 
hang together. The dialog is prolix, 
unnecessarily, blue in splots. and sex 
reais its head frequently and with- 
out provocation John Alexander, in 
the leading role, sparks the produc- 
tion. The theme seems to have more 
than a glimmer for stage success, hilt, 
its treatment is presently too .multi- 
fauceted to leave anything but a 
diftuse .and. incoherent overall im- 
pression... 

Story, line has Alexander typed as, 
a Tory industrialist returning to his 
plant after a 14-month stranding ui 
Europe. Finds his. Son gone to the 
wars and his former secretary (now 
his daughter-in-law) in charge ot 
the, shop, Action deals with his: ef- 
forts to, displace the girl with mother 
versus career arguments and numer- 
ous other cumbersome devices. The 
biolo.giCTinateriiity angle is bela- 
bored to a tedious faie-thee-well. 

It won't be too easy to find in this 
haystack the bright needle: necessary 
f or a successful .Broadway showing. 
An inordinate amount of ' effort and 
skillful .ma.ior pitclitorking. is indi- 
cated. While the basic theme is timer 
worn, there are some slants which 
should have appeal lor pictures. 

'■'-■■ ■'!■ '. v .Btirt&ulv '■■ 



l>oii|ileday's $:!«. .">!(« l'ri/.fs 

Names of winners in three major 
literary contests for purses totaling 
I $26,501) ai e being made public today 
'We-.! i bv Doubledav, Doian. 

Leading the . tally is the $20,000 
award- in the. novel contesl, wnioh 
opened: June .1, 1944. This plum goes 
to Mrs. Elizabeth Metzgei : Howard j 
poet and short .stow writer, e'rsfr j 
while of Wilkes-Barre, Pa., now of j 
Winter Haven. Fla. Her novel, 
picked from 500 r submitted -in theif 
coute.-t, is titled "Before the Sun 
Goes Down." and is the story of a 
small Pennsylvania town in the 
ll,f!.30's'.". '.-.'. :' ,'. :■;';■' "l;;;:';/ 1>'";". "•■■■■■■;• '-'■ .■: 
. The second, award, of $4,000 is the 
ng\V \vi iters' prize, .won by! Charles. 
Edward Fenlon nf New Haven, 
Conn tor a, first novel called -'But 
We Had Fun." Formerly a tail- gun- 
nel' with the RCAF, Felton wrote a : 
story dealing with a vet's readjust- 
ment to life. in- mufti Included in the 
4G which he gets is $2,500 as an 
option for motion pietiire, rights paid 
by ,20th-Fox. which cosponsored this; 
Contest with the publishers 

The. final $2,500 tidbit goes to F< u- 
nie Cook, native of St, Louis, who 
submitted an entry in the George 
Washington Carver memorial contest 
lor book dealing with the American 
Negro. The book is as yet untitled: 
it deals with a Negro, family's transi- 
tion trom the depression , to improved 
economic status.'' ■'"'■"'''-;<'■'■■,:';.. I '.■■■"'■'■;'• 

All three volumes are skedded for 
194S publication. 



.cisc.s.- ,-';. -.■■*•;■ ;'■'■•■■...; .-,'.;'-.■'■.-'-.■ : : -.. .': : .-,...; ; : 

Pnrch'ise price, on the Clyde M. 
Murphy novel, "Glittering Hill," 
Went , up another notch .when the 
book's circulation.' passed the 50.000- 
m.uk Screening lights were pur- 
chased, by. Sam ,1a lie and Lloyd 
Bacon from F, P Dutton with an 
escahitot clause, under . which, the 
price ' depends on ..the book sales 
iinoi to film prodiietion. 



Thesps Will Tour 

5S Continued from past- 1 

Raymond Walsh and William S. 
Ga Minor 

Accord m,g to Chodorov. live of six 
troupes wilt be formed bv the com- 
mittee for the UNO job. Each 
troupe will include.one or two- name 
stars, With some of the stars jOint'iS 
the groups only for short periods 
when their professional eominit- 
MientS S'iv'e. them the time for this 
extra-ctirricular work".; The troupes 
wilt tour the midwest .states con- 
centrating ui areas where isolation-! 
ism used to be entrenched. They 
will ; perform a special play being 
.written, lor the caravans, stressing 
need tor American support of the 
coming world security Organization. 



'Kf'; Posl Buys Bronx Home News 

Mrs, Dorothy S Thackrey prez 
and I publisher of the N, Y Post, has 
bought, the Bronx Home .W s, which 
for a long time was one of the most 
profitable nabe sheets, in the country. 
Her husbandr Ted O Thackrey, 
who's g ..in and ' editor of the Post, 
has been made president of the 
Bronx outfit. ■ .;'.-, :."- : 'V 1 -:.",- 
1 Home News, founded as a weekly 
jlni 1907, became a,,.daily in 1922. In- 
teiiscly neighborhood-ininded, a pos- 
sibly apoclyplial story illustrates the 
paper's type of angling Report is 
that a banneiline one day: "Bronx 
Boy Leads Russian Reds.''" The yai'ii 
I was about. T^eon Trotsky, Who did 



Smoke Delays 'Father' 

■.','•■'':';",,'■,'." '{:'■'■',-■:'■ .';'.:' Chicago. June 5. 
When smoke came through a ven 
tilator as somebody ,' doused a short- I llVe i" .the. Bronx for a few months, 
lived flame with a bucket ot water becoming head of the Red Army. -, 
back.-tage during a rtiatinlee of' ''Life 



with E'athe.i " perfbrmance of- (he 
latter, at the Erlaiiger. was delayed 
last Wednesday. 



rocket Books' Rovaltv Rate '" 

Pocket, Books pay lc royalty tip to 
... , . ir>0.0()0 and l'ic therealler on all 

Qiarles W, igh . who ptays Cla. - public, tarn-. It just brought out 
ence Day u, the pay; as house Bennett Cerf's third anthology, 
lights went up and exits wet*' "••«,!«. .. n...a :■. 



PRODUCERS 

Yom are cordially Invited ta 

The Cherry Lone Theatre 

38 COMMERCE STREET 
GREENWICH VILLAGE 
NEW YORK, N Y. 
(Christopher Street Station) 

Where 

THE RUBY REED PLAYERS 

Preieat ^ k 

NO REST FOR THE WEARY 

Entire Production Written end 
Staged by Ruby Reed 

Performances Every Sunday • 
and Monday in the month of June 

Curtain S:45 p.m. 



V 



WANTED 

Male Dramatic Counselor 
Boys Summer Camp 

-' .'■' In New York State -.'.- 



Wednesday, June 6* 1915 



51 



CHATTER 



Broadway 



Ex-legit p.a. Ned Armstrong, to 
edit a paper in Hobbs, New Mexico, 
Leonard Sillman, Republic pro- 
ducer, in tovvn looking for scripts. 

Wife and children of Leonard 
Lcvinson in from Coast to spend 
summer here, 

Mrs. Jack (Winnie) Pearl into 
Flower-5th Avenue hospital today 
vWed.) for operation. 

Sam Shay On, gen. mgr. of William 
Morris agency's Coast office,, trained 
back to Hollywood Monday (4), 

•Edward Matthews, who played 
both Jake and Porgy -in "Porgy and 
Bess," now coneertizing in Mexico. 

Clifford Smith, president of the St. 
Cloud circuit of 12 theatres in N. J., 
in town on film deals and other mat- 
ters. , ' , ■ 
Mrs. Helen Hall Rathvon, wife of 
NT Peter Rath von, RKOi>rexy, in 
Hawaii, as an American Red Cross 
supervisor. 

Mack Gordon, the song writer* east 
on recuperative . stay Lost some 
weight and feeling better after re- 
cent Coast siege, i"'' 

■living Cohen, 15 years m : Para- 
T8otfiSt i ir"te8al- -ile'^rtirtenth^ojrte* 
Howard B. Reiiiheimer, theatrical 
attorney, this week, 

C. B. McDonald, theatre division 
manager for RKO, and, Ray Connors, 
mgr. of the palace, who was with 
him, back from Miami. • , y 

Constance Talmadge having trou- 
ble with the leg which was recently 
pierced by a swordfish while in for 
a swim at a Cuban . beach. 

Pat Kirkwoodi London screen ac- 
tress brought to this country by 
Metro,' arrived in Holly wood last: 
week, accompanied by ner mother. 

WB's dance stager LeRdy Prinz re- 
turned to Hollywood over the week- 
end alter an intensive talent quest, 
especially for "Night and Day," the 
Cole Porter filmbiog;. 

Samuel HOpkins Adams partied at 
Algonquin hotel Monday »♦) after- 
noon by Reynal & Hitchcock, pub- 
lisher of his new book on the late 
Alexander Woolleott. 

J. H. (Jack) Del Bondio to pro- 
duce. -'Young Mrs. Hal low ay," new 
play by George Batson, who wrote 
last season's "Ramshackle Inn,' 
ZaSu Pitts starrer. 

Joe Pincus, head of 20th-Fox tal- 
ent iii the east uildcr Joe Moskowitz, 
'.has left- IC Y, for the Coast to join 
Moskowitz for studio huddles there., 
Pincus. plans two-week stay,: 

Parairiount's studio publicity chief;. 
. George Brown, along with his wife 
and daughter, due in lrom Holly- 
wood June 16 for a fortnight. Lat- 
tei's- first trip cast in some time. 

Don Alfonso orch from Ciro's, Hol- 
lywood; Cedric Wallace ' Trio: from 
Le Ruban Bleu. N. Y., and the Deni- 
■ shawn Dancers -set tor Walter Jacobs 
Lake Tarleton Club. Pike. N. H , this 
year.:- -' -:,'■:-'- v.- -. V :■•■'•'' '''.■ - ; ; 

Columbia Pix' held national finals 
of its "George Sands Talent Search" 
at 21 last night (51. Judgcs^were 
Carter Blake. Ted Collins, Marge 
Morrow, E. E Dicstel and Victor 
Keppler. - 'U... ■■:' " 

Hollywood 

Frank Pope joined the PRC flack - 

ei'.V. ' '*x' .'' ' ' ■ '■*-'■''■■ ■' - 
Faye Emerson, ailing with laryn- 
gitis. .. . . V ' .. ■ 

Dennis Morgan laid up. with bron- 
chitis, _' •• ' ■ 
Nunnally Johnson to Las Vegas on 

.vacation. "''"''-'"'■•*''.,-'«■» , .., 
Marilyn Johnson hospitalized with 

pneumonia. , ■ „ ' ■ . 

Dorothy Bennett hospitalized with 



turning to RKO after 40 months in 
the Navy ■ , 

Clifton Webb in from New York 
to start woik in "Razor's Edge" at 

20th-Fox. 

Brenda Joyce to Camp Gordon, 
Ga„ to join her husband, Major 
Owen Ward. 

James R. Grainger, Republic prexy, 
in for 10 days of huddles with Her- 
bert J, Yates. :' 

Betty Hutton junketing to New 
York when she finishes her current 
picture chore. ; 

Frank Smith, publicist,, suing Su- 
perior Pictures for $2,500,: claiming 
unpaid salary. 

Stanley Rose, book shop owner, 
joined Dave Diamond agency as 
literary editor. 

Sid Edgar Rain ey Ludlow-Hewitt, 
of the Royal Air Force, guesting with 
jack L. Warner. . . 

-Pat Kirkwood in Horn London to 
report for work in. " No Leave, No 
Love," at Metro. 

George van Saake, Dutch artist, 
painting portraits of Veronica Lake 
and Bill Bendix. - " j 

Norman Seigel, formerly with the 
Cleveland Press, checked into. Para- 
mount's- flaekery. 



the former Blair W.olloek mansion 
on the near northside, had formal 
opening last Saturday. Club has 
membership of 135, mostly radio 
actors and directors. ■ • -., 

Edgar Bergen, en route to New 
York to discuss his overseas jaunt 
for USQ-Camp Shows, made the 
rounds of Chi branches of the Pur- 
ple Heart circuit for USO between 
trains over the weekend. 



appendicitis. 
Scott Elliott 



from 



recovering 

major. ■■ surgery.. t .,',,;■>.. 

Joseph Hazcn in town for huddles 
with Hal Waliis 

Alan Ladd and Sue Carol sunning 
at Palm Springs. 

Bill Bendix bought a new home in 
Pacific Palisades. 

Sol Polito. cameraman, recovering 
from appendectomy 

Paul Hcnreids adopted a foui- 
month-old daughter. , 

John Lund in f rom Broad way to: 
thesp. for Paramount. ' ■•■' .-r 

Audrey Long and Ed Rubin bought 
a ranch at Lone Pme. 

LeROy Prinz returned from a 
Broadivay business tour. •• ;-. '.' .' 

Tito Guizar booked for nilcry and 
radio dates in Rio dc Janeiro. 

Don Ten v resuming Ins film career 
. alter three years in the Navy. 

Edward Everett Horton tfeks cast, 
in two weeks tor summer shows. * 

Peggy R van ordered by her 
medico to take several weeks' rest. . 
_Wild Bill Elliott stocking a -breed-. 
Hng ranch tot ; Fiis name HoTse,.~Thun- 
: dei- 

Sai-a Allgdod, British actress, act- 
ting- her final American citizenship 
papers. ' ■ : 

John Hodiak returned to "The 
Harvey Girls" after a siege of 
"mumps,' ■■■'.■''•.'...';■'■..■' ',■."■ 

Dave Fleischer, cartoon producer, 
recovering from emergency, appen- 
dectomy. 

Gaston Lbnget, ' canicraman, r*» 



Katina Paxiiiou. returns to picture 
work this week in "Confidential 
Agent" at Warners, r.:'.' ■">■:■ -,;.:.: 

Lester White. Mefro cameraman, 
hospitalized after heart attack on 'A 
Letter for Evie." set. '.. .-.'.;. ;- 

King Vidor and former wife. 
Eleanor Boardman, sued for $50,000 
on a real estate deal. 

Peter van Eyek, former film actor 
and now an Army lieutenant, is 
stationed in Germany. , 
• Baby Marie Osborne, onetime 
moppet star, resumes acting in "The 
Stork Club" at Paramount. 

John Wildberg in town for huddles 
With Mary Piekford about the " film- 
ing of "One Touch of Venus." 

J J Shubert m town to huddle: 
with George Shafer on a series- of 
operettas for theiWcst Coast. 
; Julie Preisser sends word . that she 
is held over for another month at 
the Casino AtlanticO.'Rio de Janeiro. 

Sheik Hafidh Al Kadi and his 
brother; Mustafa, gaiidering the film 
studios on their way back to Bagdad. 

Greg Tolahd, cameraman, reported 
for Work on the Goldwyn lot after a 
delayed air tiip.lrom South America. 

Jo-Carroll Dennison back from 
New York after farewelliiig her hus^ 
band, Phil Silvers, on an. overseas 
tour. ■ , " ' ' . * • . . . 

Bobb.v Blake, Red Ryder s little 
Beaver, teamed up with his brother 
and sister for. a -Seventh War Loan 
pitch. ' ' 

: S. Gangiili, Paramouiifs general 
Sales' manager for India, Burma and 
Ceylon, ogling new product at the 
studio.: , ' 

Bing Crosby celebrates his 131 n, 
year at Paramount and his 35th 
feature, with the slaft of "Blue 
Skies." 

Danny Dare returned from New- 
York to produce the Hey wood Broun 
novel. "The Sun Field." at Para- 
mount. 

Hermes Pan shifted, temporarily 
from 20th- Fox to Paramount , to 
handle dance numbers for "Blue, 

Skies." : 

Sgl. Stuart H. Aarons, on leave 
from .Warners legal staff, awarded 
the bronze star for achievement in 
.the Philippines. 

.'Commander. John, Ford.. recavenng 
fi'om a leg fracture, resumed, direc- 
tion of "They Were Expendable" at 
Metro m a wheel chair. 

Larry Morey and John Sutherland, 
formerly operating as Plastic Car- 
toons, .changed the . company tag . to 
Morey and Sutherland Productions, 
Inc. 

Oscar Hammerslein. II checked in 
at 20th-'Fox to huddle with Olio 
Preminger oh ■: v '-"Romance '■. With 
Music."' based on the. lite of Osc»n 
Hammerstein. his grandfather. 



- By. Les Rees ' . 

Carol Bruce: at Hotel Radisson 
Flame Room with Melody orchestra. 

W. Hi. Workman, M-G-M branch 
manager, back from a Florida vaca- 
tion.'. .,;,!■'■'.*.■'. •';' V .•■:;'':.' •':' 

Dorothy Lewis ice show into Hotel 
Nicollet Minnesota Terrace for the 
summer. 

Paramount held invitation screen- 
ing- of "Incendiary Blonde" at St. 
Louis Park theatre. ,"* Y.. .' 

Jimmy Dorsey cancelled scheduled 
Orpheum engagement because of ill- 
ness necessitating his return to Cali- 
fornia. ■ 

Leonard H. Goldenson, Paramount 
veepee in charge of theatre opera- 
tions, and Eddie Hyman, ,his assist- 
ant; infown. - — ~; : — 

Charlie Jackson, Warner salesman, 
and Clem Jahnick, Delano exhibitor, 
split $175 Northwest Variety club 
jackpot by guessing closest to V-E 
Dav. .... • . ■{ 

M. A. Levy. 20th-Fox district man- 
ager, to Des Moines to set tip world 
-pKemiere; of ."State-Fai i^lAv.itli-j5iday=L 
and-date bookings already lined up 
for state. ' -'■':';, '■ ; I 



Pittsburgh 

By Ilal Cohen 

Cappella and Patricia held over 
for two more weeks at Nixon Cafe. 

Carlos' Pugliese, who founded "21" 
restaurant here, but of Army after 
three years. 

Terrace Room of William Perm 
hotel, folding for the summer on 
Saturday <9). 

Nitery. owner Bill Green, home On 
first leave from Navy, has slimmed 
down 25 pounds. 

Saxman Larry Sims, just dis- 
charged from . the Army, has joined 
the Jan - -Garner band. 

B l| s'er Crabbe's 7-pcople. aquatic 
show booked: for a siriglerday's stand 
at West View Park in July. . .;. '■'■;•' 
; , Joe Feldman and. Ben Stecrmah 
won Variety Club's first annual 
duplicate bridge tournament. 

Jimmy Nash, UA salesman, on in- 
definite sick leave, replaced on.. Bill 
Shartin's staff by Mickey Hartz. 

Louis Canale, brother of Holly- 
wood Show Bar's Virginia Canale, 
awarded silver star for bravery in 
action -v. ' 



OBITUARIES 



KITTY SHARP 

Kitty Sharp. 90. retired actress and 
reputed to have been the last living 
member of the cast of "The Blaek- 
Crook," whose naughtiness created 
somewhat of a furore in the New 
York of 1860, died recently m Sara- 
toga Springs, N. Y., where she had 
made her home for.. a number of 
years. 

Born in New York City,, she made 
her stage debut at an early age, 
teamed with her sister in a vaude 
act which had been a featured olio 
attraction with many of then famous 
rep troupes. When 19 she branched 
out as a single, billed as "The 
Greatest Sand Dancer,'' sharing top- 
line billing with Lillian Russell at 
Tony Pastor's and Koster & Bials, 
N. Y ' ' ,'. ":; 

In 1873 she toured as feature at- 
traction with the Cooper-Bailey Cir- 
cus. -While- with it she.married Fritz 
Smith, known professionally as 
Eddie Fritz, a leading clown of that 
era. Couple accompanied the show 
to Australia, where the operators 
cleaned up. Couple retired in the 
late 90's and inade their home in 
Saratoga Springs. Her husband died 
15 years ago. ~.~ -T*'T:. '•' .'''■'■" 

Only dne- ot~11ieir children went 
into the professiOnT'He was Edward, 
who became one ot" England's . big 
acrobatic clowns and pantomimists. 
He later teamed with; Fred Cornelia 
under team name of Cornelia and 
Eddie, with duo recently appearing 
with Olsen and Johnson shows and 
units. ■ •">' - • •:." ■ '? 



St. Louis 

Bv Sam X. Hurst 

Willie Shore headlining show at 
Chase. Club. •'; - 

The Maxims held, over at Club 
Continental. ' Hotel ■ Jefferson. •■ 

' Will Zotas, 23, soil of Chris Zotas, 
owner of the Roosevelt, has won an 
Army war medal for proficiency in 
German campaign. ■•■ 

Heavy demands, for cuffo ducats 
for the. Nazi atrocity films resulted 
in adding :two more shows. A total 
of 16 were given. 

Eddie Cantor's p,a with a War 
Bond Sales troupe drew 7,500 bond 
paying customers , to the Henry W; 
Kiel auditorium last week. 

Guarantee fund for .Municipal 
Theatre Assh's forthcoming season 
has reached $139,942. This is more 
than. $20,000 pledged, last'year. Guar- 
antors are paid off at the. end of the 
season. "- ... • 



WILLIAM ROSEtLE 

.William Roselle, 67, well known 
legit actor, died June 1, in the Kane 
Pavilion. N. Y., where he had been 
a patient for the past two months. 

Roselle was born in New York 
City and made his first appearance 
on the stage with Ada Rehan and 
Otis Skinner m 1902. He was later 
prominent in the productions of 
John Golden, the. late. Sam Harris, 
Lee Shubert and William A. Brady. 

For a season or two he was fea- 
tured in "Our Wives" both in New 
YOrk and on the road, and in rthe 
early '20's he appeared m several 
editions of '•Zicgfeld Follies" and 
Was in the original cast of A Con- 
necticut Yankee" at the Vanderbtlt 
theatre, N. Y In 1928 he acted in 
"Tonight at 12" and ''The Leopard 
Man," alter which he went to Chi- 
cago to play in George Kaufman and 
Moss Hart's "You Can't Take It With 
You." In more recent years he was 
with "Oh Borrowed Time' at the 
Lohgacre, N. Y.. and "The Man Who 
Came to Dinner.' Last season he 
toured in Max Gordon's "The 
Doughgn ls " 

He was a member of The Lambs* 
Actor's • Fund of America, and one 
of the earliest members of Equity. 
He is survived by his widow, 



Kingsley, now in the Pacific; and 
two daughters, Hazel. Kingsley and 
Mrs.' Maybelle Gates. 



. SAMMY BL11M 

Sainmy Blum, 56; stage and screen 
comedian, died June 1, at his Holly- 
wood home following a heart attack. 
Born m New York City, Blum 
learned the rudiments of acting . 
under such producers as William A, 
Brady, David Bclasco and Henry W, 
Savage.. . ' 

He entered pictures in 1905, with 
J. Stuart Blackton, and was one of 
the first stage comedians to appear 
on the screen. 

Surviving are his son, Everett, and 
three sisters who live in the. east, 

1 A. J. JEFFREY 

A. J. Jeffrey, 45, United Artists 
Canadian: sales manager, died in To- . 
ronto, June-4. He had -been with the - 
company for the last 19 years, join- 
ing (J.A. first as salesman. He moved 
up to be branch manager of Toronto 
and later succeeded David Coplan as 
the company's sales chief in Canada. 

Jeffrey had been ailing tor several 
.months and planned, to go to Boston 
thr^'wepk rdT r a _ i^j'6T' oplifaribn, 

Survived by widow. • 

LT. JOHN FRAZER 

Lieut, ij.g ) John Frazor. former 
radio announcer, was killed in action 
on May 11 while serving with the 
Navy in the Pacific, according to 
word received in Hollywood, 

Prior to joining the. Navy, he 
worked on numerous NBC programs, 
includihg Chase & Sanborn, Signal 
Carnival and "Noah Webster Says." 

Survived by his widow and infant 
daughter ; . 



BUCK SINGER 

' Sumer (Buck) Singer. 38, motion 
picture ad executive with Buchanan 
agency, died suddenly on Monday 
night (4) at his home in New York, 
Apparently in good health during 
the day, he worked until around 7 
o'clock Monday evening. ; 
Leaves a wife and two children. 



G OLDIE MAE I* A II EN 

Mrs. Goldie Mae. Paden. 55, con- 
tralto, with Chicago Civic Opera- for 
25 years, died May 27. in Indi- 
anapolis. She retired in 1938. 

Survived by son, Wilbur, with 
whom she sang operatic, duets in. 
Chicago for seven years. , 

JOHN W. HICKS, JR. •::•.':' 
John W. Hicks, Jr., 58, .Paramount 
International president and vice- 
president and a director of Para- 
mourtd Pictures, died June 1 in 
New York. :':. • ; f \ 

.Details in. picture section..: 



MARRIAGES 



. Harriette - Smith 
Chicago, June 3. 



to Lee 
Bride is 



Savin, 
former 



Chicago 



Mrs, Ben" Bernie. widow, of 
maestro, in town visiting fnend. 
■ Frank, Clark, manager, of 



-the 
the 



Rinlto, Champaign,. Ill;, on the sick. 

list. "■■•••-'■., 

Catholic Actors Guild sponsoring 
variety show and dance. .June- 7 at 
Knickerbocker hotel. ... 

Ted Weber. ,hc..d of the .Chicago 
Sim: amusement advertising depart- 
ment, confined to hospital.' , 

Alan Edelson, flock , of Bismarck 
hoteli.may shift to New .Yo.ik to be- 
come Hildegaidc's tub thumper, .■ 

Frankie Masters orch will head 
the new revue at the Boulevard 
Rooin of the 'Stevens hotel .opening 

June 15. . ,■ *. ' ' , 

Leonard L... Klein, formerly of 
Omaha, has taken over the Eclipse 
Theatrical -Scenic- -Studio — Horn 
Charlie Tichenoi . ■ "■ 

Howard da Silva,. Paramount 
player, working: oh. a book covering 
his theatrical- experiences, teniae 
tively titled "Out ol„the. P;t. 

Ethel Shufta, at the .5100 Club, has 
becfi informed that her husband. Lt. 
Col Georse Kirksey. former UP 
sports writer, hus been awarded the. 
Bronze' Slar for siillaniry' in action. 

Actors Club of Chicago, located n 



Chi manager of Bourne M.usic Co.; 
groom is asst. to prez .of -Music raft. 
Recording Co., N. Yv , : 
June Carlson to Donald, C, 
McKcan. Los Angeles, June 2.. Bride ! 
is a screen- actress; groom an ir.de- 
pendent producer. 

Ruth Harrison to Howard Tallis, 
Beverly Hills, June ,3. Bride is 
talent ageiit; groom an advertising 
exec. '■*., 

Marjorie Holliday to Michael St. 
Angel, Los Angeles. June 4 Bride 
and groom are film players 

Elouisc G Shea to John Warren 
Hull. Boston. June 4. Botu are on 
"Vox Pop" radio program. 

Jane Lester to Leonard Feather, 
New York,, May; 18. Groom is music 
critic. , , ; : -' 

Elizabeth Wra-ggc to Raymond 
Glendon, New York, June 1, Bride 
is radio actress: groom, engineer on 
NBC. ' ; '" ' ' ', - '"..:' " : , "' 

Irene. Nelson. WAVE, to S, fc 
Charles W. Hall, . Sampson, N. Y„ 
May 31. Bride was former vocalist 

"with Boyd RHebUrn orch. * — * 

Marte Pembcrton to Busby Berke- 
ley. Marriage took place in Bolivia 
last April, announcement was made 
June 4. Groom is stageiand screen 
dance. director. ■•-..'..' 

Florence Aquino to S. Jay Kauf- 
man in N,. Y , June X Bride cur- 
rently : in "A Bell For Ada.no"; 
Si-oora K the publicist. ;. . ..< ' . 



, '..'>;, JERRY MtGEE ._.. .'.!:,. 
Jerry McGee, 53, vaude performer 
and minstrel man, died in Kai.sas 
City, June 3. ,. 

Born in Brooklyn, McGeci with 
Gus Van and the late Joe Schenck, 
sang around the town at political 
shindigs and clambakes when the 
three were jockeying trolley cars be- 
fore adopting the . stage as a profes- 
sion.,', -v. .';:.''.- •'.'"•: ..".'.'• 

Prior ' to hitting vaude. he had. 
spent -several seasons with Benny 
Fields' Minstrels. Alter that he had 
done a singing single and later was 
'learned with several partners. 

Leaves a widow, son and daughter, 



Leonard Scheffer, 54, lax consult- 
ant, died in Chicago, May 29. He 
was well known in show business 
having been tax_vConsuItant to many 
theatrical " personalities and band 
leaders, and also was asscoiated with 
Music Publishers Holding Corp. 

Survived by widow, daughter, two 
brothers and a sister. 



Brothei, .38, of Major Irving 
Somach. died June 4 in New York 
after a lingering illness, -.Major. So-, 
mach. is. a w.k. show biz medico, and 
play financier. 5 ' . ; 

Oliver M. MeCra«k«n, 72, retired 
motion picture distributor, died 
May 30. in Beverly Hills, Calif. 



.1 LOUIS ROME 

J.- Louis Rome, 53, theatre circuit 
operator in Baltimore, died in that 
city June 4, following a heart attack 
in the office of Frank H Durkee. 
another exhibitor. Rome was about 
to attend a meeting of the Forest 
Park Theatre Co., of. which he is a 
director. Most of his houses were 
iiabes. . : Y '-^;'% 'V: Jr-'.v.y 

Survived by widow. 

Former Chief Barker of the Va- 
riety Club, Rome had headed many 
charity drives- in Baltimore. He was 
Maryland state chairman oi the film 
industry's Fifth Wat Loan drive in 
1944, lie had been under treatment | agent; 
for a heart ailment for about a year 



Aghfs Mary Dell, 75, freelance 

screen writer,. died May 25, i:i Holly- 
wood. .';'.':'■'.": ■ : - *?' . : ' 



BIRTHS 



NEIL L. KINGSLEY 

Neil L. Kingsley, 61, who had been 
in— the -advertising - -deparirrrtM, of 
N. Y, Sun, died May 30 in New 
Rochelle, N. Y Kingsley had been 
in charge of the Sun's theatrical ad 



Mr and Mrs. lack Spatz. daughter, 
in N. Y June 2. Father is contact 
man with Brcgman, Vocco- & Conn 
music publishing: house. - 
Mr and Mrs, Sam Bramson, tiaugh- 
ter. New York, May 30. Father i$ in 
the cafe department of the William 
Morris agency; mother! is the former 
showgirl, Terry Kelly. 

Mr, and Mrs. Eddie Smith, son, 
New York, May 24,. Father is talent 
mother isf ' former ; dancer 
known professionally as Melba. t 
Mr. and Mrs John Loder, daugh- 
ter, Hollywood. May 29. Mother is 
Hcdy Lamarr; lather is a film actor, 
Mf, and -Mrs. Jose JManzanercs, 
daughter, Chicago, May 26. Father 
is bandleader at Colony CUjb, Chi. 
Mi and Mrs, Frank Pudis, son, 



Jeifising fbr 25 years- and hcl4 simi- [Pittsburgh, May 26; Father manages 
lar post on the old N. Y. Globe. His 
work- brought him in contact with 
producers and others of show busi- 
ness, - V 
Survived by son, Sgt. John L. 



Northsidc theatre. . 

Mr End Mrs. Walter Hyde, daugh- 
ter, New York, June 3. Father is in 
the cocktail dept. of William Morris 

Agency.' ,);■'/■■ ;-.,■:..:■■.::•■.■:•■ S-v':';^'": 1 ; ' ' 



2 DOWN AND 1 TO GO - - ON TO TOKYO I ; . r'"*^ '* 

Let's Hit 'Em With War Bands 




'.1'. 





THE NEW YORK " 1l 
PUBIIC IIBE1SY 

33301BB 



Published Weekly »t 184 West Mth Street. New Torb 19, N. I., by Variety, Inc. Annual iobscrlptlOn, $10. Single copies, 86 cent* 
Entered as leuoud-claas matter December '22, 1906, at tl>» Post Office at New York, N. TC„ under the act ot March S, ltTt. 
OOPTHtGUT, 1945, BY VAREEl'X, UiC. ILL RIGHTS RKSKRVEO 



VOL. 159 No. 1 



NEW YORK, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 1945 



PRICE 25 CENTS 



RADIO MUST H ATCH 

— i • 1 ; — * 

Solid-Sending Hymns Hypo Teensters 
Into a Church in Religious Revival 




By FRANK FISKE ♦ 

Los Angeles, June 12. 

You don't expect to hear a hot 
trumpet iix a Salvation Army band. 

Then again, if you believe what 
you read in the papers about the 
jive-and-jitter generation, you don't 
expect to find 3,000 to 4,000 ot the 
bobbysox crowd in church on Sat- 
urday night. Still. and all, they pack 
that many of » them into the Church 
of the Open Door here'every Satur- 
day. And the Salvation Army band 
programmed for a recent weekend 
had two hep horns that "sent them" 
and "brought them back." 

The service, known as the "Satur- 
day Night Jubilee," is part of a 
national movement to sell religion 
to the kids. Directors won't admit 
to any special publicity drive and 
nay that "we really don't know what 
brings them in." The guess of Rev. 
Hubert Mitchell, heading the Los 
Angeles group, is that it's a resur- 
gence of youth interest in Christ. 

Talking with the kids themselves, 
(Continued on page 25) 



A Mugg Wonders Why 



Hamlet Was 




By MAJOR BARNEY OLDFIELD 

Copenhagen, May 20. 
One of the longest occupied Eu- 
ropean capitals, but least hurt by 
the Germans since they took over 
April 9, 1940, this Danish metropolis 
still celebrates the peace nightly by 
dancing on the cement which covers 
the Raadhusplatsen (Town Hall 
Square). 

Ever since the news in Danish 
came to the Danes via BBC that 
Germany had capitulated, the town 
has been mad with ecstasy, and the 
light blue armband with central 
stripes of red and white shows from 
the coatsleeves of men and women 
alike, denoting their activity in the 
resistance. 

It is almost like fairyland to come 
into Denmark from the rest of Eu- 
rope. On one side is Norway starv- 
ing on a steady diet of herring,' and 
ou>he other is Germany, its cities 

-J (Continued" on page 2) 

MIAMI BEACH MAY SOON 
BE EVACUATED BY ARMY 

Miami Beach may be evacuated 
soon by the Army as a result of 
victory in Europe. Talk there has 
it that the Army officials are con- 
sidering deploying troops elsewhere 
and releasing the hotels to civilian 
use. 

. The Army previously returned 
some hotels when the Air Force pro- 
gram was curtailed. It's said that 
•the contemplated evacuation mav be 
complete with the exception of a 
-iew hostelries being used as hos- 
pitals. 



Disks Going Soft With 
Soothing Tunes Faved 

A reflex from the war is already 
being noted in recording circles in 
that nicer, more polite music is be- 
ing favored on disks. GLpolls which 
have voted "Ave Maria" No. 1, and 
General Electric's "Hour of Charm" 
(Phil Spitalny) which polled and 
found "Till We Meet Again" and 
sacred hymns very popular, are all 
straws in the wind. 

Thus better and more soothing 
music, as a contrast to the staccato 
drum solos and out-of-this-world 
jive stuff, is getting first consider- 
ation on platters. 



Upped Curbs On 
Travel Nip Shows 

Washington, June 12. 

A virtual invitation for traveling 
entertainment groups to set up their 
own voluntary travel-rationing is 
contained in the statement issued 
Saturday (9) by Col. J. Monroe 
Johnson, director of ODT. Johnson 
hinted the possibility of overall 
travel-rationing unless the public 
goes along by voluntarily cutting its 
train and bus travel this summer. 

Johnson presented a 5-point vol- 
untary program, one part of which 
reads: 

"Large user? of transportation — 
sports, entertainment, commercial 
concerns and other enterprises — 
should reexamine their requirements 
and reduce their travel to a mini- 
mum. As yet no formal restrictions 
(Continued on page 25) 




OF FARM SYSTEM 



By ABEL GREEN 

Eddie Cantor, now in New York, 
thinks that the radio networks are 
foolishly lacking in foresight by not 
encouraging new talent. Baseball has 
its bushleague clubs where it farms 
out promising rookie talent, or helps 
cultivate contenders for the big 
leagues a season or two hence. 
Despite the decadence of vaudeville, 
in the heyday of that branch of, show 
business there was the smalltime as a 
constant cradle *or the bigtime. Hol- 
lywood constantly talent-scouts any- 
thing and everything from campuses 
to stock companies to Broadway. But 
radio, says the comedian, is apathetic. 

Thus does Cantor propel the 
thoughts of growing mass opinion 
among show people, notably the es- 
tablished (meaning the veteran) 
radio stars. He is possibly the first 
to place himself on public record as 
favoring this perspective. 

"J may be talking against myself 
because, as a 'Variety' editorial 
stated, the agencies would rather take 
the easy way out and buy the sea- 
continued on page 44) 



IS 



Army Films Being Burned: F^V &e 
Features Before GI's; Threaten Probe 



Cafe Stars Want to Cut 
To 1 or 2 Shows Only 

Sophie Tucker's commitment for 
Monte Proser's Copacabana, N. Y., 
may be stymied this fall as the 
songstress wants to do only two 
shows nightly. That's currently a 
new trend by other nitery stars, 

Hildegarde went back to two 
shows nightly at the Hotel Plaza, 
N. Y., with the curfew on* but next 
season, if continuing to play' the 
hotel circuit, she may insist on only 
doing the after-theatre show, as they 
do at the Waldorf-Astoria. 



METRO DICKERS FOR 
PUCCINI'S OPERAS 

A deal for all of Puccini's operas 
for a Metro film is in process of ne- 
gotiation, with agent Frank Orsatti 
having put in a $400,000 bid. He's 
acting for the studio. This is con- 
siderably less than a lGO,000-pound 
offer made in London some years 
ago. even before the public was con- 
ditioned to longhair music in pix. 
Now with the click ot Columbia's 
"Song to Remember" (Chopin) and 
others in the operatic cycle, Giacomo 
Puccini is much in demand, but has 
a $1,000,000 ide > as the value Of his 
works. 

G. Ricordi. the Milan music pub- 
lisher of Puccini's operas, i? pres- 
ently beiny dickered. And there is 
also the question of the Alien Prop- 
erty Custodian's permission to re- 
lease the Italian copyrights for Hol- 
lywood. 



Ohio Atty. Gen') Denies 
Insurance Vs. Racial 
Discrimination Suits 

Columbus, O., June 12. 

Operators of theatres, restaurants, 
nightclubs, retail stores and other 
public places cannot obtain insur- 
ance to protect themselves against, 
suits for violation of the so-called 
"civil rights" statute, which prohibits 
discrimination against patrons be- 
cause of color, race, or creed, accord- 
ing to an opinion by Ohio Attorney 
General Hugh S. Jenkins. 

The attorney general said that the 
writing of sueh insurance would be 
contrary to public policy because it 
would encourage and permit persons 
to wilfully violate the civil rights 
bill and that by such insurance the 
policyholder could avoid the penalty 
which the law now imposes. 

The opinion was given at the re- 
quest of Walter Dresscl, state super- 
intendent of insurance, who said a 
company had inquired if it could sell 
such insurance in Ohio. 



Al Jolson Will Star In 
Todd's B'way Musical 

One of the alltime veterp.n greats 
of the American theatre will prob- 
ably make his finale legit starring 
appearance on Broadway for one of 
the youngest producers when Al 
Jolson does a show for Mike Todd 
next fall. Both had a quick huddle 
in New York last midweek, when 
Todd got back from Europe. 

Jolson returns to Hollywood the 
end of the month to wrap up his 
screen autobiographical for Colum- 
bia, "Minstrel Boy." 



Benny Due For 
Format Switch 

Trade speculation has been rife 
for some time as to whether or not 
Jack Benny's return to the air next 
fall wouldn't be marked by some 
switch in his now long-established 
format, particularly in view of the 
show's downgraded Hooper. It's 
now reported 'that, although as an- 
nounced publicly by Benny the cast 
will be back intact, the comedian 
has decided to revise the program's 
format in a bid to recapture those 
top ratings. . 

The Benny dpwnslide is in some 
respects" one of the mysteries of the 
trade, many arguing that for script 
content and all round showmanship, 
the show over the past season hit a 
Jaugh stride that was probably just 
as boff, if not more so, than in previ- 
ous semesters and that adherence to 
the same format has created a feel- 
ing of audience intimacy with the 
now standard Benny foibles and 
characteristics. 

And for those who blame the trip- 
hammered LS/MFT commercial 
technique, the trade points to the 
fact that the same routine on the, 
"Hit Parade" show has' far , from 
diminished its audience draw. 



GOV. DAVIS, HILLBILLIES 
SET FOR LA. AIR SHOW 

. ; New Orleans. June 12. 

Governor Jimmie Davis of Louisi- 
ana and his hillbilly band will ap- 
pear in a 30-roinute show, "Sun- 
shine Barn Dance," on WJBO, Baton 
Rouge, Saturday nights starting Sat- 
urday (10). Davis inked' deal with 
Charles P. Manship, owner of sta- 
tion, and publisher o[ two papers- 
in state capital, The State Times and 
Morning Advocate, 

Show is first on which Davis and 
his band will appear regularly since 
he became the stale'? chief executive 
over a yc;iv ago. lie has- nixed all 
previous oilers. ,''.' 



Washington, June 12. 

Spokesmen for all Army units 
connected with motion picture pro- 
duction huddled Thursday (7) in 
the first of a series of meetings to 
determine what can be done toward 
releasing to 1 the .public some service 
pictures no longer used. A second 
session will be held this week, at 
which Navy film people, who have, 
the same problem, will also sit in. 

Army was . recently accused of 
burning prints at Astoria. Stuff was 
generally old . training film and it 
was claimed that (they should have 
been released to technical and edu- 
cational groups which could have 
used them "to educate and train ci- 
vilians. 

It the fracas ever results in a Con- 
gressional probe, the point is certain 
to be made that, despite the tight 
raw stock situation, Prisoner > of 
War Camps here got two new Hot- 
ly wood features weekly, . For ex-^ 
ample, "Dragon Seed" was screened 
for the POWs before the GI's in 

•'.: (Continued on page 30) . 

N.Y. Hotels' Worst Jam 
Caused by Relatives 
Meeting GI Returnees 

New- York faces the tightest hotel 
situation since the start of the war. 
For the past two weeks it has been 
virtually impossible to obtain rooms ' 
in any of the major, hospices here 
and it's expected that ( the situation 
will become .-increasingly worse for 
some time. '. '■ 

There have been long lines wait- 
ing for accommodations in ' the 
Broadway hostels and even clas* 
East Side inns have to tell regulars 
that they're all sold put. Price no 
longer seems to be an object. 

Major reason for the roonvscarcity 
is the fact that relatives of returning 
servicemen arc flocking to New York 
to be on hand when the boat docks. 
The eager relations are filling the 
inns to- overflow. 

Hotelmen now claim they can vir- 
tually tell how many boats are pass- . 
ing the Statue of Liberty just by 
looking a£<the room clerks' line. The > 
lines have been getting longer as 
more troops are being given fur- 
loughs from the European theatre of 
'- (Continued on page 54) 

LEIGH'S FLASH SHOW 
BACK ON BROADWAY 

The world's greatest "in the flash" 
production returned to Broadway 
(and 46th street) Monday night (11) 
for the first time since April 28, 
1942, when the Big Street wa« 
blacked out. ' Despite some to-be- 
expected opening night jitters and 
flickers, Douglas Leigh's mammoth 
spec for Schaefer's lager beer, 
(Continued on page, 50) - — 



4 



MISCELLANY 



Wednesday, June 13, 1913 



Wiidberg's Unusual 2-Year Pacts With 
Martha Raye, Phil Baker for Musical 



-r ■ ~ ■-- Hollywood,. June .12. ♦ 

John Wildberg inked Martha Raye 
and Phil Baker for two years as 
toppers in his forthcoming Broad- 
way musical, "Belle Brodie," as a 
precaution against the possible 
snatching of his stars. Contracts In- 
dicate how long he expects the 
"Brodie" show to run. Production, 
said to be costing about $200,000, 
will be tried out in Boston during 
October and open on Broadway be- 
fore Thanksgiving. Cy Howard is 
doing the book, Sammy Cahn and 
Jule Styne .the tunes, and Harry 
Delmar will direct. 

Wildberg will remain in Holly- 
wood until June 22, to discuss the 
sale of film 'rights to "Memphis 
Bound" and to sign two more play- 
ers for top roles in "Brodie." Mean- 
while, he is preparing a straight 
legit play, , "The Hump," for co- 
production with Harry WagstaiY 
Gribble'. 



Baker's "Piece" of Show 
' Phil Baker, slated to co-star with 
Martha Raye in "Belle Brodie," is 
reported to have entered into an un- 
usual contract with Wildberg, 
whereby the comedian will receive 
high-bracket compensation. Baker 
is guaranteed $1,250 weekly and, in 
addition, gets a slice of the profits in 
the same proportion as though he 
invested $35,000 in "Belle." What 
that percentage will be depends on 
how much the production nut is. 

Wildberg figures it is probable the 
actor will earn around $2,200 weekly. 
Miss Raye is under contract at $3,- 
000. weekly. Elsa Maxwell is another 
name slated for "Belle." 



Abbott to Supervise 
Coast Pic From B'way 

George Abbott, who came east a 
few weeks ago after finishing pro- 
duction on film version of his 
Broadway hit, "Kiss and Tell," and 
was to return to produce this sea- 
son's success, "Snafu," when the film 
strike intervened, reveals now that 
he won't go back, production on the 
Louis Solomon-Harold Buchman 
comedy- to resume tomorrow (14) 
without him. Jack Moss, associate 
producer, will direct. 

Abbott will supervise details from 
New Yorki with George Winfield 
Smith, who repeats the Colonel role 
in the film version, being dialog di- 
rector for Abbott. Abbott starts 
work late, in the summer on the 
stage play "Mr. Cooper's Left Hand," 
which he'll produce with Richard 
Myers. . 



Connelly, Growther 
Head Politico Pic Sesh 

Film panel of the Independent 
Citizens Committee of Arts, Sciences 
and Professions has been set for the 
June 23 conference at the Waldorf 
Astoria hotel, N. Y., with Marc Con 
nelly, screen and playwright, and 
Bosley Crowther, N. Y. Times film 
critic, co-chairmaning. 

Producer John Houseman, actor 
Alexander Knox, screenwriters John 
Howard Lawson and Mary McCall, 
Jr., and playwright Emmet Lavery 
will present analyses of new mar- 
kets and trends in films. Dr. Frank- 
lin Fearing will discuss potentialities 
of educational and documentary 
films, . and Zachary Schwartz and 
Sgt. John Hubley survey postwar 
possibilities df the cartoon film me 
dium. 



Hildegarde Abroad 

Hildegarde is going overseas this 
summer under auspices of USO- 
Camp Shows, to spend six weeks' in 
the European theatre from July 16 
to 'Sept. 1, entertaining troops. Sing- 
er will have three others in her 
unit,: her manager, Anna Sosenko, 
also going along. 

The chanteuse concludes at the 
Hotel Plaza, N. Y., July 2, thence to 
Chicago for a minor operation, be- 
fore doing 4-6 weeks abroad. 



fiERT LIKES HULA LAND 

Gertrude Lawrence and John 
Hoysradt will remain in Hawaii un- 
til July 15, Instead of returning now 
as per original schedule, to play in 
the legiter "Blithe Spirit." 

Comedy is being, produced by 
Army Special Services under direc- 
tion of Major Maurice Evans. Miss 
Lawrence and Hoysradt had been in 
the Pacific with a USO-Camp Shows 
variety unit. 



Jane Froman Overseas 

Jane Froman, still crippled from 
the Clipper crash at Lisbon in Feb- 
ruary, 1942, has gone overseas again 
to entertain GIs, having left. New 
York by boat last week lor a threes 
month tour in Europe, 

Singer, who manipulates on crut- 
ches with her leg in a cast, was ac- 
companied by her husband, Don 
Ross, acting as emcee; Dave Thurs- 
by, comic, and Dave Kenner. pianist. 
USO-Camp Shows is sponsoring. 

2 IN SHOWEIZGWLLED 
IN LANGFORD MURDER 

Puzzling murder of Albert E. 
Langford in his apartment at the 
swank Hotel Marguery, Park ave- 
nue, New York, where he lived with 
his wife Marion, has involved sev- 
eral persons in show business or- on. 
the fringes of . it; : ' \ 

Although he was reported in Chi- 
cago at the time of the slaying, Reed 
Lawton. one of Mrs. Langford's 
flock of protegees, has been ques- 
tioned by the police several times. 
Widow encouraged a number of 
young singers and loaned them vari- 
ous sums of money. She has an al- 
lowance of $3,000 monthly from her 
millionaire father. 

Lawton, a member of Equity, is a 
singer also known as Netto and an 
actor, it being reported that he ob- 
tained around $50,000 from Mrs. 
Langford, total also being said to 
have been twice that amount. He 
claimed to have repaid the widow, 
who said that all she received from 
Lawton was $2,500. 

Couple of summers ago Lawton 
was in a controversy in Toledo over 
managerial difficulties with a musi- 
cal stock. Early this season he 
trouped a company of "Naughty 
Marietta" westward of Chicago. Cast 
included some non-Equityites but 
members were permitted to appear 
because the outfit played high school 
auditoriums. When he booked some 
legit theatres later, show became all 
Equity and cash security to guar- 
antee salaries was deposited with 
Equity. It is believed . that money 
secured from Mrs. Langford was 
used for that purpose, also to fi- 
nance the tour. ; , . 

Frank Teller, reputed to be a 
"producer," is also claimed to have 
been a recipient of Mrs. Langford's 
benefactions. His name appeared in 
connection with one or two shows 
which flopped and it's possible that 
the widow partially angeled those 
tries. Mrs. Langford, whose age is 
mentioned as anywhere from 55 to 
over 70 years, has accented in her 
interviews that she "doesn't know 
Broadwayites." 




' 156th WEEK! 

KEN MURRAY'S 

"BLACKOUTS OF 1945" 
El Capitan Thtatre, Hollywood, C»l. 

"The moRt original slase show 
that has come aloiiK in years." 

AMOS 'N ANDY. 



Negro Ass'n Raps WB's 
tolerance Film Short 

Springfield, Mass., June 12. 

For its pains in filming "It Hap- 
pened in Springfield", tolerance- 
preaching short, Warner Bros, was 
rapped this week by Springfield 
chapter of National Association for 
the Advancement of Colored People. 
Chapter voted io voice its protest to 
the 'producers. 

The film, according to the resolur 
tion adopted, "sidestepped the real 
issues of disunity existing in Amer- 
ica today. It completely ignored 
anti-Semitism, which is rife, and 
Jim Crowism which is several cen- 
turies old." 

Picture.^ directed and written by 
Crane Wilbur, used Scandinavian- 
American as victim of intolerance 
to. point out worth of "Springfield 
system" of teaching democracy in 
local school system. 
' Not mentioned . in resolution, but 
believed to be contributory factor, 
was failure of producers to use some 
footage shot in the classroom of Ne- 
gro. teacher. 

Picture previewed here last month 
drew lukewarm reviews in two pa- 
pers and a souud walloping from the 
Daily News, which made the same 
point as the NAACP resolution. 



M-G Renews Bill Powell 

Hollywood, June 12. 
M etro has sig ned William Powell 
to anotner long-term ticket yester- 
day, continuing the 11-year associa- 
tion of the actor with the studio. 
Powell came to the Culver City lot 
in 1934. 

His first, under the new pact, will 
be "Hoodlum Saint," 



A Mugg Wonders 



Continued from page J 



in ruins and its women standing stol- 
idly in long lines for rations. In 
Denmark, from ice' cream to thick 
steaks, food is plentiful and avail- 
able to everyone. 

Probably no people enjoyed the 
coming of peace it' "i rope more 
than the Danish star) the Amer- 
ican film companies, w.io could look 
down from windows of their offices 
around Townhall Square and see, in- 
stead of Nazi governor Dr. Werner 
Best, the beret of Field Marshal 
Montgomery. With Monty came 
members of the famous British First 
Airborne Division (the boys from 
Bloody Arnheim last September in 
Holland), whose smiling faces were 
a vast improvement over the stony 
pusses of the Gestapo. 

For one thing, to the representa- 
tives of the American pic industry, 
it meant they could once again go 
to work, something which had been 
denied them since 1943. The Ger- 
mans didn't put the clamp on U. S. 
celluloid immediately, aside from 
grabbing the better films which 
might compete with German or Ger- 
man-sponsored product. 

When the lid 1 finally went on, it 
was through instruction from the 
Nazis that films released prior to 
a certain date could not be shown 
after a fixed date in 1942, and the 
rest of the block after a deadline in 
1943. Since there were no oppor- 
tunities to import later releases, that 
finished it for the exchanges. 

Eventually German officials came 
around and told the companies not 
to loan out for private showings, or 
in any way touch the films in the 
vaults, and that stymie had been on 
for two years when peace came. All 
those picts are being pulled out now, 
dusted off, and being called for by 
exhibitors. 

New Releases Now 

The newer films'" come via Supreme 
Headquarters, which arranges in 
each country released from occupa- 
tion a representative group of spools 
from English and American studios. 
"Air Force" (WB), "In Which We 
Serve" (UA), and "Desert Victory" 
(20th) have been drawing tremen- 
dous houses. 

One film the Warner crowd is anx- 
ious to see in the Danish capital is 
the oldie, "Confessions of a Nazi 
Spy," which got only as far as Nor- 
way, where the filmcan was inter- 
cepted by the newly arrived Ger- 
mans and was never delivered to 
Denmark. Another Warner piece, 
"Espionage Agent," was taken by the 
Gestapo from the exchange vault 
and sent direct to Berlin for review 
by the German High Commands? in- 
telligence sectioji to see (t) whether 
the outside world was aware of Ger- 
man methods and <2) whether Hol- 
lywood scripters could give them 
any new angles for procedure. The 
Warner office hasn't received any 
report from Berlin as to the merits 
—but the print didn't come back. 

Danish local production has been 
going all during the war, the four 
studios in or near Copenhagen— 
Nordisk, Palladium, Asa and Saga- 
releasing between 15 and 18 films 
each year. Nordisk, the largest, 
makes about seven a year, and Saga, 
the smallest, three. 

Budget for a film is around 150,000 
to 200,000 kroner (a kroner is worth 
about 17c), and the maker some- 
times sees back a half million. The 
films are very popular, and never 
ran afoul of the Nazis because they 
carefully avoided all controversial 
issues. One of the studio staff mem- 
bers, showing me around, said such 



»♦♦♦ M » M « »♦♦♦»»♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦ ♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦ M « ♦♦>♦«»♦»■*• 



SCULLY'S SCRAPBOOK 



.tMtMMMMMM By Frank Scully ♦♦♦♦♦♦ m ♦* 

Cap Gris, June 10. 

"Just a frantic note to say hello and to warn you," warns Leonardo da 
Levinson, V.M.E., from the security of a Park avenue penthouse, "that the 
next guy who makes a derogatory crack about California's weather gets a 
bloody nose." — ' . - - - ' 

I had scarcely turned over this threat to the decoding department when 
Barry Stevens, who did in Hawaii long enough to write "Hideaway Island," 
and then found herself marooned for a week in a roomless JHolly wood, 
reported she had a bloody nose. "And not from Leevinson, either, but from 
walking along Butadiene Boulevard in the cold, gray gas that passes these 
days for a sunny morning in California." 

Hardly had this complaint been filed when Warners reported in with 
some elm trees which had lived 12 seasons in 56 days, shedding their 
leaves and growing new foliage thrice in two months. I have heard recent 
Broadway visitors testify to living through winter, spring and fall— every- 
thing except summer— almost daily, so the trees shouldn't be blamed for 
being booby-trapped 12 times in two months. Whether this was clue to 
the grey-out, or the arc lights studios use, hasn't been settled yet because 
Cal Tech's boys haven't been able to grope their way to the lab to find out. 

I had scarcely got far in discussing the harmless subject of weather 
(harmless elsewhere, at any rate) with Nonny, our fourth flea from heaven, 
when she busted me in the nose. Still nursing the sock from our one-year- 
old wild calf of the purple sage, I asked Frank Moran what caused a thing 
like that. Having once worked up a lethal "Mary Ann" of his own, he 
now reserves his punches for the pictures of Preston Sturges. He examined 
the smack and 1 said I must have provoked a patriot to extremes to get such 
a belt. AH I had said was that the climate could easily explain why Cali- 
fornia developed so many champions. "If the climate doesn't kill them 
in infancy," I had remarked philosophically, "they gotta grow up to be 
giants." That's as far as I got, I explained to Moran,' when Nonny busted 
me as wide open as if I had been Willard and she Dempsey. 

"Speaking of those two old hamhocks," said Moran, "Willard is getting 
pretty tired of people who tell him they saw him fight Dempsey. Willard 
says he fought a lot of fights and won practically all of them, but nobody 
ever seems to have seen any of the others." 

Willard was about the only fighter who wasn't cast in "The Princess 
and the Pirate." Besides Bob Hope were Frank Moran, Freddie Steele, 
Ed Kennedy and Victor McLaglen. McLaglen and Moran fought Jack 
Johnson. McLaglen says to this day he doesn't, know what Johnson hit 
Kim with. Maybe it was nothing more than a California fog. It looks 
and acts much like a fighting lady, not in technicolor' but battleship gray. 
Jim Tully's Record 

Jim Tully, long a worker in the No Man's Land between the punching 
palookas and the more elegant arts, was telling me that he had. always 
aspired to be a writer. "When I began fighting," he said, "I wrote myself 
up 10 wins and had them printed. So I never began as a preliminary 
boy. I began in the' semi-finals and worked down." 

Earl Wilson gazed 1 into his eight ball years after its best days. But, even 
so, he did better in New York than he would have on the west coast, 
because in Hollywood he wouldn't have been able to see the ball unless 
it were equipped with fog lights. It is about this time every year when 
chill, gray days follow each other like Confederate veterans and producers 
threaten to pull up the town and transplant it to Florida. But cooler 
heads usually prevail. 

Still some people like all or any part of it. Barry Steveas reports that 
her bunkmate, eriroute from Honolulu to San Francisco, was a USO Camp 
Show girl. As the steamer sailed under the Golden Gate bridge the gal 
exclaimed: "Look. Neon lights! Alcatiaz!. We're home!" 



lines as "When this war is over, I'm 
going to the United States and en- 
joy the rest of my life" would obvi- 
ously never get into a script. 

For casts, which are always small, 
the Danish Royal and 1 other theatres 
are combed for players. Paul Reu- 
mert, of th Royal, and a dramatic 
actor, is the fave in nis line, and fat 
comic, lb Schonberg, is the local Bob 
Hope. On the femme side, Bodil 
Kjoer and Karin Nellemose make 
the most. When the recently formed 
Danish Film Friends Union (equiva- 
lent to the Hollywood Academy) 
looked around for a director to pin 
ribbons on during the past year, the 
award went to Johann Jacobsen, who 
made "Otte Akkorder" ("8 Chords")'. 

According to Copenhagen film 
criticism, the coming girl in the bus- 
iness is ash blonde Greta Frische, 
who is a female Orson Welles, writes, 
directs" and acts (she's a comedienne) 
at Saga. She's currently kissing off 
the studio for a half year while she 
travels, getting some slants in 
France, Sweden, England and the 
U. S., if she has time. 

"I'm afraid to visit, the studios in 
America," she says, "because -'they'll 
probably teach me how easy it is to 
spend money, an item we have to 
watch closely in our limited mar- 
ket." _ • 

To illustrate this there are no cir- 
cuits in Denmark, all theatres being 
individually owned. Even the stu- 
dios have only a single house each. 
People don't just get an idea they'd 
like to open a theatre in Denmark, 
and do it, either. It's a complicated 
process, including writing to a na- 
tional council set up for the pur- 
pose, explaining why, and the council 
may never even answer; But the 
man can't build 1 until they do answer 
and tell him to start. 

Less Moola for Stars; 

Being a top-bracket star in Den- 
mark filrns doesn't mean it'll take a 
cart to haul the per picture moola 
to the bank, high pay being about 
30,000 kroner a film. Director money 
at the peak is about 20,000. 

Being of average "Variety" intel- 
ligence, I never could see why people 
bought tickets for Shakespearean 
opuses (some damned copy editor, 
will probably make that "opera") 
when other shows had 'half -or more 
nekkid dames in them, so while here 



Buddy De Sylva Improving 

Hollywood, June 12. 

Buddy De Sylva continues to sliow 
improvement from the heart attack 
suffered last week and the partial 
paralysis of his side is ea.sing, but 
the; medics won't know until the 
weekend when he can leave the 
Cedars of Lebanon hospital. 

He may have to spend a couple 
more weeks under close observation 
and continue convalescence at home. 
Not likely he'U return to studio for 
a couple of months. 

Meantime all the social hoopla ati 
tendant to his just finished "Stork 
Club" has been cancelled. 



it . was only a 40-kilometer run out 
to Helsinger (Elsinore), I took jeep 
firmly between my two bare hands 
and went knifing through thousands 
of cyclists along the shore road to 
hamlet's house of melancholy; 

The boss guard, Ragi Sorensen, 
who has been in the joint for the 
last 17 years, said I was the first 
American in the place since the war. 
Ke told me about how, until- 1939, 
in the castle yard, a "Hamlet" per- 
formance was given each year. Used 
to SRO 'em, too. For a couple of 
American cigarets, he violated all 
the laws of Scandinavia and a couple 
of paragraphs of' the Magna Charta 
and took me into the banquet hall — 
the largest in Europe. From one of 
the big windows, it's possible to look 
right over into Sweden 18 miles of 
water away. Hermann Goering, the 
Nazi potbelly, once had designs on 
the place for one 6f his country es- 
tates, but the Danes vanitied him 
out of the notion by pointing out 
how inadequate King Christian II's 
taste of 1574 was to Goering of the 
20th century. Hermann thought bet- 
ter of it, and never bothered it 
again. Besides, the fact that Hamlet 
got melancholy there, may have 
steered Goering elsewhere, because 
he must have known he would Jiajsv 
time_ enough to be unhappy lateral > 

For all the guys in Hollywood aft^i 
N.Y. who haven't seen a real blonde 
in ages, I recommend the bicycle 
holiday route from C«i'* nnagen to 
Helsinger. The girls arc really stand- 
outs. How that guy Hamlet could 
have been melancholy in that neigh- 
borhood is beyond me. 



Wednesday, June IS, 1945 



P^RIETY 



PICTURES 



CURB PLAY BUYS FOR PIX IN '45 



$3,000,000 Spent Annually by Majors 
On Wages to Employees in Service; 
Returnees Presenting Union Problem 



Major film companies have been* 
spending $3,000,000 or more annual- 
ly in salaries being paid to former 
employees who jo'ined the American 
armed forces. 

While him companies have main- 
tained silence on such disbursements, 
payments in some cases are 25$, or 
higher, of the salaries which serv- 
ice men and women received as 
civilians. ' 

In most instances, personnel in the 
armed forces has thus been kept on 
picture company payrolls. 

Where there has been no straight 
percentage of- pre-war salary, per- 
sonnel directors have tried to pro- 
vide for maintenance of a compar- 
able standard of living for people' 
• in service. 

Iii case of the latter procedure, 
there have been surveys of depend- 
ents and other factors, with picture 
companies sending remittances to 
prevent undue hardship for the serv- 
icemen or families. 

An average rate of around $350.- 
000 per film company has been esti- 
mated, based on the disbursements 
reported for some of the companies. 
Such payments cease, of course, 
when GI's return to civilian life. 

However, while keeping service 
personnel on the books appears to 
answer the postwar job problem, 
difficulties are anticipated, particu- 
larly in production and exhibition, 
when union protocol becomes in- 
volved in an ever-increasing num- 
ber of cases. Production and exhibi- 
tion execs may be sandwiched be- 
tween warring factions. 

As a result, move to mobilize mo- 
tion picture industry veterans of 
World War II via new American 
Legion posts, which may serve to 
protect interests of returning GI's. is 
gaining headway. ;•*>••- 

Plan to form a new motion pic- 
ture post of the American i_,egion In 
Hollywood, reported in "Variety" 
several months ago. is now being 
followed. in the east. 

Organizers of the Post on the 
Coast, including vets of both World 
War I and II, indicated an aware- 
ness of serious problems ahead in 
handling ex-servicemen seeking re- 
instatement and ( ih. some instances, 
advancement when they return. 



Ethel Barrymore Pic 

Called Off by RKO 

Hollywood, June 12. 
Peal for Ethel Barrymore to play 
in "Miss Hat-greaves" for RKO has 
been called off by the studio, with 
the production shelved indefinitely. 
Studio said that no contract, either 
verbally or written, had been set up 
and that the whole matter was only 
ill the discussion stage when can- 
celled. 

Studio added that the story 
wasn't - strong enough to be made 
into" a film at this time 'and that the 
script hadn't even been prepared. 
Harriet Parsons, who was to have 
produced, had several talks with 
Miss Barrymore in N. Y. couple of 
months ago.- Latter came to Coast 
two weeks ago for" broadcasts and to 
huddle with the studio over the pro- 
posed film. i ; 



TECHNICOLOR SETS UP 
OWN RETIREMENT PLAN 

Hollywood. June 12. 

Having been approved- by board 
of directors, stockholders and a Fed- 
eral board. Dr. Herbert T. Kalmus. 
Technicolor prexy, announces a re- 
tirement plan for tinter firm em- 
ployees covering those between 25 
and 65' who have had five continu- 
ous years' service with the company. 
Retirement age normally set at 65 
but those' members who wish may 
retire after 55 with consent of com- 
pany on adjusted incomes. 
. Members desiring to work after 
65 'will receive full retirement bene- 
fits in addition to salary. 

Each member is required to de- 
posit 3 .;. of the first- $250 of basic 
monthly pa\y and 5'; of that part 
over $250. Technicolor plan pro- 
vides retirement income payable at 
65 of an amount equal to 1'; of a 
member's basic yearly compensation 
alter age of 25. Full credit will be 
accorded and paid" by Technicolor 
for each year of service over age 
of 25, prior to adoption of plan. 

Full amount of deposit may, be 
withdrawn by member with interest 
at any time. If member terminates 
his employment he may leave his 
deposit and receive full benefits pro- 

Med,- by plan. If member should 

J before being paid retirement 
•/-mefits for 10 years, balance of that 
period would be paid to his sur- 
vivors. In event of death berore re- 
tirement full amount of members 
deposit, phis that deposited by com- 
Patiy, would be paid to his -bene-" 
ticialfy. 



Films a Tremendous 
Advance Agent Abroad 
For AH U. S— Skouras 

Spyrps Skouras. 20th-Fox prexy, 
who returned last week from trip 
abroad, stated last Friday (81 that 
American industry has not yet rec- 
nized the tremendous job which U.S. 
films have done in promoting all U. S. 
commerce, in foreign countries. He 
•declared that althougi. American 
film.s have served as advance agent 
for American goods everywhere there 
has been little awareness, of its im- 
portance by others. 

Skouras said that, thanks to the 
American motion picture industry, 
foijci shipments from America had 
reached Greece and were distributed 
there. He estimated that these food 
shipments have saved 3,000,000 peo- 
ple from death by starvation (total 
Green population' about 7.500.000). 

Skouras pointed out that it was 
only because the U. S. film industry 
had intervened that such shipments 
were possible. "It is because 1 repre- 
sent the film business that doors 
opened in the U. S. State Department 
and the foreign ministries abroad 
and made these relief shipments pos- 
sible. This is an instance of what 
our industry can do iii the way of 
human good. It has baen instru- 
mental in saving millions of lives." 
Skouras noted that the theatres, 
through collections, and radio broad- 
casts, had helped in raising funds. 

Skouras. who visited Greece. Pal- 
estine. England and other areas 
abroad, said that aside from food 
the product which could do the most 
for the morale of the wartbrn na- 
tions, such as Greece, would be 
American films. "To help them for- 
get some of the horrors of the war," 
lie said. 



Coast Film Execs East 
En Route to Europe 

. f . Hollywood, June 12. . 

E. J. Mannix and Clifford P. Work 
are, en route cast by train, with Sid- 
ney Buchman. Harry Cohn, Jack L. 
Warner and Darryl Zanuck slated 
to fly out Thursday (14i for Wash- 
ington to join the group of studio 
and company heads who Will tour 
the European theatre of operations 
as guests of SHAEF. . 

Hollywood execs, including Lester 
Cowan and Sol Lesser, who are al- 
ready in the east, will have a day's 
indoctrination- in the capital before 
departure overseas by . ACT plane. 

Group will be luncheon guests 
Saturday,, (16> of Gem George C. 
Marshall . and Maj. : Gen. Alexander 
Surles. Company heads and other 
industry personnel who will make 
the trip include Barney Balaban, Si 
Fabian. Russell Holman. Francis 
Harmon. Taylor N. Mills. N. Peter 
Rathvon and R. B. Wilby. Party 
will be guests of the British go\- 
erament in London. 





By MORI KRUSHEN 

Hollywood bidding for screen 
rights to Broadway plays registered 
a sharp decline during the first half 
of 1945. A single important play 
buy ' for film production ("Oh. 
Brother") is reported thus far this 
year, since Paramourit's deal to pur- 
chase "Dear , Ruth ' for $450,000 has 
not been consummated, pending ad- 
judication of the Columbia Pictures 
action against Norman Krasna. et al. 

Combined screen light purchases 
since Jan. 1, 1945. by studios total 
scarcely more than $350,000 thus far. 
indicating a marked cooling oft' in 
the Hollywood-Broadway romance 
when compared to the commitments 
totaling a record-breaking $4,500,000 | 
or better (calculating potential prof- | 
it-participation revenue) for the full 
year ending Dec. 31. 1944. 

Dominant .factors in the changing 
approach to purchase of plays for 
screen purposes appear to be: 

1. Refusal of some of the major 
companies to enter into what they 
consider partnership deals, i.e.. 
profit-participation. 

2. High prices being asked for 
screen rights, whether on outright 
pi- percentage basis. 

3: Disappointing results, financial- 
ly and otherwise, following .filming 
of some plays aiid shelving of some 
(Continued on page 30) • ■'•• 



Mushroom Producers in France 
Stall U. S. Pix Development; Plan 
New Quota System, As in Britain 



Mary Pickford's Films 
For Library of Congress ' 

Washington, June 12. j 
The Library of Congress has been 
offered a complete set of the films 
in which Mary Pickford starred for 
its permanent collection. The pic- 
tures form a valuable historic record 
in the development of the art of 
films. 

It's understood here that the Li- 
brary will accept and will niake an 
announcement very shortly. Details, 
such. as screening rights arid copy- 
riglits, are how- being wbrk'ed out. 
If, however, there should be a last 
minute switch in plans, the Museum 
of Modem Art in N. V. has declared 
it would like the pix. 



Wide Use of Radio, Pix 
By Foreign Countries 
Evidenced Within U. S. 

Washington. June 12. 

Widespread use of films and radio 
in this country for foreign propa- 
ganda is reflected in the report sent 
by the Attorney General to Congress 
yesterday (11) on the administra- 
tion of the Foreign Agents Registra- 
tion Act. 

Report lists 17 press radio and mo- 
tion picture services: and 17 distrib- 
utors of films, photographs and radio 
transcriptions, as registered in ac- 
cordance with the law. Jn addition, 
many other groups do picture and 
radio work in connection with their 
major propaganda activities. 

Some of the outfits are domestic- 
working for foreign principals; others 
are units fully operated by person- 
nel of foreign governments. Some 
of the persons required to register 
under the law are businessmen here 
as commercial representatives. Most 
are out lo influence public opinion 
in America in favor of their particu- 
lar government, or even in favor of 
one faction fighting for Control and 
recognition in a country. 

Britain has the most direct 
"agents" in the motion picture field 
—College Film Center. Cosmopolitan 
Films. Film Preview. Rarig Motion 
Picture Co.. Swank Motion Pictures 
and Visual Education Service. Inc. 

Russia has Artkino Pictures and' 
PIC Films. Inc: Canada has a 
branch of its National Film Board. 
Most other countries are fully pre- 
pared to supply films for public and 
private showings, and they are all 
willing to supply radio material.; 

All operate openly, so long as they 
are: properly registered with the 
Dept. of Justice. For example, until 
it folded up. the publicity outfit for 
the Yugoslav government-in-exile 
claimed it. supplied newspapers and 
magazines, distributed stills, jfave 
information in connection With 
books being written for Americans. I 
gave advice in the production of the ! 
film "Chetniks"; worked with Sig- 
mund Romberg on an operetta laid 
in Yugoslavia: supplied radio ma- 
terial for March of Time. etc. 



Par's 3d-of-a-Century . 
Aims for All the U. S. 
Screens Sept. 2-9 Wk.- 

In connection with its Third-of-a-l 
Century celebration Aug. 26 to Sept. 
29. Paramount will set aside the 
week of Sept. 2-9 in an attempt to 
get something bearing the Par 
trademark, whether features, shorts ! 
or newsreels. played on every screen i 
of the'counlry. This is similar to the ! 
goal employed by Metro during, its j 
one-week anniversary drive last.! 
year and for the month's campaign ; 
put on by 20th -Fox this spring. 

While details have not yet been 
completely worked out. Par is plan- 
ning to .award prizes, probably In the I 
nature of war bonds, to members of 
its sales force who show the best re- 
sults during the Third-of-a-Century I 
campaign, with quotas to be set up | 
for the men to shoot for as goals. 
How much will be set aside in prizes 
has not as yet been determined. 

Meantime. Allen Usher. Chicago 
district manager, is making a tour 
of the west to discuss the drive with 
the exchanges, while Duke Clark. 
Dallas district head, is covering the 
east similarly. Usher winds up his 
preliminary tour at St. Louis Satur- 
day (16). Clark his in N. Y.. next 
Tuesday (19). 

Later on. sometime in July, both 
Usher and Clark will go out on an- 
other tour, this time to lay further 
plans and also contact exhibitors. At 
that time Usher will tour the east 
instead of the west and Clark vice 
versa. ' .• 



Mushroom producers, in France, 
who made pictures with a decided 
Nazi tinge under the German occu- 
pation, are currently a major factor 
in retarding the reestabli.shment of 
the American film business in 
France. Many of these producers 
have formed 'partnerships with peo- 
ple in the French government ser- 
vice in a concerted effort to keep 
their product on the French screens. 

Murray Si Iverstone. president of 
2(>th-Fox International Corp.. who 
returned to N. Y. over the past 
weekend from a trip abroad, in de- 
scribing conditions in France said 
that government officials and minis- 
tries- were constantly changing. He 
expressed hope that satisfactory ■ar- 
rangements would be worked out 
once the government becomes sta- 
bilized. ■ ;'" 

Silvertone confirmed, in effect. -last 
week's report in "Variety" of a move 
to set up a quota system in France 
similar lo that prevailing in England 
in relation to American films. 

This would be an "exhibitor quo- 
ta." In England exhibitors are re- 
quired to show at least 15'J Brilish 
features and 20'v British shorts on 
programs. Along with exhibitor quo- 
tas, however, there Would also be 
monetary-production quotas, as in 
England, .— 

Silverstone revealed, also, that 
20th-Fox is opening three- new ex- 
(Cohtinued on page 59> 

MAJORS MULL COMM'L 
PICTURE PRODUCTION 

A new production field for all ma- 
jor companies looms. It's the mak- 
ing of industrial and commercial 
films for big business. The studios 
would merely lend their facilities 
and. where feasible, assist artisti- 
cally. ;■: ■■; . . 

There is a quasi-patriotic purpose 
back of -this wedding between com- 
mercial pix and the entertainment 
film industry. That is the realiza- 
tion by the latter that U. S. com- 
merce abroad follows the films: and 
if industrial films can project the 
superiority of American products' 
worldwide, it's to the best general 
interests of all America. 



WB RESUMES ACTIVITY 
ON COLORED NEWSREEL 

With V-E day.. Warner Bros, is 
furthering plans for its Technicolor 
magazine-newsreel, which was halt- 
ed by the war. 

It's something, which Harry M. 
Warner has long favored, bemg a 
sort of March. of Time in'color. ' 



WB Common Stock To 
New High in 8 Years 

Warner Bros, common soared to 
new high ground for the last eight 
years in last week's trading on N.'Y. 
Stock Exchange. The stock made 
now 1945 peaks on three successive 
days, new high being $17.25, Shares 
Went up in greatly increased activ- 
ity, . volume of transactions making 
Warners the most active s'ock. on 
the Big. Board last Wednesday (6)' 
and one of most active the following 
day. .:,.-..;• 

Fact that Warners' financial posi- 
tion has improved considerably as a 
result of new bank loans at lower 
interest rates is reported back of th.fi 
move. Although there was -revival 
of the old talk about a common divi- 
dend, this was rated as not likely 
just now. However, since WB called 
in its preferred, common now is in 
line to receive a divv.y as soon as 
most of corporate obligations , are 
handled. • '•• 



20TH PICKS UP JESSEL. - 

Hollywood. June 12: 
George Jexsel. currently producing 
''Kitten on the Keys." at 20lh-Fo.N. 
has been optioned for another year. 

Producer's first chore on the lot 
vv'as "The Dolly Sisters." in Techni- 
color. Next; after "Kitten." will be 
based on the life of O. Henry." 




Trade.- Mark Registered 
ieoii.\'l>i?i) pr sr.M is. sir.VKhMAi* 

I'lllillnlicil HVfkl.v hy VAItll.l Y. tut 

Sid Nllverinri n. I'l-ryulc-iit 
ir.l VVfMl 401 h St.. Now York 13. N Y 





sit rise 


iii-rtoN 




A nnu.'il . .-. 


.$10 


. I'Vi el«n . 


,-.*n 


fcinnUi CO) 


loku . . . 


.25 


Ten'* 








No. 1 


Vol. 159 





INDEX 



SHOWMAN'S 7TII. .. 


. 4 


Bills ... . ..... ..\ 


... 55 


Chatter ... ..... 


... 59 


Film Reviews. . . . ... ... 


• • • 1" 


Foreign , '.,; , .'. 


... 25 


House Review^ .j. . ..... 


. . . 28 


Inside Legit. . . 


. 56 


Inside Music. . . . .'. . 


51 


Inside Orchestras. . . . 


51 


Legitimate . . .'. ;'.. . .'. :', . 


... 56 


Literati . . . ......... ... , . 


. ... 58 


Music . ."; ... . . . .. . 


47 


New Acts. . ... 


... 55 


Night Club Reviews.,.. 


... 55 


Obituary . . . : 


. . .. 59 


Orchestras . . .-..,.-; 


... 47 


Pictures .. . , . ... . ... . . . . 


i 


Radio . . . v.. .' . 


.... 31 


Radio Reviews. 


. ... 34 


Frank Scully, . : . 


. . . . 2 


Vaudeville 


....52 



( PuMished in Hotly woufl by 
Daily Varlpf y, I, id ) ■. 
tJO a Year — 512 t'-oreifrii 



SHOWMEN'S 7th 



Wednesday, June 13, 194.5 



'Showmen's 7th' Into Home Stretch 
On Bond Drive; Plenty of Ballyhoo 



More special events, such as. free* 

movie, days, proems, children's mat- I 
" ince>\ etc.. were" "set up- for. -the. 

Seventh War Bond drive than for 
'any Vrceediflg campaign. 
•' During the "Showmen's Seventh'.' 

there were 10.807 free movie days. 

compared with 7,571 in the Sixth 

War Loan drive; 5.052 bond preems. 

compared with 4,284 in the Sixth, 

Sin'd' 1.868 'children's matinees versus 

878 in the Sixth. . ' . 
Having set a tremendous goal of 

selling ¥4.000,000,000 in "E" bonds. 

film industry personnel throughout 

the country this week braced them- 
selves anew for the all-out stretch 

drive, with the announcement that 

bonds sold through July 7 would be . . 

ei-edited' to the 7th War Loan cam- cooperating in the Seventh include 
paign. which, officially . runs , from 
14 ; through June 30. 



Lesser 's Salute to Labor 
In Helping Put Over 7th 

'Aid from labor and musician 
unions in presenting daily events 
that have helped swell the total sale 
of bonds by the film industry during 
the Seventh was acknowledged laic 
iast "week by Irving Lesser, chair- 
man of the N. Y. area War Activities 
committee. In citing the coopera- 
tion . of . projectors, musicians and 
stagehands. .Lesser said,. "Too often 
these behind-the-scenes men are ob- 
scured by the famous performing 
personalities and executives." 
Unions in the Greater N. Y. area 



May 

"If the enthusiasm, patriotism and 
aggressiveness shown by exhibitors 
thus far in. the campaign is carried 

.'" forward during the next couple of 
weeks, then the Seventh War Loan 

.. drive , will not fail," Samuel Pinan- 

• ski, national 1 chairman of the cam- 
paign, stated yesterday (12). 

The national unit has pointed out 
that despite the fact that the major- 
ity of holidays and days of special 
Observance for the drive . have 
pi.sscd. . there are still five days 
Which may be promoted to hypo 
bond sales. They are: Flag Day. 
June' 14: Infantry Day, June 15; 
Father's Day. June 17; Waves' Anni- 
versary. July 3. and Independence 

. Day, July A. 

Robert W. Coyne, the Treasury's 
War Finance field directorial the 
weekend said, "The long, hard pull 

<&is about to begin, not only for thea- 
tremen but for War Finance Com- 
mittees throughout the nation. No 
-drive has lasted so long and no 
drive has had such a high goal. Once 
again, it is necessary to emphasize 

. the need for still more bond pre- 
niieies." 

Film houses in the Greater N. Y. 
area report a sale of 297.713 "E" 
bonds valued at $27,892,155 in the 
first three weeks of the drive, ac- 
cording to Irving Lesser, chairman 
for the area. "At the present rate 
of sale, the film houses in the Sev- 
enth .should exceed their quota," he' 
said. 

Low's N. Y. area and out-of-town 
theatres have sold $10,564,934 in war 
bonds to patrons during the first 
month of the 7th War Loan drive. 

• according to Charles C. Moskowitz. 
Loew v.p. Sales represent* 114,732 
individual bond purchases. 

JOHN BRAHM TOPARIS 
TO HELP ON GI SHOWS 

Hollywood, June 12. 

John Brahm will go to Paris for 
the U. s; government to act in an 
advisory capacity for shows staged 
by Aifierican servicemen. 

Director/who has taken a leave of 
■absence from, 20th-Fox during his 
planned three-month stay in the 
French capital, will leave this coun- 
try in about two weeks. 



Lucky Sam the 7th 

Number 7 is lucky for Sam 
Pinanski, chairman of the film 
industry's national committee, 
for the Seventh War Loan drive. 
Thursday was his birthday. 
The drive runs seven weeks; 
letters in May and June total 
seven; drive slogan stresses that 
houses should sell bonds seven 
days a week; "Seventh" has seven 
letters: Jit this campaign Pearl 
Harbor, Dee. 7, is being avenged; 
V-E Day, which gave, the cam- 
paign impetus was flashed May 
7; bond sales are credited up to 
July 7. 

And the digits in his age . add 
up to seven. .; 



♦ ♦♦♦♦♦ ♦♦+♦+-»♦♦♦♦♦♦♦,/ 

Exhibs Really Make It Showman's 7th j 



Immerman's Bangup 

Job in Rallying Chi 

Chicago, June 12. 

Show business in this city has 
taken the reins in the current Sev- 
enth War Loan drive, making pos- 
sible an unprecedented series of 
daily street rallies.and shows, under 
t he leadership of Walter Immerman, 
Illinois state exhibitor chairman. 

These outdoor events, which will 



Here's how exhibitors throughout 
the nation are really making this 
drive the "Showman's Seventh":- 

Little Rock, Ark.: The. Lions 
Club, on the recommendation of Max 
Pruniski, state c h a i r m a n, has 
pledged 'the sale of $300 in bonds by 
each member. ' -' ; 

Southern California: Gus Melz- 
ger, state chairman, has moved the 
campaign into high gear with 80 "On 
to Tokyo" units touring war plants, 



i nese ouiooor events, wnicn win, .„ ..-,-......., 

continue throughout the drive, have 1 cU,bs « r »"l> s and residential areas 



Local 306, Him projectors; Local 802. 
musicians': Local .366. stagehands of 
Westchester county; Local 1. 1ATSE 
and Local 4 of the stagehands. 

OWI Films in Bad 
Shape With $ Cut 

l) Washington, June 12. 

OWI will be in bad shape for the 
fiscal year beginning July i, unless 
the Senate writes back into its ap- 
propriation a chunk of the $17,000.- 
000 which the House knocked out on 
Friday 1 8). 

The agency officials were badly 
stunned by the unexpected blow and 
have no idea of how they will 
spread the money around if they 
are limited to the $18,000,000 per- 
mitted by the House. OWI asked 
$42,000,000; the House Appropria- 
tions Committee whittled this to 
$35,000,000: and then a solid Republi- 
can vote went do*n the line to re- 
duce this to $18,000,000, 

If the, cut should remain, the 
European operations would have to 
fold up very largely and the Domes- 
tic "Branch would become nothing 
but a twig. If the money were 
spread all around on a pro rata 
basts, the Domestic Branch might be 
limited to as little as $300,000. 

The Domestic radio and motion 
picture bureaus, which are the con- 
duits between Government and the 
industries, would be in bad shape. 
However, there is still hope that the 
Senate will restore a piece. 



Mighty 7th Even 
Aimed at Moppets 

number of novelty angles have 



attracted as many as 100,000 to a 
single rally. Shows are staged at 
the corner of State and Madison 
streets, with showbiz personalities 
war heroes and name bands being 
presented. 

Entertainment is booked through 
a special committee of the entertain- 
ment and recreation division of the 



Northern California: Theatres 
are using a bond premiere coupon 
book for sub-agencies which .sell 
bonds in exchange for bond preem 
admission tickets. 

Cotoratlo: Rick Ricketson. state 
chairman, has set the following ac- 
tivities for this month: bond preems 
throughout the state; double-header 



Chi commission on national defense. ' baseball game at Denver U. Stadium; 




Ml." a weeje. She directed "Look 
Ahead Young America" on Friday 
' 1 8 V. and will do a Flag Day revue 
with .-Ronny. MacDowall tomorrow 
114). iBoth specials cancelled out 
CBS juvenile serials. "Cimmarron 
Tavern" and "Sparrow and- the 
Hawk" from 5:30-6 p.m. on the two 
dates. Sylvia Berger and William K. 
Clarke of the CBS program writing 
division, provided the scripts. 

Staff director Richard Sanville op- 
erating under Roy Langham, CBS 
coordinator of broadcasts, has been 
handling the War Bond specials. : 



Members of the .committee are 
Jack Irving, AGVA; Max Halperin. 
Theatre Authority; Danny Graham. 
MCA; Leo Salkiii and Morris Silver. 
William Morris office; Tom Ryan, 
Camp Shows; and the following Ba- 
laban & Katz execs: Charles Hogan, 
Nate Piatt, Warren Jones. Walter 
Immerman. W. K. Hollander and 
David B. Wallerstein. 



SAG Reinstates 1 1 Ex-Gls 

Hollywood. June 12. 

Eleven players, including Clark 
Gable, were reinstated in the Screen 
Actors Guild during the past month, 
following service in the army. Dur- 
ing the same period 19 military 
withdrawals were issued. 

Total of 140 withdrew from the 
Guild in the last 30 days while 76 
new members were admitted. 



Paris Front 



1,100 Players in Bond 
Rallies, Sauter Reports 

More than 1.100 stars and : perform- 
,-ers Tiayo. donated their services, at 
bond rallies in the metropolitan N.Y. 
srea through the United Theatrical ] 
War Activities Committee, headed | 
by James E. Sauter. the film industry j 
War Activities Committee has. re- 
vealed. 

. Since the beginning of the Seventh 
the 700. film houses in the greater 
N.Y. territory have sponsored 12,000 
hours of free entertainment for bond 
. buyers in 42 days 

• ; This includes the daily three-hour 
period or 'entertainment at the Statue 
of Liberty and Iwo Jima memorial 
in Times Square, N. Y.; 119 bond 
preems; 64 children's preems; all- 
>tar shows at Broadway houses and 
other special events.. 

Gershwin Bond Rally 

A George Gershwin Jubilee bond 
rally will be held at the, Statue of 
Liberty, Times Square, ori June 26, 
iii a tieup w ith the world premiere 
of the Warner film, "Rhapsody In 
Blue" next day i27) at the Holly- 
wood, N.Y. 

Auctioneers at the rally will be 
Dews commentator John B. Kennedy 
end radio announcer Ken Roberts 
with a host of showbiz personalities 
listed to appear. 



Paris. June 12. 
Recent arrivals in Paris for pro- 
cessing, prior to touring field instal- 
lations and hospitals, were Sonja 
Henic, Grace Moore, Alec Temple- 
ton, Nino Martini and Harry Rose. 
Left for ETO points after one day 
in town.. . 



Office of Chief of Special Services 
is setting up machinery to do a 
weekly broadcast from. Olympia the- 
atre, using USO-Camp Shows talent 
before starting tours. Will thus pub- 
licize the talent as well as give 
shows to GIs oil leave in Paris. 
American Forces Network will 
handle the broadcast, and transcrip- 
tions and discs will be cut for re- 
broadcast and shipment to the stales. 



Sybil Bowan. first USO femme 
performer in Germany, leaves for 
the states in August. Will do com- 
mercial dates in St. Louis, Chi and 
N. Y. (Strand), and leave- for the 
CBI in the fall. 



. Josephine Detma'r, overseas in 
ETO for USO 30 consecutive months, 
is returning to U. S. because of run- 
down condition. 



ENSA announces Anna Neagle 
coming here soon in "French With- 
out Tears," ■ 



All USO performers are billeted in 
a colony called "The Chateau" right 
outside of Paris. 



GET IT UP AND FLY 
RIGHT AT $500 PER 

The airplarte-ride-for-a-$500-bond 
drive being conducted by the Queens 
County. N. Y., film industry War 
Activities committee, has sold 
$280,600 in bonds to date. 

Free rides are available at N.Y.'s 
LaGuardia Airport through the pur- 
chase of bonds at film houses in 
Queens, or at the field, with the 
committee reporting that majority of 
passengers are making their first 
flight. . ■ 



Names Sell Bonds 

Philadelphia, June 12. 

If Philly's lagging 7th War Bond 
caiipaign goes over the top— it will, 
be films and radio which will have 
to get credit. • ." 

With only a little more than two 
w:eeks left, .Philly has . only about 
55'!. of its goal." 

Yet every pitch in which Holly- 
wood or radio names have been fea- 
tured have been sellouts with vir- 
tually all' of the bond sales the 
"people" i$25 and $100) type. 

Thus far the bond pitchers have 
included "Breakfast Club." "Blind 
Date," with Eddie Cantor's show 
skedded for Convention Hall on 
Monday (18). 

Ruth Hussey, Waller Huston, 
Ralph Bellamy. Helmut Dantine, 
Andrea King, Jean Parker, Lois 
Andrews, Jimmy Cagney have been 
among the screen names to appear 
at bond rallies during this campaign. 

Outside of the "glamour" depart- 
ment there has been a noticeable 
lethargy for this campaign. Philly 
has always-gone over the top in pre- 
vious campaigns. ' ••: 

Film premieres are also doing 
well, having sold out each time they 
have been tried. 



Robert Young's Pitch . 

New Orleans, June 12, 
Screen actor Robert Young will 
arrive here Friday (15) to join 7th 
War Bond fleet and act as • beach- 
master and emcee of "Beachhead to 
Tokyo" mock invasion at Pontchar- 
t-ain Beach, lakefront resort, Sun- 
day (17).- Young Will also speak on 
behalf of drive in Higgins industries 
and other war plants, attend bond 
rallies and address business groups. 



FILM BOOKERS' BOND RAFFLE 

Motion Picture Bookers Club of 
N. Y., will raffle $500 worth of War 
Bonds at the Taft hotel, June 24. 
proceeds to ihe.'Soidiers' Allotment 
Fund. 

George Trilling, in charge of the 
booking department of the Fabian 
Circuit, is president of the Bookers 
Club. 



Hollywood's Fine Record 

Hollywood, June ,12. 
Embracing members -of-.vail —anils 
of motion picture studio personnel, 
the Hollywood War Finance Com- 
mittee, participating 500-strong '■ in 
the Seventh War Loan, has thus far 
in the current campaign added al- 
most $5,000,000 in - "K" bonds to its 
pre-drive total of $93,000,000. 

United behind chairman Henry 
Ginsberg, Paramount production 
chief who organized the unit in 
April, 1942, the committee has func- 
tioned continuously since .then for 
the sale of bonds. Ginsberg reports+scajed at $87L950 
that the current campaign will raise 
a record bond-sale figure. When he 
originally organized the group, the 
industry was accounting for about 
$25,000 a week in bond investments. 
By concentrating on payroll savings, 
the average now has hit ov«r 



up a special baseball game between 
the Washington Senators and ' it 
service team for Griffith stadium to- 
morrow night (14). A mammoth 
outdoor show at the Watergate will 
sell 10.000 individual bonds later 
this month. 

Chicago: 60 bond preems are un- 
der way in this area. Some 60,000 
children are tied in with kid mat- 
inees. Theatres running large space 
ads heralding the Seventh. 

St. Louis: Harry Crawford, man- 
ager of the F & M St. Louis.- stages 
spontaneous bond rallies here, with 
no advanced advertising which gets 
big results. "Free Movie Day" every 
Monday. 

New Haven: Nabes in poorer 
financial territories, unable, to run 
bond preems. are giving free admis- 
sion to "E" bond purchasers at any- 
time during the drive. 

Davenport, la.: RKO Orpheum 
will have Don McNeill and his Blue 
network program here for n bond 
show on June 28, with the house 



Portland, Ore.: Manager G rover 
F. Handley. of the United Artists 
theatre here promotes the sale of 
bonds with a disabled jeep parked 
in front of the house here. 

Baltimore: Six bond preems 
downtown; $30,000 raised by pro.iec- 



$200,000 per week with more than | t' on room preems: war hwoes as 



17.500 film workers investing regu 
larly in bonds. 

First war loan brought a mark of 
$2,192,000 for the committee, figure 
for the second leaping to $6,700,000 
and the third to $14,400,000. In the 
fourth, the total reached $13,295,000; 
the fifth. $14,445,000 and the sixth, 
$14,367,000. 



Red Cross' Record High 



special attractions at bond shows. 

Detroit: Alec Schreiber of As- 
sociated theatres handling exploita- 
tion here for the Seventh is display- 
ing the largest bond in the world on 
a board in Grand Circus park; signs 
on all street corners of local youths 
who have made the supremo sacri- 
fice! plus noontime rallies at City 
Hall. 

Minnesota: Screen star Anne 
Baxter appeared at Dululh for n ship 
launching and a bond show at the 
Gar rick'. 

South Dakota: Byron McElligot, 
state chairman, made arrangements 
with the Associated Press to carry 



N. Peter Rathvon. national chair 
man of the Red Cross War Fund 
Week campaign for 1945, reported 
to the War Activities Committee in 

N. Y. yesterday (Tues.) that $7,290.- \ a " film industry bond selling activi- 
164 had been collected. ties to papers throughout the state. 

This compares with $6,793,060 for ' , 0rrl aha: RKO Brandeis held Boy 

Scout rally, since boys were only 
group in city making house-to-house 
solicitation. Scout that sold most 



1944 and $3,067,236 collected in 1943. 



' L. A. to N. Y. 

George Brown. 

Rudolph Carlson. 

Cass Daley. 

Charlie Einfeld. 

Sylvia Fine. 

Geraldine Fitzgerald.. 

Leon Fromkcss. < 

Lester Gottlieb. .'. _ 

James R. Grainger. 

Oscar Hammerstein II. 

John Harvey. 

J. H. Karp. ,. 

Phil Lennen. 

Louis. Mandel. 

Leo McCarey. 

Joseph H. Moskowitz. 

Carroll Nye; 

Bob Orr. 

Lieut'. Will Price. 

Alan Reed. 

Jack Roche. 

Ann Roncll. 

Joseph M. Schenck. , . 

Bill Treadwell. 

Ella Varga. 

Kurt Weill. 

Dai ry 1 F. Zanuck. 



N. Y. to L. A. 

Emmett R. Callahan, 
Radie Harris. 
Irving Mills. 
John Reber. 
Lee Sabinson. 
Jack Sayers. 



bonds got a Nazi battle flag. 

Boston: Daily events at industry 
bonclsland on Boston Commons pil- 
ing up large sales. Maritime, com- 
mission lied in with dowmmvn the- 
atres for daily inspection of Liberty 
ship to bond buyers. 

Buffalo: Every Monday is "Free 
Movie Day" here. Simultaneous five- 
thealre bond preem slated for Mon- 
day (18). 

North and South : Carolina: At 
request of drive committees, exhibs 
have pledged (1) to buy more bonds 
personally, and (2) to sell more 
bone's personally, . - . . r 

Toledo: Every day is "Free Movie 
Day" in Toledo. 

Pittsburgh: Seventh War Loan 
short of 1,000 feet showing the Aiam- 
moth Pitt kickoff parade sponsored 
by the WAC is playing all houses 
here. 

Texas: State chairman R. J. 
O'Donncll reports that exhibs 
throughout the State -are going all- 
out to exceed their quotas using 
every facet of exploitation to sell 
bonds.!. - '"'' ■- •- ' 

Memphis: Industry sponsoring 
"Airborne Attack" by infantry and 
paratroopers from Camp MacKall, 
N*orth Carolina, next Saturday and 
Sunday (17). 

Seattle: "Lucky Bond Nite" is a 
favorite here. On July 6 there's a 
$1,000 bond giveaway in conjunction 
with preems at five downtowner*. 



Wednesday, June 13, 1915 J^RIETY 



P^RIETY 



WedncsJajv June 13, 1 9 15 



Wednesday, June 13, 1945 



J? Mfe Do Our </o6 ! 

The first reports coming in from theatres fore- 
cast another smashing Bond -selling success! 
With this start your Committee believes the 
Showmen's Seventh will top them all. But 
there's work to be done! Day and night, sell ... . 

SO/VOS, SO/V0S... a„a 'more BONDS/ 




M^rn m S e t/'Tf 35 T ° f their C ° ntributi0n t0 M War Loan Cam P ai 8" Columbia Pictures Corporation. 
RAetro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures: Paramount Pictures Inc.. RKO Radio Pictures. Inc.. Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation 
United Artists Corporation. Universal Pictures Company. Inc Warner Bros. Pictures Inc 



Wednesday, June 13, 1945 



PICTURES 9 





Rank Opines British Producers May 
Learn Quicker Henceforth; More Fetes 



J. Arthur Rank stated at a lunch- 
eon-meeting of the Independent 
Theatre Owners of America at the 
Astor hotel, New York.'last Thurs- 
day (7J=that.as.a. result of his visit 
to America producers in England 
will be a little quicker to learn 
about suitable films for the U. S. 
market. -7 . , •'. 

Rank said he realized, as an ex- 
hibitor, that it doesn't matter who 
makes a picture as long as it is good 
entertainment. "We've got a lot to 
learn." he added; 

Rank declared that he believed in 
friendly competition because • it 
keeps people on their toes. He said 
that British pictures are already out- 
grossing comparable American pic- 
tures in England and predicted that, 
before long, "we may be" sending pic- 
tures over to America that will out- 
gross American pictures in the 
U. .S." : 

Harry Brandt introduced Rank. 

20th-Fox's All-Industry 
Dinner for J. Arthur Rank 

Spyros Skouras is hosting a 20th- 
Fox shindig for J. Arthur Rank and 
his aides on Friday (15) at the Union 
Club, N. Y. Officers and directors of 
the company and U. S. industry reps 
will attend a private dinner for the 
British film leader. Joseph M. 
Schenck. Darryl F. Zanuck and Joe 
Moskowitz moved up plans for their 
N. Y. visit to arrive in time to at- 
tend. 

Schenck got into N., Y. from the 
Coast Monday (11) to await Zanuck's 
arrival. Zanuck shoves off Sunday 
(17) for the European, o.o. with other 
film industry reps. 



Chi Primed for Rank 

Chicago, June 12. 
A record turnout is expected Mon- 
day night (18) to welcome J. Arthur 
Rank on his first visit to Chi. Dinner 
at the Blackstone hotel that night is 
planned as the highspot of his fiver 
day visit in this region, during which 
he'll make' a two-day inspection tour 
of the Minneapolis wheat belt. 

Committee arranging the Monday- 
night testimonial consists of Edwin 
Silverman, chairman; Ben Ensenb'erg. 
Monogram; Ted Levy, PRC, and Ben 
Katz. Universal. Rank, whose ti tie of 
president of British Motion Picture 
Producers Association, is being 
plugged as the main come-on by tub- 
thumper Katz.- will be accompanied 
by G. I. Woodham-Smith, his legal 
aide: John Davis, theatre adviser; 
Barrington Gain, financial adviser, 
and Jock Lawrence, public relations 
counsel. '-. ••■;•:-'.'*"'• • ''•'-'■'• 



Added Subsequents Aid 
To U. S. Dubs for Latins 

Additional subsequent-run ac- 
counts and higher terms for product 
in these spots how appear likely to 
make U. S. major company dubbing 
program for the Latin-American 
market as profitable as .originally 
anticipated.' 

While possibly too early to check 
total results, reaction among N. Y. 
foreign department officials is that 
dubbed product will have to lean on 
business obtained in subsequent-run 
and neighborhood theatres for any 
substantial pickup in revenue that 
stems from synced pictures. Because 
the: dubbed vehicle is reopening ac- 
counts which in the last few years 
were virtually closed to American 
product, this phase alone is regarded 
as making the experiment a success. 



GOLD WYN SCRIBES PEN 
HIGH-BUDGET QUINTET 

Hollywood, June 12. 

Samuel Goldwyn's writing mill is 
busy on screenplays based on five 
important yarns, all slated for high 
production budgets. 

Books are "The Bishop's Wife," by 
Robert Nathan; "Earth and High 
Heaven.'; by Gwethalyn Graham; 
"The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. 
by James Thurber; "Glory for Me." 
by MacKinlay Kantor, and "Si- 
nione," by Leon Feuchtwanger, " 



Hirliman Takes Oyer 
All Mascot Pix Rights 

George A. Hirliman, president of 
International Theatrical & Televi- 
sion Corp.. has purchased Mascot 
Pictures, following negotiations with 
Nat Levine and Consolidated Film 
Industries. IT&T thus acquires the 
world rights to all Mascot pictures 
ever produced, for 16mm, 35mm and 
television. • 

Mascot productions included in the 
deal are "Laughing at Life". (Victor 
MacLaglen), "Little Men" (Ralph 
Morgan), "Crimson Romance (Erich 
von Stroheim), "Waterfront Ladv" 
(Ann Rutherford). 

uu°" p of films also includes serials 
w «h names such as Harry Carey, 
^ene Autry,_ George Brent, John 
Wayne and Bela Lugosi. 



Raymond Moley's Book 
On 'The Hays Office' 
An Authoritative Work 

By ABEL GREEN ' 

Raymond Moley's book on "The 
Hays Office" (Bobbs-Merrill, $3.75) 
in effect is a capsule history of the 
picture business. Written objec- 
tively and perforce a 'tribute to the 
president of the Motion Picture 
Producers & Distributors of Amer- 
ica, Inc., it is reportorially dispas- 
sionate and emerges as an in- 
formative, authoritative and com- 
prehensive history of the industry 
since 1922. That's when the then 
41 -year-old Postmaster General' of 
the : United States, an ardent Re- 
publican, an elder' of the Presby- 
terian Church, and a member of the 
old Sullivan. Ind., law firm of Hays 
& Hays, agreed to accept the job 
at $100,000 a year as the "czar" of 
the cinema industry. 

It was on Dec. 8, 1921, that Lewis 
J. Selznick and attorney Saul E. 
Rogers waited on Postmaster Gen- 
eral William Harrison Hays at the 
Wardman Park ' Hotel, Washington, 
and offered him the job. On Jan. 
14. 1922. he accepted.. The MPPDA 
I'ounders were E. W. Hammons. 
John D. Williams, Winfield R. 
Sheehaiv. Courlland Smith. Carl 
(Continued on page 15) 



UA SLATE REELECTED; 
THREE NEW DIRECTORS 

Follow ing board of directors meet- 
ing last Tuesday (5) in New York 
all of the officers of United Artists 
were reelected for the ensuing year. 
Edward C. Raftery was reelected 
president. Grad Sears, who attended 
the session, was reelected v.p. in 
charge of distribution^ and George 
L. Bagnall was reelected v.p. in 
charge of production. ["Variety" last 
week reported Raftery's desire to 
bow-out as UA prez and return, to 
his law. some time in September.] 

Sears, Bagnall and Charles P. 
Blinn were replaced as directors by 
Franklin Cole. Milton A. Kramer and 
Phillip F. Sift. Cole is financial con- 
sultant to Mary Picktord. Kramer is 
of the law firm of White & Case, 
while Sift is a financial man. ' 

Other officers reelected were Har- 
ry J. Muller. treasurer; Loyd Wright, 
secretary; Charles E. Millikan, Paul 
D. O'Brien. Harry D. Buckley and 
Harry J. Muller assistant secretaries. 
Hebert A. Weimcr was reelected as- 
sistant treasurer. 



Disney Protests Wage 
Hike Order by WLB 

Hollywood, June 12. 

Walt Disney Productions filed an 
appeal from the War Labor Board's 
recent order calling . for wage in- 
creases, amounting to around $50,000 
yearly, for member? of the Screen 
Cartoonists Guild. 

Company declares it had boosted 
its employees' wages above the Little 
Steel Formula prior to the action by 
the WLB . v.: 



U. S. BIZ HEADS 
BACK COIN PACT 

Committee of leading American 
bankers and industrialists, formed to 
explain . the Bretton Woods Agree- 
ment to U. S. businessmen, this week 
issued a report dealing with the 
motion picture business aspects 
which further substantiates "Va- 
riety's" analysis several months ago. 
Business and Industry Committee 
for Bretton Woods report states that 
the film industry is in a position to 
benefit more than other industries 
from such monetary proposals, de- 
signed chiefly to.'set up machinery 
whereby payment can be received 
for goods sold abroad. 

Issues clarified by the Committee, 
which has submitted some of the 
findings to the Senate Banking £.na 
Currency Committee, include: 

1. American " Dim business has a 
heavy stake' in the stability of inter- 
national exchange rates, in the ex- 
pansion of world trade, and in tne 
opportunity to make investments 
abroad without fear that earnings 
will be blocked or their repatriation 
restricted. 

2. If these proposals are adopted, 
their effect will be to eliminate re- 
strictions on the payment of royal- 
ties to American producers while, by 
contributing to the maintenance of 
a high level . income abroad, will 
assure a steadier market for Ameri- 
can films. 

3. If the standard of living is in- 
creased in foreign countries they 
will be able to pay more in rentals 
because the films can be shown to 
larger audiences,. 

4. The American motion picture 
industry has made large investments 
abroad and it will probably continue 
to invest directly in foreign produc- 
tion and distribution. It is im- 
portant to the industry that the for- 
eign countries in which investments 
have been made be prosperous. The 

(Continued on page 15) 



Walsh, East, Observes Studio Strike 
Getting a little Better Every Day 



Walsh Feted by IATSE, 
Members N. Y. Locals 

Associates in the International Al- 
liance of Theatrical Stage Employees 
and members of N.Y. locals char- 
tered by the IA, tendered a testimo- 
nial dinner to Richard 'F. Walsh, 
Alliance president, last night (Tues- 
day) at the Gramercy Park Hotel 
Roof Garden, N. Y. Between 120 and 
130, including outsiders, were ex- 
pected to attend. 

Thomas F. Murtha, prexy of. Local 
No. 4, Brooklyn 'stagehands and 
head of the Central Trades & Labor 
Council of N,Y., was in charge of 
arrangements. 



Springfield, Mass., Mgrs. 
Organize Vs. \% Tax 

Springfield, Mass., June 12. . 

Springfield theatre managers, tra- 
ditionally shy of politics, have un- 
dertaken a campaign this week to 
kill proposals for another 10% state 
amusement tax. Cards distributed in 
lobbies of all downtown theatres call 
on patrons to help defeat the bill 
submitted by Rsp. George Porter, 
Agawam Republican. 

"The proposed 10% state amuse- 
ment tax would be unfair to every 
family" says the card suitable for 
mailing to senators and representa- 
tives. Patrons are being urged to 
mail the cards immediately, since 
hearing oh the bill is expected shorts 
ly at Boston. 

The Springfield Motion Picture 
council has already gone on record 
as opposed to the additional tax. The 
Daily News, largest local daily, edi- 
torialized Saturday (9) under the 
heading "New theatre tax bill should 
be .defeated." The editorial said 
Porter "seems to have gone over- 
board in thinking up schemes to 
levy taxes upon the public." Porter 
is also an advocate of the sales tax. 
. "If the Legislature sees fit to ap- 
prove the bill, it would bring up 
to 30%" the tax levy on every thea- 
tre-goer and inflict upon the public 
and the theatre industry ah unjust 
penalty." the paper said. 



Enid Markey Back in Pix 

Hollywood, June 12. 

Enid Markey. star of silent films, 
return* to the screen for the first 
time in 25 years to play the role of 
Aunt Emily in "Snafu." a character 
she created in the stage version. 

In her early film career Miss 
Markey starred in Thomas H.- Incc 
productions and played femme leads 
for William S. Hart: 



TOM WALLER RESIGNS PAB 

Tom Waller, in charge of news- 
paper syndicate and wire service 
publicity for Paramount, resigned 
last Friday (8). 

Waller, widely known as a spe- 
cialist in national publicity, was 
with Paramount for more than nine 
years. 



Chicago times' Stance 
On H'wood Strike Takes 
Slap at Pix Producers 

-■„, ■ Chicago, June 12. 

Hitting it strictly from, the strik- 
ers' angle, a femme reporter for the 
Chicago Times is sending home from 
Hollywood a series on strikebound 
studios that's strictly "strawberries 
in November" stuff, meaning defi- 
nitely interesting reading for the 
proletariat and a slap at producers. 
Hazel MacDonald, gal who wrote it, 
made a detour from the Frisco Con- 
ference to concoct her piece on the 
moves and manners of filmdom. 

"With a friendly lift from a rival 
union group," her story on Friday 
(8) blasted away, "producers have 
finagled the strike around to the 
point where they can gleefully claim 
to be helplessly caught in the mid- 
dle of ah inter-union jurisdictional 
fight. The union cooperating with 
the' producers, in the spirit of the 
old Bioff-Browne days, is AFL's In- 
ternational Alliance of Theatrical 
Stage Employees," 

On top of that, writer opined, 
there's a definite tie-in between the 
studio strike and Ceq.il B. DeMilte's 
one-man rebellion against American 
Federation of Radio Artists, which 
she describes as a "handy example 
of the sort of diehard fight for the 
dear old days that nowadays is 
waged mainly in the Sewell Avery 
and Southern California spheres of 
(Continued on page 15) 



ROSS FEDERAL INTO 
16 MM. PROJ. FIELD 

Ross Federal Service, checking 
service , on percentage engagements 
for various distributors and others 
headed by Harry Ross, former sales 
executive for Paramount who found- 
ed the company in 1929, is planning 
to enter the 16 mm. field through 
the organization of a separate" ad- 
junct to supply projectors- for the 
narrow-gauge film. 

Expecting to have 500 projection 
machines as a starter at an tinmen- 
tioned early date, priorities on this 
equipment having been lifted. Ross 
Federal will specialize in servicing 
the projectors only for commercial 
showings of 16 mm. film. It does not 
propose to make any projectors 
available for showings that will be 
in competition to theatres. 



Neill Gets Holmes Again 

Hollywood, June 12. 
''Universal, handed Roy William 
Neill a second Sherlock Holmes 
whodunit, "Prelude to Murder," to 
produce and direct late this summer. 

Currently Neill is readying "Ter- 
ror By Night" for a late June start 



Richard F. Walsh, president of the 
International Alliance of Theatrical 
Stage Employees, will return to the 
Coast as soon as he can obtain trans- 
portation, probably in the next few 
days, to further wrestle with the 
studio strike situation. Up to yes- 
terday (Tues.) he- had not been able 
to get a reservation. v 

Stating that there isn't much ■ 
change in connection with the Coast 
strike, which has passed its third 
month, Walsh added that it appeared 
to be a question of out waiting each 
other. Meantime, he declared that 
all studios are operating as smoothly 
as could be expected and that so far 
as production is concerned, the situ- 
ation was getting a little better every 
day. 

Walsh came east last week to aid 
the eastern lab workers union in its 
negotiations with 18 eastern plants 
and to take care of various other 
matters,' mostly of a routine nature, 
which had piled up on his desk and 
required attention. 



DE MLLLE'S LONDON PIC 

Agnes de Mille. who has directed 
cho'regraphy for some of. the top 
musicals on Broadway and in Holly- 
wood ("Carousel" is her latest), has 
been signed to handle the dance se- 
quences for a Wesley Ruggles pro- 
duction in England being made for 
the J. Arthur Rank organization. 

Louis Loeffler, 20th -Fox, .cutter 
has also been engaged by Ruggles 
to work on "London' Town," his first 
musical, now shooting at the Den- 
ham studios. • 



With Strike in 14th Week, 
NLRB Readies Report 

Hollywood, June 12. 

As the studio strike rolled into its 
14th week, National Labor Relations 
Board officials yesterday prepared 
to submit their recommendation's to 
Washington, and it is expected that 
local hearings will be ordered on the 
recent election of Studio Set Dec- 
orators.' f ■'";' 

Hearing, however, would not be 
(Continued on page 15) 

SELZNICK'S VANGUARD 
C0.S N. Y. CHARTER 

Albany, June 12. 

Vanguard Films, Inc. (Selznick), 
headquartered in Los Angeles, now. 1 
maintains offices to engage in picture 
business in New York state' at 400 
Madison avenue, N.Y. city. Ernest 
L. , Scanlori was listed as v.p. and 
capital stock as "2,000 shares, ntJ'par 
value/in papers filed with the secre- 
tary, of state at Albany. White & 
Case, N.Y.C., were filing attorneys. 

In recent case before the Court of 
Appeals on the action instituted- by 
Charlie Chaplin, as owner of a 25% 
interest in United Artists, the prin- 
cipal question was whether David O. 
Selznick Productions and Vanguard 
Films (which contracted to make a 
certain number of films to be dis- 
tributed through Selznick) were 
carrying on business in New. York 
state. .Majority of court agreed with 
Chaplin's contention, although de T 
fendants disputed it. 



Chaplin Promoted to Can, 
UA Sales Boss; Jack Up 

Series of sales force promotions 
within the' United States Artists 
ranks was announced during the 
past week by Carl Leserman, UA 
general sales manager. 

Charles Chaplin, brattch manager 
for UA in Montreal, was appointed 
Canadian sales manager, succeeding 
the late A. J. Jeffrey. Post was 
previously held by David Coplan, 
now heading up UA operations in 
England: , • 

Leserman also announced the pro- 
motion of Fred M, Jack from district 
manager to division manager with 
supervision of south and southwest- 
ern territory. Jack, who has been 
district manager for UA with head- 
quarters in Dallas, will now have 
charge of a new division covering 
15 states from New Mexico to the 
Atlantic coast. Jack left N. Y. over 
the past weekend for Dallas, follow- 
ing confabs with home office execs. 

Succeeding Chaplin as Montreal 
branch manager is George . Heiber, 
UA branch manager in St. John, 
New Brunswick, Sam : Kunitsky, 
salesman in UA's Montreal office, 
becomes branch manager in St. 
John. 

Ed Schnitzer, UA home office 
exec, was slated to leave N, Y. yes- 
terday (Tues.) for Toronto to in- 
stall Chaplin, who will bead up Ca- 
nadian sales operations out of that 
city. 



PICTURES 



Wednesday, June 13, 1945 



Raw Stock Rationing to Be Lifted 
By New Year's, Maybe Sooner-WPB 



35 mm. to commercial 



Washington, June 12. ♦ 
Barring unfojseen military con- 
tingencies, raw stock rationing "will- 
be lifted next New Years Day or 
even sooner, Stanley Adams, head 
ol the War Production Board's Con- 
sumer Durable Goods Division, said 
yesterday (11). Adams presented 
a rosy picture, emphasizing that the 
Government's policy is to eliminate 
all restrictive orders and allocations 
as soon as possible. Only twp still 
remaining for films are L-233 (con- 
trolling types of production at the 
manufacturer's level) and L-178 
(allocating " 
users), • ; 

• Right, now only about 29,000,000 
feet of stock stand between Holly- 
wood and no rationing for the third 
quarter. WPB allocated 271,000,000 
feet to the studios. ' • 

"In setting up our policy," said 
Adams, "We have taken . the position 
that when there are 300,000,000 feet 
available per quarter for all the big 
producers, plus "100% for the Class 
C producers, and the needs for 
Army, Navy and other Government 
claims, order L-178 can be revoked." 

August is apparently the month 
which. will tell the story. Adams said 
that some time this month; he will 
have the complete story of require- 
ments lor the fourth quarter, plus 
the ■estimated production figures. The 
crucial, point is summer raw stock 
production. 

"Last year," Adams pointed out. 
"over 50.000,000 feet of production 
■were lost during the third quarter." 
This year if is hoped that the loss 
. due to vacations and other causes 
will be down to 30,000,000, because 
raw stock manufacturers have 
agreed to go all out in the produc- 
tion of 35 mm and X-ray film, even 
»( the expense of other types. If 
the production goal can be met, ac- 
cording to Adams, the fall situation 
will be much brighter than at any 
time since the beginning of the war 
— again barring unexpected military 
contingency 

Adams admitted that^ 16 mm. pro- 
duction would suffer somewhat due 
to the drive to increase 35 mm., but 
said the drop would not be too great 
in the substandard field. Improve- 
ment in 16 mm. has been marked 
since the beginning of . the year, 
when the situation was critical. The 
16 mm. producers have received 
about 50%. more than last year, and 
about twice what they used in 1941 
Adams said. Demands in the field 
. have been definitely on the increase 

Other highlights: 
. -. :I. Federal Emergency Administra- 
tion, which has been given 38.000 
feet for the third quarter for overall 
foreign allocation, has assigned no 
raw stock to Russia. This is because 
Russia is not at war with Japan and 
therefore not eligible for lend-lea.se 
stock. In addition. Russia did not 
receive much of the 15,000.000 feet: 
allocation created for it at the begin- 
ning of the second quarter. 

2. Adams said he had no definite 
Information about the raw stock pro- 
duction in Russia, but that, last Jan- 

'■; , uary, he understood total facilities 
operating there could turn out only 
90,000,000 feet annually. The big Rus- 
sian raw . film factories in the 
Ukraine were smashed by the Ger- 
mans, lie said that Russia had not 
offered to buy raw stock for cash 
yet, 

3. For the third quarter. England 
. has been allocated about 1.500,000 

feet of color film but no black and 
white. Britain . will continue to get 
celluloid base from this country and 

'. dp its own black and white coating. 
The general policy is to .sive England 
as much base as she wants. However. 

".. England rejected an- increase. 

.'• ' 4. The general world situation on. 
raw stock should improve, now that 
the fighting is' ended in Europe. 
England is already getting some base 
from Fj>ance. and Belgium, with the 
hitter's plants operating fairly well, 
France, however, is faced by person- 
nel and fuel problems. 
. 5. The. Agfa factory at Leipzig was 
found to be intact, when our .Army 
took over. However, tiie city is in 
. . the area since turned over to Russian 
".' . military control, so that its produc- 
tion will probably How to the Soviet 
picture studios. 

0. J.. Arthur Rank made direct ap- 
plication for stock as an independent 
producer, and did not appeal through 
the British embassy. He has received 
an allocation for the third quarter 
based on his annual' use for the past 
four years. 



RKO Reelects 8 Directors 

Radio-Keith-Orpheum stockhold- 
ers, at the annual meeting last Wed- 
nesday t6>, reelected eight men to 
the board of. directors: the ninth, J. 
Miller Walker, succeeding Richard 
Patterson, recently appointed U. S. 
Ambassador to Yugoslavia. ',..;' 

Those reelected include: Ned E. 
Depinet. Floyd Odium, N, Peter 
Rathvon, Harry M. Dinning, Fred- 
erick L. Ehrman. L. Lawrence 
Green, L. Boyd Hatch and George H. 
Shaw.. 

Price, Waterhouse & Co. was 
iraratd to audit accounts of the cor- 
poration, and « subsidiaries for the 
1945 fiscal year. . 



Yank PWVto Tour 

Personal appearance tour in 
picture houses has been set for 
some 20 U. S. servicemen, res- 
cued from Jap prison camps, in 
connection with "Back to Ba- 
taan" (RKO) bookings. 

pi's were liberated from, the 
Cabanatuan prison camp in the 
Philippines. 



Big Hearst Bally 
For RKO's Bataan' 



Indie Distribs Bait 



William Randolph Hearst is open- 
ing up all Hearst newspapers (in 
some 15 cities) to RKO in the cam- 
paign on "Back to Bataan," in a 
move to help focus public attention 
on the war in the Pacific. Walter 
Howey. Hearst exec who, it was 
learned last week, is now also pub- 
lisher of the American Weekly, ef- 
fected the tieup with Terry Turner, 
exploitation director for RKO. 

First of the "Bataan" openings, 
Keith's Memorial theatre, Boston, 
June 25. will be preceded by a show 
at the Boston Garden on June 24, 
emceed by Eddie Cantor, to raise 
funds for a downtown civic center 
for servicemen's wives and mothers 
in Boston. 

Cantor will head talent lineup in- 
cluding Romo Vincent, Jackie Miles, 
Benny Goodman and orch, Leonard 
Sues, John Wayne, Ellen Drew. 
Ruth Warwick. Torn Conway, An-, 
thony Quinn. Fely Fraquillin and 
Boston's Latin Quarter show. Group 
is also scheduled to appear at the 
Keith's Memorial for the preem the 
following night (25). 

Among those slated to appear at 
the Garden June 24 are Gov. Maurice 
. Tobin - of Massachusetts, and Gen. 
Carlos ,T. Romiilo. Philippines Com- 
missioner to the U.S., who is on Gen. 
Douglas MacArt hur's staff. Jesse L. 
Lasky; who recently signed to re- 
lease through RKO, is also sched- 
uled to attend. 

First of the "Bataan" openings 
represents the largest theatre tieup 
thus far set by RKO in following 
through on its policy of saturation 
bookings. Approximately 150 houses 
—86 in the Boston area atone— are 
set for the preem. Tieup involves 
lour exchange areas— Boston, New 
Haven. Buffalo and Albany. 1 "Hit- 
ler's Children"' tieup' involved 65 
houses, "Rising Sun" 78.,!.. 

The Yankee. Network f some 22 
stations I and the three Hearst news- 
papers in Boston — the Boston Ad- 
vertiser, Daily Record and Daily 
American— are sponsoring the open- 
ing. 

Funds similarly raised in various 
"Hearst cities'" will be turned over 
to local civic centers for. service- 
men's wives and mothers: Boston 
Garden, scaled at $1 to $3, with seat- 
ing capacity around 18.000. is ex- 
pected to yield $40,000 or better for 
the Boston center. 

About 500 Purple Heart winners' 
from the Pacific theatre of war will 
attend the Boston preem as guests.. 



Concern Among Majors 

■ Chicago, June 12. 
Apprehension of N. Y. d 1st rib 
brasshats over strides being made 
by such outfits as Film Classics, 
United Screen Attractions, Screen 
Guild Productions, Supreme Pictures 
and such like, combined with bids 
thrown out by these typros for the 
services of established figures in 
large exchanges here, is becoming so 
marked there's plenty of talk in 
Film Row these days about the way 
homeoffices are dangling contracts 
before their key men here and in 
other big exchange centers, in order 
to hold on to their staffs.- -Contracts, 
for such positions are, needless to 
say. a rarity in normal: times. 

Manpower shortages among this 
group, all in an indisputedly highly 
specialized sales field, also reported- 
ly have the powers-that-be more 
than slightly perturbed. Number of 
shifts recently from jobs in top ex- 
changes to lesser-known companies 
— not mention the double - time 
changeovers in practically every line 
of work in the Row. a wartime 
phenomena— is also on the upswing, 
Jo cue plenty of pondering by higher- 
ups, according to reports brought 
back from visits to the home offices. 

It's a wide open field, of 'course, 
and, with the end of the war always 
in mind, the attitude continues to be 
a combo of "If I'm ever gonna make 
a change, now's the time" ad "I'd 
rather be a big fish, in a little pool 
than a little vice- versa." 



Kirsch Proposes 2,000 Theatres In 
Chi, Boston, Cleve., Booking Combo 



Studio Contracts 



Hollywood, June 12. 
Phyllis Adair, actress, Columbia, ; 
Cornell Wilde, renewed, 20th. 
Monty Woolley, renewed, 20th. 
Bea Allen, actress, Par. 
June Duprez, renewed, RKO. 
Dorothy Dayton, actress, Par. 
Byron Poindexter, actor, Par, 
Owen Ty»ee, actor, Paramount. 
Ann Mi'ler, renewed, Columbia. 
Diana Lynn,: renewed, Paramount. 
Edwin Phillips, dialog dir., Col. 
Byron Barr, renewed, Paramount. 
Johnny Coy, actor, Paramount. * 
Frances Hyland, writer. Re-pubfic." 
Donne Greer, actor, Warners. 
J. Russell Spencer, art dir., 20th. 



CENTRAL CHARGED WITH 
UNFAIR LABOR TACTICS 

-Hollywood. June 12. 

Charges of discrimination in the 
employment of film extras were 
made by Mike Jeffers. business repre- 
sentative of the Screen Players 
Union, to Howard Philbrick. general 
manager of Central Casting Corp.. 

Jeffers declared that extras, when 
called in for jobs, were asked if they 
had A- J cards in the Screen Actors 
Guild, with the suggestion that such 
cards would make them eligible for 
bit jobs. Such action, Jeffers stated, 
would force extras to pay compensa- 
tion ;to an organization which had no 
jurisdiction in the extra field... Un- 
less the practice ceased, he asserted, 
charges of unfair labor tactics would 
be filed with the NLRB. 



Annual Par Sales 
Bonus Due in Wk. 

-V. 

' Paramount'* annual Jbonus to its 
sales organization, based upon busi- 
ness done throughout the country, is 
expected to be paid in part, as per 
custom, by : the end of this week. 
What it will run in money is not in- 
dicated in advance, the bonus always 
having been a closely-guarded se- 
cret, but not anticipated that it will 
run as much as last year when 
around $400,000 was passed out. 

A smaller melon' to be cut up 
among the selling forces is reported- 
ly due to increased cost in pictures 
and to some delays in liquidation, 
notably in the Greater N. Y. area 
where the Loew circuit, unable to 
get together with Par, held up the 
company's film in the entire area for 
around eight months. This seriously 
handicapped the Par N. Y. exchange 
which the prior year was paid off 
handsomely on the bonus 

Annual divvy 
installments, last 

three-fourths of the full amount in 
June and one-fourth in the fall. 

Participating each year are home- 
office sales officials, district and 
branch managers in the field, plus 
salesmen, exploitation representa- 
tives, bookers and exchange office 
managers. . - 



A mammoth booking combine en- 
visaging the buying and booking for 
2,000 theatres in various parts of the 
country is reported under discussion, 
with Jack Kirsch, president of Al- 
lied Theatres of Illinois, as prime 
mover in its formation. Allied The- 
atres is a strong unit in Allied States 
Assn., whose executive committee 
includes Kirsch as a member. 

Under plans circulating in the 
trade, thought is to merge various 
booking combines as a starter, in- 
cluding Kirsch's own in Chicago; 
Arthur Howard's in Boston, another 
in ^Cleveland, and some others in 
various parts of the country. Al- 
lied leader's booking combo in Chi- 
cago serves around 90 theatres. The 
goal of a total of 2,000 may be shoot- 
ing high, in trade opinion, but re- 
ported this is the objective and that 
it is figured approximately $20,000 
would be needed to organize. 

Kirsch was in N. Y. Jast week to 
discuss financing, but no mention is 
made of inclusion in the gigantic 
booking service of any of thdse op- 
erating in N. Y. In the latter key, 
five- different combos are buying, and 
booking for approximately 250 thea- 
tres! ' - ." : '" 



MEMPHIS AGAIN CUTS 
NEGRO PHASE FROM PIC 

Memphis. June 12. 
Race-conscious Memphis censor 
board nils snipped another flicker. 

John Rogers, alert reviewer for 
The Press-Scimitar, was the first to 
spot the excision in "Pillow to Post" 
at the Warner Theatre. 

He wrote: "It's evident that the lo- 
cal censor has. been busy with' Jiis 
shears again in 'Pillow to Post.' One 
scene is at a night spot. A sign in 
front of the place says "Louis Arm- 
strong featured for this week only.' 
But when you're taken inside, there's 
nothing but music, with Armstrong 
never being shown." 

Film, incidentally, was originally 
banned by local censor on grounds it 
tended to corrupt children's morals. 
Whereupon Warner mgr. Col. How- 
ard Waugh banned kids under 16 
usually in two I and was permitted to run pic. First" 
year having been j week's gross will hit close to $14,000, 
new house high, as result. 



WB Will Handle Casting, 
Labor Problems on Own Lot 



H wood Happy Over New 
Gas Rationing Plan 



F-WC Drops 3G to Find 
Out What Makes Art 

Los Angeles, July 12. 

Fox-West Coast will have to pay 
Fritz HenUels, sculptor, $3,000 for 
the cement statuary : that once 
graced the forecourt of the Egyptian 
theatre on Hollywood Blvd., along 
with a Cageful of monkeys.. 

Statues were carted to the city 
dump when the theatre was reno- 
vated. F-WC said they Iwere junk 
but a_ Superior Court jury. said they 
were "art. .';'".".' 



'SMOKY' STARS SET 

Hollywood. June 12. 

Anne Baxter and Burl Ives, ballad 
singers, draw lop roles in "Smoky," 
Technicolor film based on Will 
James' western novel and- slated for 
a July start. 

Louis. King directs and Robert 
Bassler produces. 



Home-Office Screenings 
May Be Tied Up by Strike 

A critical tieup of screening rooms 
in N. Y, home offices and exchanges, 
upsetting tradeshowings of new pic- 
tures, is threatened as result of a 
deadlock in negotiations by Local 
306, Moving Picture Machine Op- 
erators, for a new .contract. 

Breaking off completely with dis- 
tributors collectively at a meeting 
held Friday (8), Local I 306 Will ask 
for negotiations individually • with 
the companies, but failing to make 
any headway under that recourse, 
will in all probability strike.. At 
a meeting of the membership of the 
operators' union held a couple weeks 
ago. Herman Gelber. president of 
306, was voted the authority to take 
any action he saw fit if unable to 
negotiate a deal covering the pre- 
view rooms. ;.; '•.-.' 

The . first distributing company 
With which 306 will attempt to talk 
turkey on an invidiual basis is Co- 
lumbia. A letter , asking that nego- 
tiations be opened along that line 
was mailed to Col Monday <11). This 
company's answer will, likely be a 
determining 'factor. . 

The contract covering operators in 
the screening rooms expired last 
September. Union is asking for a 
two-year deal, retroactive to then, at 
an increase in salary from $77 to 
$100 weekly. 

Meantime, negotiations with the 
theatre circuits for renewal of the 
operators' deal which expires • this 
coming September are being held "in 
abeyance pending developments so 
far as the boothmen are concerned 
in the preview rooms. 



Hollywood, June 12. 
Warners is faced with the problem 
of organizing, its own machinery for 
casting film extras, negotiating wage 
agreements with labor groups and 
performing other functions handled 
in the past by the Producers' As.so- 
, , cialion. At a recent meeting of the 

Hollywood. June 12. Associatioll . tne e xecs . expressed a 
Increased "B ' gas rations for willingness to continue these services, 
gainfully employed" motorists is a temporarily, but indicated that other 
long-tfwailed break for actors, execs. ;lncl permanent arrangements would 

technicians and other workers in the i h f e |°- be matle b " V *• 

i conipau v. . ■ 

film industry, most of whom live I ]n tase Warners insists on remain- 
miles from their studios and were I ing outside the Association, its tabor 
cramped under the . old regulations relations department, under Carol 
restricting them to 400 miles a j Sajc. and its casting staff will have 
month. New rationing permits a : to be. enlarged. 

650-mile ceiling. • ~~ — " — ~ : 

Additional/gas is granted appli- j St. LOO Blueprints N»Z1 

Atrocity Pix for All U.S. 

St. Louis, June 12. 



cants "who are gainfully employed 
and can prove need." 



SOEG Get 500G Melon 

Hollywood. June 12. 

Screen Office Employees Guild, 
numbering about. 2,500 clerical work- 
ers, will draw a melon of $500,000 in 
back pay through a !'"<: wage tilt, 
approved by . the War Labor Board 
and retroactive to Jan.: 1. .1944. 

New .agreement, engineered by 
Glenn Pratt, business representative 
of the white-colUirites.- means addi- 
tional pay 'approximating $360,000 a 
year. 

SOEG will have a femme proxy 
for the first lime. Lillian Hurwitz is 
slated for election, without opposi- 
tion, to succeed Harry Phillips. Other 
unopposed candidates are Alice Ol- 
eott, recording ..secretary: Pratt, biz 
rep.; Flo Coutini, financial secre- 
tary, and Leon Suclvloff, treasurer. 



STILL ANOTHER 'CRIST0' 

Hollywood. June 12. 

John Loder and John Carradine 
will co-star in PRC's new version 
of the old Dumas novel, '."The Count 
of Monte Crista'' 

High-budget production will be 
handled personally by Leon From- 
kess, studio chief, starling in July. 



The German war atrocity films, 
made by the U. S. Army Signal, 
Corps, drew 81,500 persons in 44 
showings in the opera house of the 
Henry W. Kiel (municipal) audi- 
torium and the local display, 
used as a guinea pig experiment, for 
the balance of the country, was so 
successful, thai the films will be 
loaned to civic and non-commercial 
groups in the U. S. 

Originally only 12 show ings were 
skedded but the demand for ducal* 
became so strong that the additional 
shows were arranged. The films 
drew persons from all walks of life 
and many stood in line for more 
than an hour before the a.m. show 
started. , 

After, the conclusion of the local 
run it was announced in Washington 
last week that the films also will be 
shown to all German war prisoners 
iii this country. Joseph Pulitzer, 
editor of the Posl-Dispateh, one of 
the group of newspaper editors in- 
vited by the allied Supreme Com- 
mand to visit the Nazi concentration 
camps, was instrumental in having 
Mayor A. P. Kaufman to form a 
citizens' committee of 300 to spon- 
sor the showing here. 



Wednesday, June 13, 194$ 



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FIRST 



of tke new group 

of INTERNATIONAL PICTURES 

to be released by . , R K O 

RADIO 

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INTERNATIONAL PICTURES 

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WILLIAM DEM ARE ST • DAN DURYE A 

A Cinema Artists Production 
Produced ty Gary Cooper 
Directed ty Stuart Heigler 
Screenplay by Nunnally Jobnaon ,.. \ 
Novel by Alan Le May 



INTERNATIONAL PICTURES presents 



CLAUDETTE ORSON GEORGE 



COLBERT WELLES 



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Dire cted ty P r o d u c ed ty 

IRVING PICHEL • DAVID LEWIS. 

Screenplay by Lenore Coffee • Novel ty Gwen Bristow 



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II OF IMPORTANCE 



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Wgm 
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DENNIS O'KEEFE 

Directed hy, Associate producer 

WILLIAM A. SEITER . WALTER THOMPSON 

Screenplay hy Rolert Smitli « Story lay Walter Reiscli 



INTERNATIONAL PICTURES presents 




Wednesday, June 13, 1915 



PICTURES 



IS 



Studio Strike Getting Better 



Continued from page 9 



necessary it it were disclosed that 
all strikers had voted to join the 
Screen Set Designers, Illustrators & 
Decorators, Local 1421. Board reps 
have been investigating the qualifi- 
cations of some strike replacements 
who were voted by the- IA as dec- 
orators. ;But it is understood that 
claims are so conflicting that they 
will be submitted to Washington. If 
hearing is ordered hero,: individual 
voters probably will be called to tes- 
tify as to their experience and quali- 
fications. '. .'. 4 

Janitors voted to remain out until 
complete victory was won by the | 
strikers. Strikers have been told 
•that "a celebration could be expect- 
ed in two weeks, since the tide was 
turning'' in their favor. Producers 
still claim production is noaring nor- 
mal, while the strikers claim not one 
film has been completed since the 
walkout started March 12. 

Picketing in the film, strike devel- 
oped into a mobile campaign; follow- 
ing a temporary injunction issued by 
Judge Emmet Wilson in Superior 
Court, restraining mass picket lines 
from converging on the Samuel 
Goldwyn studio. Lines were ' i'm m e * 
djaielyjiliifted to the RKO-Paltie lot" 
in Culver" City. ;..'■. "" 

Herbert Sorrell. president of the 
Conference of Studio Unions, lead- 
ing the -strike, declared he had not 
been served On the restraining order, 
but declared that lines had been 
switched from the Goldwyn studio 
after some of the pickets had been 
served. If the producers seek new 
injunctions, he asserted, the picket 
line will be shifted from one studio 
to another 'until the temporary re- 
straining order comes up for hearing 
June 15. 

Judge Wilson's order, issued Tues- 
day (5), prohibits the stationing of 
more than six pickets in the vicinity 
of a motion picture plant. It Speci- 
fied that not more than four such 
pickets could be stationed within 25 
feet of the vehicle entrance of the 
studio, and not more than two with- 
in 25 feet of the pedestrian entrance. 
It prohibits any attempt to obstruct 
delivery of supplies into a studio, the 
use of soundtrucks or any other de- 
vice to magnify voices, and restrains 
pickets or other strikers from yell- 
ing in loud voices at employees, ten;, 
an Us or customers of the studio. 

Pickets and strikers are also 
warned not to stand, walk or march 
in groups or columns before or 
cross the ordinary entrances- to the 
studio in such a manner as not to 
leave ample room for those desiring 
to enter or leave. 

Sorrell said L. P. Lindelpff. inter- 
national president of the Brother- 
hood of Painters, is arranging for a 
. meeting of international presidents 
of various unions in Washington to 
demand a showdown on the issuance 
of studio charters by Richard Walsh, 
president of IATSE. 

From Sacramento came word that 
the State Employment Stabilization 
Commission had upheld a ruling of 
the local office that studio workers 
who refuse to return to their labors 
because of the current strike are hot 
entitled to draw unemployment in- 
surance. 



"As long as two years ago studio 
set decorators, organized in a small 
autonomous 'guild,' voted to affiliate 
with the Screen Set Designers & 
Illustrators, which was Local 1421 
of JLqXsIhh liana l_Eam tops -Deeor-a tors 
8f Paperhangei's of America, AFL. 
Producers were so notified and bar- 
gained with the local for 18 months, 
when it occurred to them, to ques- 
tion the jurisdiction of the local: : 
"A WLB arbitrator found that set 
decorators belonged to : Local 142 1- 
alTf ight._ He directed that producers 
continue to bargain with that group 
but granted - an appeal to the pro- 
ducers' old friends. IATSE, which 
had appeared providentially to dis- 
pute jurisdiction with the Confer- 
ence Studio Unions. 

"Producers could now claim to be 
in the middle of a jurisdictional dis- 
pute. CSLF. recognizing the signs, 
moved in" ""pTofest" against what 
loofted lo them like an obvious deal 
with Walsh to set up a company 
union: They served notice of a strike, 
under provisions of the Smith-Con- 
nally act, as the producers continued 
to refuse to comply with the WLB 
d ir.oet-1 v-e -i— * - — ' -> « ■ - ■ ' ■ ■■■ .— ■;- 



Slap Producers 



Continued from page 9 



influence." Thesis is explained thusly: 
"Los Angeles labor leaders trace 
the origin of both disputes to deter- 
mination of the National Assn. of 
Manufacturers to make a last stand 
against unionism in the friendly 
Southern California climate, so safe- j 
ly open shop until war industry in- 
truded. Swinging into the biggest I 
campaign to date— the campaign to 
retain for 1,. A. its title as -airplane 
capital of the country and even to 
boost it into No. 1 place among- in- 
dustrial areas— Chamber of Com- 
merce has been peddling the city's 
postwar opportunities for 'free com- 
petitive enterprise' as it once ped- 
dled climate." ■;,'.■•'; 
Recalls Browric-Bioff Deal 
Connection between DeMille and 
Chamber of Commerce is - obvious.' 
she wrote, "but the hand of NAM 
boosters is less obvious" in the other 
deal. Moreover,/ she i manages-' (o 
work out a case, to wit: 

"The last scandalous instance in 
which IATSE leadership was found 
to be in cahoots with producers was 
when Browne and Biofl were discov- 
ei'ad to have blocked raises for t licit- 
membership and kept the change 
themselves. IATSE president Rich- 
ard Walsh , was international vice- 
president in the Brownc-Bioff days- 



Moley's Book 

Continued Iroin page 9 

Lacmmle, Rufus Cole. William E. 
Atkinson, Robert H. Cochrane, Sam- 
uel Goldwyn, Marcus Loew, Adolph 
Zukor, William Fox. Lewis J. Selz- 
nick and Myron Selznick. plus Hays. 
It's interesting to note at this point, 
that of the few still active cinematic 
tycoons ' surviving, both Goldwyn 
and still another scion of the Selz- 
nieks— David O.— are -most vocifer- 
ous in the competitive Society of 
Independent Motion Picture Produc- 
ers which.', at this writing, is engag- 
ing in seeking a strong' "front man." 
just as Hays himself is divesting 
some of the load in the MPPDA, 
preparatory to the advent of Eric 
Johnston as prez. with Hays moving 
up to chairman of the board. (The 
Moley book, revised up to last 
March, is sufficiently up-to-date to 
make mention of Hays-Johnston 
move, without revealing the latter 
by name >-, 

Started in 19116 

Moley conceived his book in 1936. 
did most of the research and com- 
position in "38-'39 and, interrupted 
by the war— with knowledge that 
new postwar problems would neces- 
sitate radical revision — he put it 
aside, until, early '45, when he 
brought it up-to-date. And a good 
job it is. ' .:. 

Many sources are credited in 
this history. The onus on Holly- 
wood, the "Fatty" Arbuckle scandal, 
etc., paved the way for the 1!»"2 
Hays office, and with the interven- 
ing years that trade organization 
sparkplugged the industry's self- 
regulation and the Production Code. 
This was the direct evolution of the 
Dont's and Be Carofuls, as regards 
cinematic ethical. and artistic-stand- 
ards. 

The Production Code was pal- 
pably born of a Catholic church boy- 
cott threat. There's no doubt but 
that, the .Production Co.de put teeth 
into enforcing certain ethical stand- 
ards. Moley develops that premise 
to point up that with the. improved 
tastes by . Hollywood if inevitably 
made for better pictures and even 
higher economic returns.. ■'•"'■;'■* ; • 

Sundry intra-trade items are 
touched' oh. such as the, Sherman act. 
the Whoelor-Nye~-Clark "warmon- 
gering" probe, the 5-5-5, the foreign 
market, the Washington lobby, trade 
customs. Central Casting.' the Holly- 
wood Guilds; .Ed lvuykendaU's 10- 
point plan, divorcement, the NRA, 
and- all. the rest, .right, up. to the 
current Export Trade Assn.- . 
"Variety" Excerpts 

Two "Variety" quotes early in the 
book are employed by Moley to 
establish -Hays' value to the itt'dirs-- 
try.' The excerpt speaks for itself: 

"Meanwhile, even back in 1922, 
Hays always had carrots in his pocket 
for 'the donkey. On Feb, 24, 1922. 
•Variety'', reported: 'FILM- LOANS 
ARE AT ZERO- The governor of 
the N. Y. Federal Reserve Bank 
gave" a" luncheon in", "Hays', honor. 
On June (i, Hays addressed the 
American Bankers Assn. Within 
three months after Hays took of- 
fice, the film companies' credit With, 
the banks Was established. On Feb. 
22, 1923, .'Variety'. ropbiTed that 
William Brandt, former pi-esideiit-ot 
one ol the founders HI the N, Y. 
Theatre Owners Chamber of Com- 
merce, declared that Hays' restora- 



tion of the bankers' confidence in 
the industry alone was worth the 
three years' salary contracted for 
with him. . . ." 

In this orderly fashion, without 
being loo pedantic, Moley traces the 
tactical history of Hays' influence. 
The author frankly states the Hays 
office made all its information avail- 
able but, without disclaiming any 
influence otherwise, it is patent that 
"KToTey ~ T wp iXnfxaTrurielecP' Tri His" 
findings. .' ; ','. . .-■ ." 

. His discussion of sex and profan- 
ity in pictures focuses around the 
British-made "In Which We Serve" 

(Noel Coward) with its realistic 
wartime expletives. But he utilizes 
-that .(b-point-up-Hays 1 steadfastness- 
in keeping the film producers in line 
even with so fine a film; 

Book concludes with an eye to the 
future: the repeated talks of merg- 
ing the MPPDA and its west coast 
afiiiiaTe. the Association of Motion 
Picture Producers, Inc.; the postwar 
markets, etc. Interesting appendices 
list the incorporators of the MPPDA, 
its by-laws, amendments, agree- 
ments with the Authors League of 
America, the sundry self -regulatory 
codes, and the like, 



Laurie Digs Into a 'Stale' Encyclopedia 
AndComesUpWithCoLonPantomirae 



fix Gain Most 



Continued from page 9 



operation ol the International Fund 
will directly affect the film industry. 

5. While, there have been quota 
and Other trade restrictions on U. S. 
films in England there have been 
greater restrictions in non-English 
speaking countries on the importa- 
tion, of American films largely be- 
cause of their adverse balance of 
trade in "relation to the United 
Stales. , ' 

6. ; Film business has suffered seri- 
ously in the past from blocked 
exchange. In the formulation of 
exchange policies, most countries 
have been more liberal in permit- 
ting payment for goods or shipping 
services than they have for pay- 
ments of loyalties, rentals or the 
earnings on investments. The fund 
agreement, is designed to avert this 
type of exchange control in the 
future..; • . . ; .... 

7. While member nations are per- 
mitted lo impose some restrictions 
on flight of capital, principally in 
regard lo "hot money," these coun- 
tries are prohibited by the agree- 
ment from imposing restrictions on 
the transfer of current earnings for 
payment for services. 

The committee, organized to "ex- 
press the views of what we believe 
to be the majority of American busi- 
nessmen." has prepared reports on 
films, cotton, tobacco, petroleum, 
automotive., shipping, electronic and 
machine tool industries. . 

More than 100 leading executives, 
representing some of the nation's 
leading corporations, have already 
joined, the ' committee. 

Among them are Barney Balaban. 
Paramount proxy: William Morris. 
Jr.. head of the Morris Agency: 
William Benton, Encyclopedia Bri- 
tannica: Gardner Cowles Jr.. pub- 
lisher of the Des Moines Register 
& Tribune: E. E Brown, chairman 
of the board, First National Bank, 
Chicago: W. W. Crocker. Crocker 
First National Bank, San Francisco; 
John A. Stevenson, president. Penn 
Mutual Life Insurance Co.. W. W. 
Wachtel. president, Calvert Distil- 
lers: Phil D. Reed, chairman of the 
board, General Electric Co.. Harry 
Schcrman. president. Book-of-lhe- 
Month Club: Charles R, Hook, presi- 
dent. American Rolling Mill Co.; 
Henry P, Bristol, president, Bristol- 
Myejs. Co.; Emmet J. McCormack, 
v.p. and treasurer,. Moore-McCor- 
mack Lines, Inc.. and many others. 

In advertisements now being pub- 
lished in newspapers the commit- 
tee is plugging its slogan "Bretton 
Woods Is Good Business." 



Celeste Holm's First Film 

Hollywood; June 12. 
. : First chore, for Celeste'. Holm, 
Broadway star, under her new con- 
tract with 20lh-Fox will be femme 
lead in "The Bandwagon." a Tech- 
nicolor production; based on the 
Arthur Schwartz -Howard Diet/, 
legiter, 

: .William Perlbcrg will produce and 
Gregory Ratpft direct. 



I0KD ON MONO 'PARADE' 

Hollywood, June 12. 

Del -Lord. who. recently : directed 
"I Love a Bandleader" at Columbia, 
shifts to Monogram for -a similar 
chore on "Swing- Parade," 

"Swing" \vill be produced by 
Harry Roni'm'. .who is taking a .leave 
of absence fi'din his posl as head of 
the . theatres division for .General. 
Amus. Corp. 



BY JOE LAURIE, JR. 

Speaking to Sid the other "day we 
got gabbing about pantomine and he 
thought - if "would make a -good^col- 
umn. I found it started away, back 
in the Roman era so I was bound to 
gel; a Roman Column oiit of it. (See 
what lengths I go to for the boss?; 

Our first dramas were in panto- 
mine. They consisted of gesticula- 

tions and dances. Some o f the m 

were accompanied by music. Panto- 
mine flourished in Greek days of the 
drama, then was taken up by Italy 
and Franco.'" From France it was 
brought to England and in 1723 the 
first great pantonine production was 
put on at the Drury Lane theatre. 
Since then Christmas Pantomine has 
become an English Institution. I got 
all this from an Encylopedia in the 
"Variety" office which nobody 
knows about. It's been , there for 
years. Pulaski picked one of the 
volumes up one time and threw it 
down figuring it was a Yonkers 
phone book. The rest of the staff 
never go near the Encylopedia 
thinking it -is-sOmething that belongs 
to the bookkeeping department. I 
just looked at the thing to show off 
that I'm educated. So far , they still 
don't believe me. -.- 

Anyway, I do know that vaude- 
ville has contributed a great many 
fine artists to the great art of panto- 
mine. Nothing has ever topped the 
"Poller game" that Bert Williams 
used to do. . Jimmy Savo with his 
"River Stay Away From My Door" 
is still one of our top pantomimists 
although he now has added talk and 
song to his great talent. There is no 
finer pantomimist than Frank Li- 
buse ..'.,.. his "waiter bit" and 
"seating the customers" in. the Olsen 
& Johnson show is grand. Harpo 
Marx is also one of the greats that 
came from vaudeville. Wells, Mc- 
Ginty & West as "The Builders" are 
one of the great laughing acts of 
show business. 

Who could ever forget the greatest 
of them all. Joe Jackson? Do you 
remember Ed Blondell, the father of 
Joan Blondell, in "The Lost Boy," 
where he got his hand in a sugar 
bowl and for five minutes would 
have the audinece howling at him 
trying to get it out. finally breaking 
the bowl with a hammer? George 
Felix (& Barry) also was a fine. pan- 
tomimist Arnaul Bros, in their "Two 
Luffing Birrrds" act are grand pan- 
tomimists. One of the greats- of 
vaudeville in the panto line was the 
late Harry Langdon. the nearest ap- 
proach to the one and only Charlie 
Chaplin, who also started in vaude- 
ville with Karno's "Slums Of Lon- 
don." 

Savarin, En ol, Trios 

Do you remember -the great Sa- 
varin, and the marvelous Schwartz 
Bros, with their mirror act? I 
would class Leon Errol as a great 
pantomimist: his bits of "Mailing 
The Letter" and "The Guest" was 
tops in that line. Bert Melrose with 
his falling tables. Welsh. Mealy & 
Montrose with their swell pantomine 
baseball game. Spissel Bros. & Mack, 
and of course Edmund Hayes in 
"The Wise Guy" moving the piano. 
Clark & McCul lough, when they did 
the two trainmen: McDcvitt. Kelly 
& Lucy in their piano-moving skit; 
Red Skelton with his . "Doughnut 
Dunking" bit. Shaw & Lee with 
their, tangle of feet and hands, Ar- 
thur Rigby the great minstrel, when 
he did his "$20,000 Challenge Clog." 
dancing with his right foot and try- 
ing to dance with his' left, finally, 
turning his back to the audience.. 
What a wow! . ,- ; 

Eddie Clark .with his Six Winning 
Widows.- when he. did that grand 
piece of pantomine of picking up the 
eigarot butt at. the race track. Hor- 
toh Spun- with his pantomimic golf 
game; The' Glorias who originated 
the. "skating dance." Adelaide &. 
Hughes. I believe, belong among the 
pantominists although they were 
dancers. They usually told a story 
with their .dances.: Great artists. 
Harry Watson. Jr.. with .his "Tele- 
phone Bit" and "Philadelphia" Jack 
O'Brien, although lie had. talk in it,, 
it : was his - pantomime that, put act 
across. Two -of the great laughing 
scenes dl" vaudeville. -. 

Bill fields, Al Schaclit 
-. W. ;,C\ Fields, of course, belongs on 
the top of the list, so does Tate's 
■'Motoring." Jim .. Barton's "Mad 
Dog" i> 7.")",' pantomine and tops in 
its line. ;. -. 

Ol course the grout clowns are def- 
jhitely . pa.ntnminiisls, Toto. Ferry 
Conway. Slivers' Oakley, Felix Act'-: 
lor and Kmmett Kelly. Al Scliacht is 
one of out great preson.l-day panto- 



mimists and has played vaudeville 
with success. Gene Sheldon, with 
his "sewing the fingers" bit. is a 
classic- Chie-Sale tikLa Jot „oX paar_ 
to. in his act, taking up almost two) 
minutes as the old tuba player try- 
ing to cross. his legs. ;.-.. 

The Ballet was one of the original 
sources of pantomine and today 
nearly every musical show has its 
ballet, and t he y .are r eally swell. But 
what I started out to do was to see 
how many vaudeville artists contrib- 
uted to the great art. The abov» 
names are the only ones that come 
to mind right now. No doubt there 
are many more; which I will men- 
tion next time I have another talk 
with the boss. 

Of course 1 didn't mention many 
vaudeville acts that do talking today 
who can be put down as pantomim- 
ists because although they talk they 
don't say anything! - 



N.Y. LAB UNION OK'S 
OVERTIME PRIVILEGE 

In the thought that it was to the 
best interests of the union in con- 
nection with its negotiations for a 
new contract. : Local 702, Motion 
Picture Laboratory Technicians, 
N. Y.. last week rescinded its order 
that men could not work overtime 
regardless of circumstances. This 
order, placed into effect when nego- 
tiations with the labs first started, 
slowed printing considerably. 

Following cancellation of the rule 
that no one could perform overtime, 
the labs and Local 702 held a meet- 
ing Thursday (7> ' when a proposal 
for a new deal was accepted by the 
union's negotiating committee for 
submission to the membership. 

This does not necessarily mean a 
settlement since it is up to the mem- 
bership to vote on it-and may either 
ratify or reject the offer brought be- 
fore them by John Francavilla, .pres- 
ident and business manager of 702. 
Membership meeting will be held 
next Saturday (16). 

Since the members do not know 
the nature of the offer from the labs 
involved, and their vote will decide 
whether it's to be accepted, union 
officials meantime are not revealing 
the deal. 

In any event, if approved, it will 
be retroactive to March 10 last when 
old contracts, some for one year, 
others for two and four, expired. 
New deal reportedly includes in- 
creases and new job classifications, 
including, from account, higher pay 
for high-speed machine operators 
turning out approximately 450 feet 
a minute than for those on slower 
machines. 

A- total of 1,800 Local 702 members 
are employed in 18 eastern. labs do- 
ing the vast majority of the print- 
ing. , » 



SAG's Reps to Council 

Hollywood. June 12.. 

Five. members of the Screen Guild 
were appointed to represent lhat 
group in the Council of Hollywood 
Guilds and Unions. They are Rex 
Ingram. Robert Shane: Bill Davidson, 
Leroy Taylor and Dane Clark, .- 

Appointments were made by Paul 
Harvey, veepee, authorized by the 
SAG board of directors, 



Loew's 37 x /zc Divvy 

' Loew's. Inc.. ./directors declared a 
quarterly dividend of 37'.!je on the 
common last week, . establishing the 
new common -shares on a $1.50 -an- 
nual basis as - had . been anticipated 
when the stock "was split up. three 
lor one. Giving effect to the 3-tor-l 
spill-tip; this. is equal to $1.1.2 i-V per 
share or $4.50 annually. It is the 
first divvy on the new compion since 
it started in trading. recently on the 
N. Y. Stock Exchange. . Before the 
split-up, stock paid $2 per year plus 
extra dividends ranging- from 50c to 
$1.50 annually.' ■. ■' : ." 

Divvy is payable June 30 to stock- 
holders of record June 19. : • 



AUTHOR SUES 20TH-F0X 

. Los. Angeles, June .12. . 
Stanley Johnson, author, and' E, 
P. Duiton Co.. publisher of "Queen 
of the Flattops, the USS Lexington 
and the Coral Sea." filed suit for 
S20.00.0 against 20lh-Fox. 
' Plaintiffs declare the studio vio- 
lated an oral contract to pay that 
rtlfh for screen rights to the book. 



"No more sprightly screen comedy has come to town for a 

long time... loaded with laughter!"— Howard Barnes, Herald Tribune 

"'Wonder Man 1 gives guffaws the best break since the in- 
vention of the tickle. The flicker-frolic comes through with 

a jubilee of mirth !" -Wafrer Winchell, Mirror 



WONDER MAN 
IS SUPER! 



/ 



'Danny Kaye careens through one-man show... he's bouyant, 

gay and endless!" —Alton Cook, World-Telegram 

Danny Kaye's fans . . .there are millions of 'em . . . will eat 

this One up!" — lee Mortimer, Daily Mirror 

'Wonder Man 1 is bright and fast and brash ... it's a loud, 

lively comedy!" —Eileen Creelman, Sun 



— SciyS NT. Y. PrCSS / "He chatters and cracks jokes winningly, races about in mad 

confusion ... sings songs like something quite mad . . . Mr. 
Kaye running joyfully away with the show!" 

— Bosley Crowther, N. Y. Times 
'"Wonder Man' a howling Success!" — Kate Cameron, Daily News 
'"Wonder Man' is quite a guy v . . Danny literally outshines 

himself!" —John McManus, PM 

''The fun is fast, furious and ... continuous. Kaye exploits his 
overflowing bag of tricks with contagious enthusiasm!" 

— Archer Winston, N. Y. Post 




') 



record at 
the & f0 




He's as Sound as 
a Silver Dollar 




and will bring 
plenty of them / 
at the BOX OFFICE/ 



VIRGINIA MAYO-VEGVELLEW 

DONALD WOODS • S.Z.SAKAIL 

Allen Jenkins • Edward Brophy • Otto Kruger • Steve 
Cochran • Virginia Gilmore and THE GOlOWYh GIRLS 
Directed by Bruce Humberstone 

Straw ««y tt ten MAti«i»N. muvmii jhawison •>< mur «»rr 
Mmm* through RKO RAMO MCTUWS, INC 



Wednesday, June 13, 1945 



f^KIETV 



FILM REVIEWS 



17 



Incendiary lllontlc 

Hollywood, June 1. 
Paninii.iinl l-eloime ot .losenh Hlmi-oin pro- 
diiiMlon St»w MMty Jlutton, Ai-luro ile 
CiHiliiva: real urea Charlie JtuKRlen. Buiry. 
Fitzgerald. DilWCtW, tlpoiKe Marshall. 
S.-reeiiida. , Claude Uinynn ami Frank Uut- 
),.,•• cmiiKra, Hmv Jlennahan. editor. Aithie 
Mai»l.«i.; imiaii-, Hubert KimnfU Dolnii: 
vneal mraiiKeruenl, Joseiili J. UllO}" 
aawK-latS; ''>% Handera 
Da i». Trades! 
RiilininK I tine, 
Tata* Hainan, 
Bill Kulxa 



<'heriil.ee Jijn..jj 

Oaddei'i. -,.'. 

Mike (iuililiH,:.. 
Bes«l» tSulnnn. . 
'I'iin .'allaliaii. . . 
Niek. Urn Creek 
'J'lle Maxelles. . . 
JU'auHve SlorCO- 



lances, Danny 
n Hollywood, June 1. *•!"». 
113 MINK. 

Belly lluilon 

...Ariui-o ile I'nr.luva 

(Jlinl'lle KlIKRles 

, . ■ ' , ........ ■ : ■ : Atbei - 1 1 Hetoser. 

.......... .lie try *'i 1 wrein Id 

. . ,M»i y Hillliiw 

Bill tiouflwTn 

Kdward I'lanneili 

Themselves 

........ ,','UMI 



' Incendiary Blonde" is sound riiusi- 
cal d rama based on the lileotBroad- 
~way'iT^Texas~Guinarr:"e61ori:iil- irrci- 
deiits in the "hello sucker" girl's 



an hour and a half ot good, healthy 
fun in the film version, sock pro- 
duction and top acting, and picture- 
goers will worry no more about the 
absence of genuine plot than did the 
audiences who flocked to this suc- 
cess in N, Y. and on tour. It's boft 
stuff. ■ .-■'/. 

Except for the wider range of the 
camera which can get off the set that 
limited the stage version. "Miss" 
sticks to the play faithfully. The 
same set of animated young maniacs 
that made life at times miserable but 
ffever uninteresting for their parents, 
and friends go through the same ca- 
pers on the screen as in the original 
play, 

George Seaton was sensible in not 
trying to improve upon a good thing 
when he did the screenplay, and he _ 
showed further competence in his j 
direct i on :_Ih e, . prod uction never. 



yields to the temptation of gilding 

Career Tend themselves to film treat- the^stL* ^$£*tt& 

went; and. added value of Techm- * W» * ^ttSMtt a^on^lhe 



color, music and marquee strength 
indicate healthy business in all situ- 
ations: 

Screen story is packed with so 
much color, music, comedy and 
drama that its foundation in tragedy 
never becomes heavy. Script picks 

up the' Gulnan. career in Texas in t&^fa^,^ exist>nce7is r tops"'irt 
^nltrafrher^nancia.^ 



setting as the mainstay among the 
scenes. The cast was chosen for its 
appropriateness to the action in- 
volved, and Seaton knew just how 
to put them through their paces most 
effectively. 

Peggy Ann Garner as the amiable, 
imaginative 13-year-old bane of the 



lather. It; carries her through to 
success in that field, on to Broadway 
musicals, to Hollywood and early- 
day western films and finally back to 



her part, and her maniadversions are 
capably supported . by that other 
moppet, Fuffy. played by Barbara 
Whiting. Allyn Joslyn as the har- 
assed father. Sylvia Field as his 
wife. John Alexander as the hu- 



Miniature Reviews 

"Incendiary Blonde" (Par). 

(Musical; color) — Life of Texas 
Guinan, OK b,o. 

"Junior Miss" (20th). Rollick- 
ing comedy, following legit ver- 
sion faithfully. Boft b.o. 

"Conflict" IWB). Meldodrama 
with Bogart again in role of 
heavy. Strong b.o. 

"Alone Came Jones" (RKO- 
IritT). "Gary" CoopeT^pl^ducea" 
and starred (with Lpretta 
Young) western: moderate b.o.' 

"A Thousand and One Nights" 
(Color) (Songs) (Col). Brisk, 
comedy adventure for strong 
bOxoffiee. 

_ "„Qns_JExcitinj; Night" (Par). . 
OK comedy whodunit. \ 

"Bedside Manner" (UA). John 
Carroll. Ruth Hussey, Chas. Rug- 
gles. Ann Rutherford, in well- 
done frothy comedy; okay b.o. 

"Jungle Captive" (U). A real 
chiller for adults only, ' 

"Ten Cents a Dance" (Songs i 
(Co]). Lightweight but divert- 
ing comedy , should bring* mod- 
erate returns. 

"The Frozen Ghost" <U>. An- 
other in the Inner Sanctum se- 
ries starring Lon Chancy; fair, 
whodunit. . . . .. . 



New York night clubs and death at , , ,, - Jos , ,- s boss , and 
the^rtc of success Picture uses the . -~ , Ma ,., owe ..^ lhe .iter's daugh- 
flashback device to ge . staUed and | r who di , prov(; | the Dol . 0 fhy 
wisely knows when to come to a > 
conclusion. 

Production injects considerable 
spectacle into the early wild west 
show sequences but allows too much 
footage to be spent in the telling, 
giving picture a slower start than 
necessary. Her switch to Broadway 
musicals to escape an unhappy love 
affair and then desertion of the 
White- Way for Hollywood films to 
resume the affair are spanned more 
quickly. When- misunderstandings 
again chill love, she returns to 
Broadway and launches her night 
club career. The part racketeering 
and kindred Prohibition ailments of 
the nation played in her life are all 
shown and these give dramatic wal- 
lop and tenseness to the concluding 
portions of the story. 

Through it all run nostalgic tunes 
and yerve of the era pictured, with 
Betty Hution extending herself in 
song to sell the musical spots. Her 



success in handling of the dramatic 
portions is equally potent and. en- 
trenches her (irmly as an actress of 
ability. Arturo de Cordova plays 
opposite as the wild west operator, 
gangster and love of Miss Guinan's 
life, and registers solidly through- 
out. 

Barry Fitzgerald throws his ability 
into portrayal of Miss Guinan's Irish 
father, a dreamer of fantastic finan- 
cial schemes. Bill Goodwin is effec- 
tive as Tim Callahan, the man who 
launched her Broadway career and 
served briefly as her husband. Char- 
lie Buggies, Albert Dekker, Mary 
Phillips and Edward Ciannelli all fig- 
ure importantly in furthering the 
script by Claude Binyon and Frank 
Butler. . i 

George Marshall's direction docs a 
creditable job of welding the wealth 
of material together, in staging the 
outdoor spectacles and the musical 
production numbers in the Joseph 
Sistro production. A highgear laugh 
sequence is Miss Hutton's workout 
with the acrobatic Maxellos. Equally 
on the entertainment side is the spot 
given over to Maurice Rocco and his 
piano. 

Whether or not film license has 
been taken with Miss Guinan's ca- 
reer will not matter to the majority 
of audiences viewing this one. Story 
has all the essentials for screen eif- 
tertainment. whether Actionized or 
not. 



Parker maxim about gals who wear 
glasses, carry their roles with suffi- 
cient authority and skill. Michael 
Dunne is okay as Uncle Willis whose 
absence from the family fold fires 
young Judy Graves' imagination. 
Mona Freeman does the part of the 
family's senior daughter with good 
taste for the*subtleties of her role. 
And the parade of Mona's swains is 
as funny— and no more — in the film 
version as it was on. the stage. 

Some of the scenes, such as the one 
involving the junior's acquisition of 
her first real fur-collar coat and high 
heels, don't come off too well, but 
will probably please the audiences 
who'll recall the touching equiva- 
lents from the stage version with 
something akin to nostalgia. One bit 
which was gratuitous on the stage — 
about the pompous young man who 
exhibits his new cigaret. case and 
lighter—is just as superfluous now. 
But even these facts point up the 
screen's faithfulness to a play that's 
become part of American urban Hu- 
mor. The film is a splendid job all 



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swings into action. Often it's played 
with tongue-in-cheek attitude. 

Basically, this is the story Of Alad- 
din, the love crooner of his day 
some 1.000 years ago. and his daring, 
quest fur the hand of the untochab'le 
princess Scriptcrs have pictured 
Cor.ncl Wikle.-as Aladdin, winning 
the princess' (Aciele Jergens) heart 
but getting the heave-ho from the 
palace guards. It takes ah accidental 
encounter with a hermit's yen for 
the Aladdin lamp : to set Wilde back 
into the palace. Yarn goes far afield 
as it show's the laitlitul Uenie as .CITc 
curvaceous, red-haired Evelyn' Kcyes. 
who falls for. Aladdin and thwarts 
the marriag : e; ' ' '. . • . - 

Novel twists, bright dialog and 
modern slants help throughout. Phil 
Silvers, lor example, seldom lapses 
into" ancient verbiage. When slowed 
Up J«- jus _itchy ■4tog»g'_-work, . he 
tosses a mean pair of ivories to ac- 
complish the same results. Silvers' 
kibitzing on a gim-rummy game is 
terrific. Payoff to his long string of . 
humorous moments is when the 
Genie gives him a break and switches I 
him into a crooner to the dclight of 
the screeching harem femmes. 

Excellent' color has been helped by ] 
the all-round production given by i 
Samuel BischofT. Alfred E. Green's | 
direction always is smart, nicely 
paced and never dull. The script is 
kech. ' .•; Wear. 

Hollywood. June 1. 

,l':i lima. n mi ' -n-l.-its I'liir-l'honuiK (Max- 

"■••II. sin |,i,..linli..ii., Siai-a Wiiliani 

iUCi re ii i tiffs \Jti <;or- 
I'nur ilursi; " Uiii-i lTu. 
Oriahiai. Ilaviil LallK: 
an. Jr.: cililnr. Hi nr> 
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"Conflict" is a convincing 


study of ! 


a murderer driven to revealing his 


crime 


by psychological 


trickery. . 


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For his first independent produc- 
tion. Gary Cooper has. in "Along 
Came Jones." turned out a better- 

I than-average western that should do 
moderately good biz. Cooper is' not 

! only the producer but also the star. 

i along with Lorelta Young. 

Without . Cooper and Miss Young 
"Jones" would be just another horse 
opera, despite the" production cred- 
its. Nunnally Johnson for the screen- 
play from an original --story by Alan 
Le May. It should draw the action 
fans. 

Cooper plays a mild-mannered 
eowpaike who drifts into a small 
town with his sidekick (Witiifim 
Bemaresl ). thus precipitating a situ- 
ation in which he's mistaken for a 
notorious road agent because of a 
similarity in physique and circum- 
stantial evidence. Cooper, actually, 
can't even handle a gun. but the in- 
evitable result finds him the unwit- 
ting and Indirect cause of the hold- 
upman's slaying, And. of course, he 
gets the latter's girl (Miss Young), 
who. incidentally, is forced to make 
a quick decision and actually drills 
the gttnman right between the eyes 
just, as Cooper is. himself about to 
be polished off by the former. 

Cooper plays his usually languid 
self impressively, while Miss Young 
is decorative anil photographed well. 
Demarest is in. lor some comedy re- 
lief, of which there is too little, while 
Dan Durvea is properly menacing as 
the killer Rest of the cast to a 
considerable exienl has been- -'re- 
cruited- from Hollywood's western 
stock companies.. • Kaliii. 



This is another comedy-mystery 
entry from the Pine-Thomas stable 
that will prove okay on the dual 
bills. It deals out plenty of-suspense 
and comedy for light amusement and 
is suitably mounted for the market. 

Plot's antics are laid against a 
background of a wax museum and 
concerns the corpse of a gangster 
which continually plays hide-and-go- 
seek. William Gargim and Ann Sav- 
age, as rival reporters, do most of 
I the juggling in their efforts to keep 
an exclusive on the story of the kill- 
I ing. The murderer. George Zucco, is 
[ also hot alter the corpse, which he 
wants' to disappear permanently so 
I his crime aiid theft of a fortune in 
jewels won't be revealed. Between 
the ' three, there's little rest for 
George E. Stone as- the stiff. Lighter 
moments in the yvrn concern the 
characters played by Charles Halton, 
harassed operator of the .wax mu- 
i scum, and his first' assistant, Leo 
I Gorcey. . 
I -Bill Thomas, co-producer with Bill 
I Pine, trios his hand at directing and 
| does okay tor. a starter. He mixes 
I in considerable suspense, in the best 
I whodunit manner, and handles the 
I lighter moments -lor general 
i chuckles Overall credit rates him 
I a note for his initial effort. 
! Production appurtenances, photogr 
I raphy. etc.. are standard, backing for 
i the mixture of mystery and comedy 
! unfolded in this one. Brop. 



ing to Chi. These pickups are spotted 
between opening titles, with real 
action starting as soon as iutro titles 
have appeared. The Ihree leather- 
necks figure neatly in the yarn, one 
falling for Claudia Drake, the Rus- 
sian looker sent to check on a new 
military plane. Another goes for. Ann 
Rutherford and takes her off Car- 
roll's hands. Third also finds a heart 
interest so that all three don't m-nd 
spending their furlough in this war 
town instead of Chicago. 

Andrew Stone has accorded trim 
allii'dund -procUTeTion ;-a ' 'Ktikwia'. CUre-tv v 
torial job. Only : in the passages 
where Carroll affects being a bit 
tetched and afraid of his own shadow 
has he permitted the yarn to Set a 
little out of hand. Stone has devel- . 
oped the jealousy slant showing the 
femme doctor becoming insanely 
jealous, of Carroll j ust w he n he ap- 
pears to have 'won her. 

Carroll is effective but Miss Hus- 
sey steals the picture as the woman 
medico, proving a neat combo of 
fcrnme charm and professional crisp- 
ness. Miss Rutherford, chips in with 
one of her better screen roles as the 
haughty sweetheart who finds one of 
the Marines more intriguing. Charles 
Buggies, as usual, lends infectious 
humor to life role of overworked 
physician. 

James Van Trees and John.Mescall 
hav.e done a hangup job of camera- 
ing. outstanding being the. traveling . 
shot of two careening antes as occu- 
pants exchange repartee. Scripting 
by Frederick Jackson and Malcolm 

Stuart Boyliin of the Robert Car- 
son original is sturdy. Wear. • 

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playing, holding interest in the 
events despite some obviousness in 
lhe eventual outcome of the plot. 

Bogart. married to Rose Hnbart. is 
in love '.with her younger sister. 
Alexis Smith. When his wife, irware 
of misplaced affection, begins to nag. 
Bogart plots her murder and nearly 
iici'omplishes lhe perfect crime. lie 
hides hci- body and car on a lonely 
..mountain road and. : establishes, ah 
airtight alibi. Sydney Gree'ilstrcet. 
psych ialrisl and family friend, spots 
Biigarl's . only error in describing his 
-wife's appearance as: he last saw her. 

A series of incidents, all aimed at 
ih-ikil'ig Bogart believe his. wife, is 
: alive, slowly drive him to dcspW'a- 
tion and event liylly. lie returns to the 
! scene of his crime to convince him- 
;-si'll thai she is really dead. Me fitids 
i-Gree.hstreet : and the : police waiting 
■and goes oil' to jail. , • '. . ... ■ . 
■ Bogart s return In a heavy role 
after nipi'C romantic assignments 
makes a good change of pace and he 

Miss 



Tlt«»ii!«»ii«I sin«l *>m» 

(( OLOK: SONGS) 

nriliiliia iele:,; ' Snn'iiie] I :i-eln.ri. |,r,l 

li.. ii. hVallir.-l. I'liil SIlv.-lM A.le'e .1-1 
.-. Kvelvii K- ; .-.•-. 1'i.niel Wilde, liiin : 
Allied (.;. Clelui Ser.-l'lilda; . Wil 
Itlehnrd. IOibIIs-I 



Ui'ilsiili* >l jiii ii it 

railed ArilMS lelense <.f Aliilriiv. Kum 
l>r...Jgell..u, liiieele.l l.\ Si..ne. Sims .l.,|i 
lau.dl. Kin h lln-ae 1 : feilluria rhaili 
ItilaKl.--. Am. Hillliei-li.ld. Seieenidny I. 
l-'rederii U .lii<-ks..ii and M-alei.llli . HI mil I I 
ll...-|.„i, -I'ri.'ii Sa-ii-veiKWl alinA l.y .'it'ilierl 
r,,,..ii; ediii.l. : .li'.iiieu SHlilli: eninera. I 
I i-.-;. ,!„[,,< .MeK-all. 'I'riili- | 
I.".. lUinulhtt 



Universal didn't pull any punches 
in trying to build this chiller into 
one of the starkest mellcrs ot the 
year. Pic was made on an obviously 
low budget, but has a mad, sadistic 
theme. 

Yarn deals with the delving of bio- 
chemist Otto Kruger into experi- 
ments resulting in returning life to 
an Ape Woman. With the aid of 
gruesome Rondo Hatton. in the role 
of his assistant. Kruger uses the 
blood of a gal lab technician who 
works in his office. The assistant, 
in order to aid the chemist in his ex- 
periments, thinks nothing erf killing , A 
a couple of people to achieve his 
objective) In the end. the Ape 
Woman is killed, but not before she 
had turned on the chemist. 

Acting byvall members of the cast 
is just average. Kruger's suave per- 
formance standing out. Settings and 
camerawork, rs well as direction 
and. screenplay, endeavor to keep 
viewers in the thrilling mood upon 
which the story is based, and rather 
successfully, too. &'fen. 

Ton On I* a Daiiw 

(SONGS) 

<"l>juiiiWii jel-aee ol 
ilia lien. l-'raltm-s. .1 
l.loy.l. r;.,l.-n Sei.il. J 



lieln-l Kraike IM-O- 
e I'Va/.-e. .limmy 
ri..l.-n S.-..I I. Joan W Unify. Ki- 
ll liy Will .hisi.il. Sei-eelild!^ . Miirtiirt 
l: iiaxl. (lireet.n.'lviiii Velkiiian : eHi- 
Juuie'j*, SiVeeri.iv : .-a.neii. Dun la mill 
Klvn; N; Y.. week 
lii'^ lime. <i» »I1N!I, 



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l.li e. .MISS",' 

. , ( nrnel Wild- 

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I'liil Sil.ei.- 

h; . ....... Allele Jwii-fu- 

" .(.liny Audi-is ei 



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;:i «ins. 

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.. . . . . . ..Ii.lili C.-IITOll J 

...tintli lUiase.i 

Cluiili. Kliwlea 

VITii llulli.'il.ii'd 

Cliiililia Drake 

. . . . . .•lleliee ( I'rev 

. . .' I'll :(l""l D i' • 

.'. . . . .('.rain Mileliell i 

lii-l .Miilum:.- 

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:;.u.-i i .u..a.-i 1 

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Kline. Al Sp-nild, 111 
iif June 7. *-l-"'. du.-i I. Ki 
.leamiie II. .ills. ...... . 

Hilly Spaiki 

Ted Klillliafl; III 

Hillie '.:. . . .. .. 

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i.Dm-.dli'eii Kent 
,r*;,r..|e Mniiiewfi. 

...Muriel .\tnrrlH 
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.Mai ili II .lelliieiin 

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. ... .(!ui" Selldlll'i 
. . .N.'Ulil Can-. 

lie's' Inm-.i 

lOl-hlild Hal 

. . . . .-JdiMV- Alil-I.l 
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ives it a convincing reading. 
Smith' also lends interest to the sisr 
t ter role, a gil l who is attracted by 
linniwin | Bogarl's court- but holds back due 
to family loyally. Greonstreet is 
Creditably restrained in his assign- 
ment and Miss Hobart does well by 
her part.; . . 

'„■ ■■-..'■ :T> j Studied effect of ..Curtis. Bern- 

Junior Miss," that rollicking com- hardt's dirftfibn' and the procluc- 
edy of juve effects Upon family life I lion backing bv William Jacobs build 
and woes, comes ingratiatin^lv to ! and hold ' the suspenseful mood, 
the screen with alljthe freshness of a I Background music photography and 
moppet on her first date. Despite the j sell ings also play an important part 
■ act that il was 'way back in No- ' in shaping the melodramatic events, 
veitiber. 1941. that the legit version 'although photography, costumes and 
preemed on Broadway, the piece is j liairriressing loi Miss Smith make 
as fetching now as it ever was. The I her somewhat less than the glamour 
IHCt that the story line was thin then i girl tvpe she has heretofore appeared' 
's still tiM.ie,;novv. But there is over . to be, . ' ' "Brog. 



"A Thousand and One Nights", is 
; solid amus-.'ment. It possesses the 
, color, witticisms and action to make 
|,92 mjnutcs oi fascinating fare. The 
I producers have a valuable property 
I thai will satisfy all types of audi- 
ences, not (inly the juveniles; Pic- 
ture's measure of boxoff ice success. 
! whether it docs okay or strong to 
I smash business; will depend largely. 
| on how well it is sold. 
! Featured are Phil Silvers. Allele 
! Jergens. Evelyn Keycs and Cornel 
{ Wilde, who will make most ol the 
j public know that this is not just an- 
j other sumptuous Arabian night--, ad- 
( venture. Aclully. it's a streamlined 
i' fiintasj' of old . Arabia with siimc 
' likely to scream at the libi'i'lies 
I taken, especially when Phil Silvers 



i "Bedside Manner" is a well-con- 
trived, streamlined eoniedy of the 
I overworked medico profession in 
• wartimes. At least that is the clolhcs- 
i rack on. whi''h is strung a ludicrous 
. roinaiice between a femme doctor 
I.'i'rid' a scar worker. It looks okay if 
- not bolV'bosolTice. 

Pint pit- Dr. Chas. Ruggles against 
; his niece. Ruth Hussey. another 
medico, in the former's frantic effort 
! to have her stay in a war-boom town 
I and assist him with his overworked 
] practice (she's en route to Chicago 
1 t.i do re; curch work i. This central 
motive. K speeded .along by the ro- 
j ihlince between Miss Hussey and 
I John Cal't'dU. the airplane test pilot. 
! to an almost wacky degree. It's his 
i faked head injury; after getting con- 
' cussions earlier in a plane crash, 
that brings on his phoney paiitii- 
! nliobia wh'n-h keeps medico Hussey 
; in "tVAv'n helping her uncle. And 
' also hitslCDs the anticipated love af- 
fair. 

Pi' odut'lioii gets, off to a smart start 
in the episode where Dr. Hussey 
I picks ftp. three marines white driv- 



Fairly diverting comedy, with 
songs, is woven around the Roclgers- 
Hart song of same-title which Ruth 
jilting introduced in a yesteryear 
"Zicgfeld Follies." Although thin o( 
plot, it has its entertaining moments 
and should. do moderately well. 

Jane Fraz.ee warbles torchers whert 
not participating in the bunion derby 
in John Calvert's dime-a-dance joint, 
.limmy Lloyd and Robert Scott, 
a coupla Gls on a .-36-hours p;iss, 
wander into the dancery. Latter is 
heir apparent to a fortune but keeps 
status subrosa so as not to prejudice 
fortune-hunting gals: in His favor. . 
Instead he lets Lloyd scatter it 
around. 

Prompted by Calvert Miss Fra/ee 
and Joan Woodbury, taxi dancer, go 
on the make for the lads in', hope o£ 
inveigling them into a Card game 
with Calvert and henchmcii s i that 
latter can win $500 to pay lor opera-., 
tion on another taxi-dancer, who has 
been victim of hit-and-run driver. 
But it. doesn't come dl. after Miss 
Frazee falls for Lloyd. Miss Wood- 
burv pairs off With Scott . . „' . 

All lour of the fe.'itured plajera 
give good account in respective roles, 
with -Miss 'Frazee handling most oE 
the vocals and lalsa registering solid 
in this department. Calvert turns 
in creditable pei'foi'miince as the 
(Continued on page 30 > 



18 



Wednesday, June 13, 1915 



i 



0 



R 
h 



if 

V" 



' '« V .s ' 



'WILL PAY 
OFF!" 



Variety 



"DESTINED FOR 
RICHES AT THE 
BOX-OFFICE!" 



— Film Daily 



U 




il 





THE MASSES!" 



f.*v. 





—Boxoffice 



Motion Picture Daily 



APLENTY!". 

"HAS RARELY BEEN MATCHED ! 



—Motion Picture Herald 




—Showmen's Trade Review 



Directed by GREGORY RATOFF • Produced by WILLIAM PERLBERG 

Story >iy Morrie Ryskind and Sig Herzig • Lyrics 



Mi 



Wednesday, June 13, 1945 



19 



111 



f f **** 

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THE REVIEWS ... THE BUSINESS AT THE 
ROXY,N.Y....THE DATES THAT ARE POUR- 
ING IN . . . CLINCH THE CLAIM THAT 



; 

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<•< - 




; 1 

mmmmmmmm* 
IplfwiIliliaSi:? 
mmmmmmmmz 

. ... 



Fred 



Joan 



June 



HacBf iirray • Leslie • Haver 



IliMllililill f y ■ 




~«SPEED TOTAL VICTORY! 
THE MIGHTY 7* WAK lOANI 



20 PICTURE GROSSES 



Wednesday, June 13, j!945 



L A. Patton-Doolittle Welcome Hurts 
But 'Valley' 69G, 'Women' 66G, Both 
Sock; 'Salome 33G, 'Flame' l^G, 2d 



, ■ Los Angeles. June 12. *• 

The city's welcome to Generals 
Patton and Doolittle took 
slice from Saturday (9) 
grosses_in_ the downtown 



hefty 
evening 
a tea and 

slashed • the * overall "total some $25,-- 
000 Theatres here screened a spe- 
cial trailer asking patrons to attend 
welcome. 

"Valley of Decision" is finishing 
on top with great $69,000 tor three 
theatres. "Between Two Women 
shapes strong $00,000 in four houses. 
Third new bill, "Salome,"' is feeling 
this strong competition, sighting 
modest $33,000 in two spots. "Pillow 
to Post" appears likely $34,000 in 
three houses on second session. 
"'Flame of Barbary Coast" and 
"Vanities," in three spots, is neat 
$19,500 for second while "Affairs of 
Susan" looks strong $22,500 for third 
week in two theatres., 

^Estimates tor This Week 
--GarOiav -Circle (FW.C) (1,518: 50-' 
$1)— "Between 2 Women" (M-G) 
and "Main St. After Dark" (M-G). 
Robust $9,000. Lsst week, "Diamond 
Horseshoe" (20th) and "Escape in 
Fog" (Col) (9 days), nifty ^$8,300. 

Chinese (Grauman-WC) (2,048: 50- 
$1)— "Between 2 Women" (M-G) 
and "After Dark" (M-G). Strong 
$17,500. Last week, "Diamond Horse- 
shoe" (20th) and "Escape Fog" (Col) 
t3d wk), smooth $8,600, 

Downtown (WB) (1,800; 50-$l >— 
"Pillow to Post" (WB) (2d wk). 
Nice $15,000. Last week, $22,000. 

Egyptian (FWC) (1,538; S0-SD— 
"Valley of Decision" (M-G). Big 
$18,000. Last week, "Clock" (.M-G) 
(3d wk). light $5,900. 

Four Star (UA-WC) (900: 50-$D— 
"Bernadette" (20th). Good $4,500. 
Last week, "Tomorrow World" (UA) 
and "Power Whistler" (Col) (2d wk- 
8 days), excellent $5,500. 

Guild (FWC) (968; 50-$D— "Flame 
Barbaiy Coast" (Rep) and "Vanities" 
(Rep) (2d wk). Fine $4,500. Last 
week, heat $7,300. 

Hawaii (G&S) (1,100; 50-$l)— 
"Unseen" (Par). Grand $8,000. Last 
week, "Body Snatchers" (RKO) and 
"Brighton Stranger" (RKO). (4th 
wk), good $3,400. 

Hollywood (WB) (2.756: 50-$l)— 
"Pillow to Post" (WB) (2d wk). 
Okay $9,500 in 6 days, one being for 
bond show broadcast. Last week. 
$18,500. . , 

Los Angeles (D'town-WC) (2,097: 
50-$l )— "Valley Decision" (M-G ). 
Handsome $36,500. Last week, 
"Clock" (M-G) (3d wk). light $13,700. 

Orpheum (D'town) (2.200: 65-85) 
■V'Scarlet Clue" (Mono) with Pied 
Pipers. Diosa CostelJo, Morey Ams- 
terdam on stage. Fairish $20,500. 
•Last week, "Identity Unknown" 
(Rep) with Wallv Brown and Alan 
Carney on stage, brisk $25,000.. 

Pantages (Pan) (2,812; 50-$l)— 
"Salome" 00) and "Booked On Sus- 
picion" (Col). Modest $15,000. Last 
week, "Enchanted Cottage" (RKO) 
and "Two O'clock Courage" (RKO) 
(2d wk), $12,000. 

Paramount (F&M) 1 3,389; 50-$l)— 
"Affairs Susan" (Par) -and "Three's 
Crowd" (Rep) (3d wk). Bright $14,- 
500. Last week, $19,500. 

Paramount Hollywood (F&M) (1.- 
451: 50-$D— "Affairs Susan" (Par) 
(3(1 wk).' Nice $8,000. Last week, 
steady $12,900. 

Hillstreet (RKO) (2,890; 50-80)— 
"Salome" (U) and "Booked On Sus- 
picion" (Col). Moderate $18,000 or 
close. Last, week, "Enchanted Cot- 
tage" (RKO) and "2 O'Clock Cour- 
age" (RKO) (2d wk). $14,300. 

Rita; (F-WC) (1.370; 50-$D— "Val- 
ley Decision" (M-G). Sturdy $14,500. 
Last week, "Clock" (M-G) (3d wk). 
only $5,100. 

State' (Loew's-WC) (2,404: 5D-$1)— 
"Between 2 Women" (M-G) and 
"After Dark" (M-G). Sock $29,000. 
Last week, "Diamond Horseshoe" 
(20lh ) and "Escape in Fog" (Col) (3d 
wk), neat $16,200. . 

. United Artists (UA-WC) (2,100: 
50-$l)^-"Flame Barbary Coast" 
(Rep) and "Vanities" (Rep) (2d wk). 
St eady $10,000. Last week, big $16,400 
Uptown (F-WC) (1,790; 50-$l ) — 
"Between 2 Women" (M-G) and 
" "After Dark" (M-G). Strong $10,- 
500. Last week. "Diamond ' Horse- 
xboe" <20t]i) and "Escape in Fog" 
<Col) (3d wk). $4,500. 

Wilshire (F-WC) (2.296: '50-$D— 
"Flame Barbary Coast" (Rep) and 
"Vanities" (Rep) (2d wk). Good $5.- 
GOO. Last week, excellent $9,300. . 
: Wiltrrn (WB) (2,400; 50-$D— "Pil- 
low to Post" (WB) (2d wk). Finales 
nt $9,500. Last week, good $15,500. 

Tillow' Lofty $18,000, 
Cleve^Where Go' 17{G 

Cleveland, June 12. 
Outstanding this week are "Where 
Do We Go From Here?" at the Pal- 
ace, and "Pillow to Post" at Hipp, 
with top coin to the latter. 

Estimates for This Week 
Allen (RKO) (3.000: 44-65)— -"En- 
chanted Cottage" (RKO). Corking 
$8,500 tm m.o. Last week, "Berna- 



Broadway Grosses 



— Estimates- Total Gross — '—- -■/. 

This Week ..... . $5N),000 

(Based on 15 theatres) 
Tolal Gross Same Week 

Last Year. ........ .$513,200 

(Bnsed on 15 theatres). 



'Cottage' Socko 
in Wash. 



., and the larger Pal- 
" WithoutLovCr'"- look- stahd- 



.•^Washington, June 12. 
'•Enchanted Cottage," with smash 
week at Keith's, 
ace with 
out. 

Estimates for This Week 
Capitol (Loew) (3,434: 44-72)— 
"Bcrnadette" (20th) with vaude. 
Fairish $20,000 at pop scale. Last 
week. "Royal Scandal" (20th) With 
Ami Corio on stage, sturdy $25,000. 

Columbia (Loew) (1.234; 44-72)— 
"Diamond Horseshoe" (20th). Brisk 
$7,500. Last week, "Dorian Gray," 
big $9,000. . 

Earle (WB) (2.240; ' 30-90)— "Es- 
cape in Desert" (WB) with Helmut 
Dantine. Andrea King, on stage. 
Bright $26,000. Last week. "Having 
Wonderful,. Crime" (RKO) with 
vaude topped bv Patsy Kelly and 
Barrv Wood, $21,000. 

Keith's (RKO) (1.800; 34-66)— 
"Enchanted Cottage" (RKO). Lively 
$20,000. Holds. Last week. "Tarzan 
Amazons" (RKO), with $11,500. be- 
low hopes. 

Metropolitan (WB) (1.800; 44-72) 
—"Roughly Speaking" (3d wk). Stout 
$8,000. Last week, $11,700. 

-Palace (Loew) (2,778: 44-72)— 
"Without Love" (M-G). Boffo $23.- 
000. Last week. "Diamond Horse- 
shoe" (20th), fair $14,000 on second 
week. 



'Where Go' Brisk $13,500 
In Slow Pitt; Heine 17G 

-'• (*'' Pittsburgh, June 12. 

Things a bit droopy this week. 
Harris is pacing the field with 
"Where Do We Go From Here?" 
and will hold for a few extra days. 
"It's a Pleasure" isn't doing too badly 
at the Stanley. 

Estimates for This Week 

Fulton (Shea* (1,700; 40-65)— 
"Flame Barbary Coast" (Rep) (2d 
wk). Getting by on wind-up. with 
about $5,500. Last week, sizzling 
$11,000. 

Harris (Harris) (2,200: 40-65)— 
"Where Do We Go'.'" (20th). Doing 
weir despite mixed notices. Looks 
brisk $13,500, which will hold it un- 
til Saturday (16) when reissue of 
"Call of Wild" (20th) comes in. Last 
week. "Tomorrow the World". (UA). 
$9,500. 

Penn (Loew's-UA) (3,300: 40-65)— 
"Without Love" (M-G) (2d wk). 
Getting nice $17,000 after smash $27.- 
000 last week. 

Ritz (WB) (800; 40-65 1— "Pillow to 
Pdst" (WB) m.o.). Modest $2,000 or 
near. Last week, "Affairs of Susan" 
(Par), trim $3,400 in 9 days on m.o. 

Stanley (WB) (3.800; 40-65)— "It's 
a Pleasure" (RKO). Crix , were 
brutal on this, but Sonja Henie film 
looks fairish $17,500. Last week, 
"Pillow io Post" (WB). slow $12,- 
000. . ' 

Warner MWB1 (2.000: 40-65)— 
"Horn Blows" (WB) and "Betrayal 
From East" (RKO). First (winner 
in a long time here, where move- 
overs are the. rule. Mild $6,500. Last 
week, "Keep Powder Dry" (M-G) 
(m.o. i, good $6,000. 



dette" (20th), trim $7,000 at pop 
scale. '- " .. 

Hipp (Warners) (3,700: 44-65)— 
"Pillow, to Post" i WB). . Rousing 
$18,000. Last week. "Counter-Attack" 
(Col), average $11,000. 

Lake (Warners) (800; 44-65)— 
"Counter-Attack"' < Col ) (m.o.). Good 
$3,000. Last, week, 'Tarzan Amazons' 
(RKO), $2,800. 

Ohio (Loew's) (1.200: 44-05)— 
"Dorian Gray" (M-G). Neat $7,000 
on m.o. Last week, "Affairs Susan" 
(Par) im.o;), smart $8,200, 

Palace (RKO) (3.700; 45-05)— 
"Where Go From' Here'.'" (20th). 
Okay $17,500. a'fter moving house 
from Wednesday to Friday openings. 
Last week, "Enchanted Cottage" 
(RKO). bantfup $21,000 in 8 days. 

Stale (Loew's). (3.450; 44-65)— 
"Son of Lassie" (M-G). Only $16.- 
000, L&sl week. "Without Love" 
(M-G), socle $22,500. 

Stillman vLoew's) (*2.70(); 44-65)— 
"Without Love" (M-G) (m.o.). Big 
$12,000. Last week. "Do.ian Gray" 
(M-G) <m.o.). fine $11,000. ' * 



'Scandal' Royal $16,000, 
2 Spots, Port. Leader 

•"-Portland, Ore., June 12. 
"Royal Scandal," day-and-date at 
Orpheum and Oriental, leads the 
field this session with sock total, 
Estimates for This Week 
Broadway (J. J. Parker) (1,900: 
40-80)— "God Is Co-Pilot" (WB) and 
"3 Is Family"- (UA).. Smash $13,000,_ 
Last week, "Delightfully Dangerous" 
(UA) and "Identity Unknown" 
(Rep), $8,700. _ „„ 

United Artists (Parker) (900; 40- 
80)— "The Clock" (M-G). Mild $5,- 
000. Last week, good $8,500. 

Paramount (Hamrick - Evergreen) 
(3,000j 40-80) — "Diamond Horse- 
shoe" (20~th)~ and" "Escape- in -Fog" 
(Col) (2d wk). Fine $10,000. Last 
week, great $15,700. „ ,„ „:. 

Oriental (H-E) (2,040; 40-80)— 
"Royal Scandal" (20th) and "Molly 
and Me" (20th). Strong $5,000. Last 
week, "Diamond Horseshoe" (20th) 
and "Escape in Fog" .(.Col), great 
$7,000. ' 

Orpheum (H-E) ( 1,800: 40-80)— 
"A Royal Scandal" (20th) and 
"Molly and Me" (20th), Great $11,- 
000 or near. Last week, "Salty 
O'Rourke (Par) and 'A Guy, Gal 
(Col) (2d wk). big $10,000. 

Music Box (H-E) (1,000: 40-80)- 
"Salty O'Rourke" (Par) and "A Guy. 
Gal" (Col). Okay $4,500. Last 
week. "Practically Yours" (Par) and 
"Man Half-Moon St." (Par), ditto. 

lurder7He^S^ Solid 
13G, Mpls; Xhina Sky' 
9G, 'Waters' Trim 7iG 

Minneapolis. June 12. 
Cool weather here is helping biz. 
"China Spy." "Dark Waters" and 
"Murder, He Says," appear top new 
entries. ; ■ 

Estimates for This Week 
Aster (P-S) (900; 15-25)— "Phan- 
tom Speaks" (Rep) and.- 'Ten Cents 
a Dance" (Col). Tnm $2,300 oin 5 
days Last week.' "High Powered;; 
(Par) and "Hitchhike to Happiness 
(Rep) and "Phantom 4?.d St." (PRC ) 
and "There Goes Kelly" (Mono). 

$2 Centurv (P-S) < 1.600: 44-60)- 
"Dark Waters" (UA). Very good 
$7,500 in prospect. Last week. Al- 
fairs of Susan" (Par) (2d wk), good 

$5 Gopher (P-S) (1.000: 40)— "Youth 
Aflame" (Indie). Fair $3,000 ^ Last 
week, "Bullfighters" (20th). S3,400. 

Lyric (P-S) (1,100: 44-60)-"Af- 
fairs of Susan" (Par) (3d wk). Move- 
over from two weeks at Century. 
Satisfactory $4,500. Last week. "Na- 
tional Velvet" (M-G) .(3d wk), 

$4 Orpheum (P-S) (2.800; 44-60 1— 
"China Sky" (RKO). Sturdy $9,000. 
Last week' "Sudan" ,(U), $8,000. 

Radio City (P-S) (4.000; 44-60)— 
"God Is Co-Pilot" (WB) <2d wk). 
GoOd $12,500 seen after hefty $16,000 
opening week. 



'Cottage' Smash $21,000 in OK Del; 
O'Rourke' Stout 27G, 'Bag' Mild 14G 



Key City Grosses 



Estimates Total Gross 
This Week , ..$2,785,900 

(Based on 24 cities,. 191 (hen- 
ires, chie/ly Jirsf runs, iiretttdhiff 

ft., y.) 

~Tot»l"GrossSame-Week— — — - 
Last Year ........ . .$2,490,000 

(Based o?i 22 cities, 180 theatres) 



State (Par-Singer) (2.300: 44-60)— 
"Murder. He Says" (Par). Cm 
liked it: solid $13,000 or .near. Last 
week, "Royal Scandal" (20th). $8,500, 
Uptown (Par) (1,100: 44-50)— "En- 
chanted Cottage" (RKO). Fine 
$3,600, after good loop run. Last 
week, '(Powder Dry" (M-G I. $3,300. 

World (Pav-Sleffes) (350: 44-60)— 
"Roval Scandal" (20th) (m.o ). Nice 
$3,500. Last week, "Salome" (3d 
Wk). $2,700. 

Seattle~Fuli of lLO's ; 
'Patrick' Lush $12,000 

♦""Seattle. June 12. . 

"Patrick the Great" is strongest 
newcomer this week, with "Affairs 
of Susan" boffo on holdover. 

Estimates for This Week 

Blue Mouse (H-E) <800; 45-8(0— ^° > -40) 
"Unseen" (Par) and (3d' wk) and 'Kepi 
"Three's 'a Crowd" (UA). Good 
$5.000.. Last. week. "Unseen" and 
"Wonderful Crime" (RKO) (2d wk), 
oke $5,400. 

Fifth Avenue ( H-E) (2.349: 45-80) 
— "'Susan" (Par) (2d wk). Boffo $12.- 
500. Last week, giant $16,000. 

Llbertv (J & vll) (1,650; 45-80)— 
•'Brewster's Millions" (UA) (3d wk). 
Okay $7,000 or near. Last week, big 
$9,100. 

Music Box (H-E) (850: 45-80 V- 
"Diamond Horseshoe" (20th) < 4th 
wk). Trim $6,000 after nifty $6,600 
last sesh. 

Music Hall (H-E) (2,200: 45-80)— 
"Patrick the Great" (U) and "Swing 
Out Sister" (U). Smash $12,000. 
Last week, "Road to Morocco'' (Pari 
and "Valley Serenade" (20th) (re- 
issues), onlv $5,000 in 8 days. 

Orpheum (H-E) (2.600: 45-80)— 
"Flame Barbary Coast" (Rep) and 
"Carroll's Vanities" (Rep) (2d wk). 
Dandy $9,000 in 6 days. Last week, 
great $13,800. 

Palomar (Sterling) (1.350: 30-$D— 
"Enemy of Women". (Mono) plus 
v.-ude. Oke $9,500. Last week. 
"Cisco -Kid" (Mono) .plus. Cal 
Schrum'.s Hill ■ Billies on stace. good 
$10,300. 

Paramount (H-E) (3.039: 45-80)— 
"Without Love" (M-G) (2d wki. 
Great $11,000. Last week, big $14.- 
500. ' / 

Roosevelt (Sterling) (800: 45-80)- 
"Co-Pilot" (WB) (4th . W.lt); Big 
$5,000 after nice $5,500 last week. 

Winter Garden (Sterling) (800; 25- 
80)— "Meet in St. Louis'* ( M-G > and 
"Brazil" (Rep) (3d .run t. Fine $4,500. 



'Clock' Corking 
32V 2 G m Philly 

Philadelphia. June 12. 

"Dillinger" looks to set a house 
record at the Stanton this week. Top 
coin goes to "The Clock," which is 
solid at the Stanley. 

Estimates (or This Week 

Afdihe (1,303; 40-85)— "3 Cabal- 
leros" (RKO) (2d wk). Slumping 
badly to $7,500 after hefty $15,000 
opener. ■ 

Arcadia (Sabloskv) (600: 40-85)— 
"Tonight, Every Night" (ColL (2d 
run). Nice $6,000. Last week, "Prac- 
tically Yours" (Par), $6,700. second 
run. 

Boyd (WB) (2.560: 40-85)— "With- 
out Love" (M-G) (3d wk). Neat 
$16,500. Second sesh was big $21,500. 

Earle (WB) (2,760: 50-95)— "Be- 
trayal From East" (RKO) with Louis 
Armstrong orch. Strong $28,000. 
Last week. "Having Wonderful 
Crime" (RKO) plus Jean Parker. 
Alan Gale and others. $18,000. :'- "." 

Fox (WB) (2,250; 40-85 )— "Where 
Go From Here" (20th). Juicy $23,000. 
Last week, "Diamond Horseshoe" 
(20th) (3d 'wk). bright $18,000. 

Karllon (Goldman) (1.000: 40-85) 
—"Call of Wild" (20(h) (reissue) (2d 
wk). Okay $6,000. Opener, neat 
$8,000. 

Keith's (Goldman) (2,200: 40-85)— 
"Enchanted Cottage" (RKO) (2d 
run). Fine $8,000. Last week. "Un- 
invited" (U). pallid $4,000, second 
run.'- 

Mastbaum (WB) (4.692; 40-85)— 
"Pillow to Post" (WB) (2d wk). Fair 
$17,000. Opener was brisk $27,000 
plus $2,800 for one-day Earle Sun- 
day date. 

Stanley (WB) (2,760: 40-85) — "The 
Clock" (M-G). Solid $28,500 in ad- 
dition to sock $4,000 Sabbath show- 
ing at Earle. Last Cveck. "Salty 
O'Rourke" (Pari (3d wki, rousing 
$17,800. 

Stanton (WB) (1,475: 40-85)— 
"Dillinger" (Mono). Terrific $20,000. 
Last week, "Flame of Barbary Coast" 
(Rep) (2d wk). fancy $11,500. 

'Pleasure' Fancy 16G, 
L'ville; Tost' Wow 8G 

^Louisville. June 12. 
The 71st running of the Kentucky 
Derby made week-end biz plenty 
brisk. Top grosser looks like "It's 
a Pleasure" at the Rialto. "Pillow 
to Post" at the Mary Anderson had 
'em standing on the sidewalk Derby 
Day night, and looks set for a .run. 
"Dillinger" at the National got oil 
to a fast start on it's summer 
straight films policy. 

Estimates for This Week 
Brown (4th ave— Loew's) (1,100: 
"Flame Barbary Coast" 
and "Identity Unknown" 
(Rep) (m.o.). Satisfactory $3,501). 
Last week, "Affairs ol Susan" (Par ), 
fine $5,000 on m.o. . - : v 

Kentucky (Switow) (1,200: 30-40) 
—"Dead End'" .(FC) (reissue) and 
"House of Frankenstein'' lU I. split, 
with "National Velvet" (M-G) and 
"Circumstantial Evidence" (20(li). 
Good $1,800. Last week. "Her Luckv 
Night" (RKO) and "Tree iif Brook- 
lyn" (20th). $1,700. 

Loew's State. (Loew's) (3.300: 40- 
60)— "Clock" (M-G) and "Escape in 
Fog" (Col) (2d wki. Okay $12,000 in 
6 .days. House goes In Wednesday 
opening starling today, one day 
ahead of- other first runs. Last week, 
solid $16,000.: >: '.' ■--;•' 

Mary Anderson (People's) (1.000: 
40-60) — "Pillow to Post" (WB). 
Only small capacity limited biz. 
Sock $8,000. terrific for house. Last 
week. "In the Bag" (UA). on disap- 
pointing side at $5,500. 

National (Standard) (2.400: 40-60) 
—"Dillinger (Mono) and "Wave, 
Wac" (Mono). Trim $8,500 or over. 
Last week.. "Phantom erf" 42d' SC. 
(PRC) and 'Billy Eckstine orch on 
stage. $3,000. '-. '• 

Rialto (Fourth Avenue) (3.400: 40- 
60) — "It's Pleasure" (RKO). Top- 
drawer stuff, powerful $16,000. Last 
week. "Flame Barbary Coast" (Rep) 
and "Identity Unknown." (Repi. 
sturdy $13,000 and m.'o. 

Strand (Fourth Avenue) (1.400; 
40-60) — "Wuthcring Heights" (FC) 
(reissue) and "Eadie Was Lady" 
(Col). Substantial $6,000. Last 
week, "Panlhom Speaks" (Rep) and 
"Vampire's Ghost" (Rep). $5,000. 



;'.:■"■■-. £43etroit, June 12, 
Plenty of Iresh bills in the' loop 
tQ_keep biz at a high level. Top 
spot will go to "the Downtown Avith 
"Wild Fire" and Lionel Hampton 
band on stage. Also top-flight, with 
holdovers indicated, are "Salty 
O'Rourke," at the Michigan and 
"Enchanted Cottage" and "Pan- 
Americana," at the United Artists.- 
Estimates for This Week 
TdamiTXBalaban) (1,700: 60-85)— 
"Call of Wild" (20th) (reissue) and 
"Berlin Correspondent" (20th). Good 
$10,000. Last week, "Salome. Where 
She Danced" (U) (2d wk) and 
"Honeymoon Ahead" (U), former 
moved from Fox, okay $9,000. 

Broadway-Capitol (United De- 
troit) (2,800; 60-85)— "Flame Bar- 
bary Coast" (Rep) and "48 Honrs" 
(PRC). Fair $11,000. Last week, 
"Affairs of Susan" (Par) (2d wk) 
and "Informer" (RKO) (reissue), 
choice $15,000. 

Downtown (Howard" Hughes) 
(2,800; 60-85)— "Wild Fire" (Indie) 
plus Lionel Hampton orch on stage. 
Socko $36,000. Last week, "Hitch- 
Hike to Happiness" (Rep) plus Rcn- 
fro Valley Barn Dance and Deep 
.River Boys on stage, fair $19,000. 

Fox (Fox-Michigan) (5,000: 60-85) 
—"Diamond Horseshoe" (20th) and 
"Power of Whistler" (Col) (2d wk). 
Great $26,000 after first week's wham 
$39,000. '."■.:' 

Madison (United Detroit) (1,800; 
60-85)— "Since Went Away" (UA). 
Back in loop at routine $5,300. Last 
week, "Meet Me St. Louis" (M-G) 
and "Suspect" (U), repeat down- 
town, bright $5,900. 

Michigan (United Detroit) (4.000: 
60-85)— "Salty O'Rourke" (Par) and 
"Forever Yours" (Mono ). Strong 
$27,000. and may hold. Last week. 
"Roughly Speaking" ( WB ) and 
"Cisco Kid New Mexico" (Mono), off 
slightly at $22,000. 

Palms-State (United Detroit) 
(3,000: 60-85)— "It's in Bag" (UA) 
and "Brewster's Millions" (UA). 
Fair $14,000. Last week. "Belle 
Yukon" (RKO) and "Tarzan Ama- 
zons" (RKO). robust $16,000. 

United Artists (United Detroit) 
(2.000 : 60-85)— "Enchanted Cottage" 
(RKO) and ''Pan-Americana" (RKO). 
Great $21,000. Last week. "The 
Clock" (M-G) and "Sporling Chance" 
(Rep) (2d wk). brisk $17,000. 

?LEASU~R?SM00TH 
13G LEADS INDPLS. 



ndianapolis, June 12. 
Biz lias recovered from May dol- 
drums to show nice figures this 
stanza. "It's a Pleasure" is front 
runner at the Indiana, with "Where 
Do We Go From Here," at the Circle, 
also in the chips. 

Estimates for This Week 
Circle (Katz-Dolle) (2,800; 32-55) 
—"Where Go From Here?" (20th) 
and "Forever Yours" (Mono). Nice 
$11,000. Last week, "Horn Blows" 
(WB) and "Betrayal From East" 
(RKO), $9,500. 

Indiana (Katz-Dolle) (3.300; 32-55) 
— 'It's a Pleasure" (R,KO) and "Es- 
cape in Fog" (Col). Hefty $13,000. 
Last week, "Affairs of Susan" (Par), 
strong $12,500 as single. 

Loew's (Loew's) (2,450: 35-55)— 
"Without Love" (M-G) (2d wk). 
Fine $10,000 alter socko $16,300 open- 
ing stanza. 

.Lyric (Katz-Dolle) (1.600: 32-55) 
—"Affairs of Susan" (Par). Oke $5,- 
500 on m.o. Last week. "Vampire's 
Ghost" (Rep) and "Phantom Speaks" 

(Rep), neat $7,200 first-run. 



'Affairs' Robust 17G, 
Best Fix in Mild Balto 

A"* Baltimore, June 12. 

Biz here is settling into fairish 
groove. "The' .Affairs of Susan" 
looks, town's leader at Stanley. 

Estimates for This Week ' 

Century (Loew's-UA) (3.000; 20-60) 
—"Without Love" (M-G) (2d wk). 
Nice $14,000 after swell getaway to 
$19,200. . 

Hippodrome (Rappaport (2.240: 20- 
74 )— "Betrayal From East" (Col) 
plus Charlie Spivak orch. Drawing 
well at indicated $17,000. Last week. 
"Enchanted Cottage" (RKO) (2d 
wk ), big $14,200. 

.Keith's (Schanberger) (2.460: 20t 
60)— "Murder, He Says" (Par). 
Starts tomorrow (Wed.) after fair- 
ish week of "Unseen" (Par) at $9,200. 

Mayfair (Hicks) (980: 25-55)— 
"Identity Unknown" (Rep). Aver- 
age $3,500. Last week, "Bullfighters" 
(20th). $3,700. 

New (Mechanic) (1,680; 20-60)— 
"Bernadette" (20th), At pop scale, 
trim $9,000. Last week, "Diamond 
Horseshoe" (20th) (4th wk). $4,900. 

Stanley (WB) (3,280: 20-60)— "Af- 
fairs of Susan" (Par). Fancy $17,000 
or over. Last week, "Horn Blows" 
(WB) failed to catch on, only $10,400. 

Valencia (1,840; 20-60)— "Gentle 
Annie" (M-G). Mildish $4,000. Last 
week, "Tomorrow World" (UA) in 
moveover from downstairs Century, 
held well at $5,700. 



Wednesday, June 13, 1945 



PTi-RltTY 



PICTURE GROSSES 



21 



'China Sky Tall 21G in Spotty Chi; 
llnseen'-Vaude 45G, "Vanities 12G, 2d 



'Chicago, June 12. f- 
In a field of. fluctuating grosses, 
f'Salty jO.'Rourke," at the State-Lake, 
continues to hold top honors" "for 
straight films with a sturdy $35,000 
its second stanza. "China Sky" 




coupled .with "Swing Out Sister 
opened solidly at the Palace and 
looks a strong $21,000. Of the hold- 
overs. "Song to Remember" is still 
big-at-the_ApplIq jyitj» $13,000_On tap 
for its ninth week. Chicago, with 
"The Unseen" and Joan Merrill and 
Eddie Peabody on stage, appears 
staunch $45,000, and * Oriental, with 
"Jimmy Steps Out" and Willie Shore 
heading vaude, should garner solid 
$27,0.00. 

Estimates for This Week 

Apollo (B&K) (1,200; 55-95 W 
"Song Remember" (Col) (9th wk). 
Snappy $13,000. Last week, $15,000. 

Chicago (B&K) (3,900; 55-95)— 
"The Unseen" (Par) with Joan Mer- 
rill and Eddie Peabody on stage. 
Staunch $45,000. Last week, "Bring 
On Girls" (Par) (2d wk) and Dave 
Apollon heading stage bill, very 
good $41,000. 

Garrk-k (B&K) (900; 55-95)— 
"Thunderhead" (20th) (3d wk). 
Neat $10,000. Last week, $12,000. . 

Grand (RKO) (1,150; 55-95)— 
"Body Snatcher" (RKO) and "Brigh- 
ton Strangler" (RKO) (2d wk). Pert 
$8,000. Last week, $10,000. 

Oriental (Iroquois) (3,240; 44-95)— 
"Jimmy Steps Out" (Indie) (reissue) 
and Willie Shore topping vaude 
show. Solid $27,000. Last week. 
"Ifs in Bag" (UA) and Johnny Davis 
orch on stage, taoff $32,000. 

Palace (RKO) (2,500; 55-95)— 
"China Sky" (RKO) and "Swing Out 
Sister" (U). Strong $21,000. Last 
week, ^Patrick the Great" (U) and 
"See My Lawyer" (U), 5 days, aiid 
"Sky" (RKO) and "Sister"' (U), 2 
days, okay $16,000. 

Roosevelt (B&K) (1,500; 55-95)— 
"Be Seeing You" (UA) (6th wk). 
Stout $18,000. Last week,. $22,000. 

State-Lake (B&K) (2,700; 55-95)- 
"Salty O'Rourke" (Par) (2d wk). 
Sturdy $35,000. Last week, socko 
$40,000. 

„„V n,, , ed , Art 'sts (B&K) (1,700; 55- 
*S)— "Without.. Love" (M-G) (5th 
wk/ Neat $16,000. Last week, 
steady $20,000. 

..r*^ 0 ^ <Essaness) (1.200; 55-95)— 
Earl Carroll Vanities" (Rep) and 
'Chicago Kid" (Rep) (2d wk). 
Pleasing $12,000. Last week, "Vam- 
S« l 9 h °? t '\ <R «P> an d "Phantom 
Speaks ' (Rep) Ocfwk), 3 days, and 
Vanities" (Rep) and "Kid" (Rep), 
4 days, snug $15,000, 

'Murder He Says' Great 

30G in Better Frisco; 
I Tarzan'-VaudeFat33G 

j*San Francisco, June 12. 
Biz is a little better despite many 
holdovers. Standout is "Murder, He 
Says" at the Paramount. "Blood on 
Sun" continues firm, although in 
sixth week a t small-seater ' United 
Artists, with Cagney picture seen by 
record crowd to date. Goes a 
seventh. 

Estimates for This Week 
Fox (F-WC) (4,651; 55-85)— 

Clock (M-G) and "Eve Knew 
Apples" (Col). Solid $30,000, with 
one bond show in week. Last week. 

Diamond Horseshoe" (20th) and 
Bullfighters" (20th), great $35,800: 

Paramount (F-WC) (2,646; 55-85) 
---Murder. He Says" (Par) and 

Unseen" (Par). Extra strong $30.- 
000. Last week, "Bring on Girls" 
(Par) and "Groat Flamarion" (Rep); 
okay $23,000. 

Warfleld (F-WC) (2,656; 55-85)— 
"Salty O'Rourke" (Par) and "Chi- 
cago Kid" (Rep) (2d week). Good 
$22,000. Last week, okay $27,700. 

St. Francis (F-WC) (1,400; 55-85) 
— 'Diamond Horseshoe" (20th) and 
'Chicago Kid" (Rep) (m.o.). Fine 
$14,000. Last week, "Affairs of 
Susan" (Par) and "Forever Yours" 
(Mono'. $12,700. 

State (F-WC) (2,133; 55-85)— 
"Brine on Girls" (Par) and "Great 
Jlamarion" (Rep). Okay $14,000. 
Last week. "Flame Barbary Coast" 
(Rep) and "Earl Carroll Vanities" 
(Rep) (2d wk), good $10,500. 

Golden Gate (RKO) (2,844; 60-95) 
"Tarzan Amazons" (RKO) and Jack 
Teagarden-John Calvert topping 
stage show. Nice $33,000. Last 
week. "Two . O'Clock Courage" 
(RKO) plus Lena Home, others; on 
stage, territic $39,500, after new 
opening-day record. Did 6 extra 
shows. ' . ..... ■ .: ' 

United Artists (Blumenfeld) «,-. 
207: 40-85)-^-"Blood on Sun" (UA) 
(6th wk). Firm $11,500. Last week, 
trim $12,600. 

Orpheum (Blumenfeld) (2.448: 
40-85)— "Patrick the Great" (U) and 
'See My Lawyer" (U). Moderate 
$11,500. Last week, "Patrick" and 
"Lawyer.". 2 days, plus^'Wuthering 
Heights" <E-C> (reissue), 5 days,- 
stout $16,000. 



, Omaha, June 12. 
Best bet currently is "God Is My 
Co-Pilot," smash at Paramount. 



Estimates for This Week 
Paramount (Tristates) (3,000; 16 
60)— "God Is Co-Pilot" (WB). Big 
$12,000, or near, one of best in weeks. 
LasUweck,.. •^Affairs .of Susan!! (Pari* 
fine' $9,800. „ 

Orpheum (Tristates) (3,000; 16-60) 
—"Guest in House" (UA) and 
"Blonde Fever" (M-G). Solid $10,- 
500. Last week, "Salty O'Rourke" 
(Par) and "Honeymoon Ahead" (U), 
amazing $16,500 in 9 days, one of top 
flliri grosses at house. 

Branded (RKO) (1,500; 16-60)— 
"Escape in Desert" (WB) and "Tor- 
rid Zone" (WB) (reissue). Substan- 
tial $6,800, over average. Last week, 
split holiday week ' with "Body 
Snatcher"- (RKO) and "Brighton 
Strangler" (RKO). 3 days, and 
"Prisoner of Zenda" (UA) and "Gar- 
den of Allah" (UA) (reissues), good 
$7,800 in 9 days. 

Omaha. (Tristates) (2,000; 16-60)— 
"Affairs of Susan" (Par) (m.o.) plus 
first-run "Nevada" (RKO). Sock 
$11,000 or close. Last week, "Dia- 
mond Horseshoe" (120th ), nice $8,300 
m.o. •■■ 

State (Goldberg) (865: 15-50)— 
"Tree in Brooklyn" (20th) and 
"Army Wives" TMono). Good $2,500. 
Last week. "Great Flamarion" (Rep) 
and "Utah" (Rep), $2,200. 



'Salome' Torrid 
15G, Cincy Ace 

.Cincinnati. June 12. 

Trade is spotty, but overall count 
is above par. "Salome" is outstrip- 
ping two other newcomers, "Son of 
Lassie" and "That's the Spirit." 
Holdover of "Valley of Decision" 
still is great. 

Estimates for This Week 

Albee (RKO) (3,100; 44-70)— "Son 
of Lassie" (M-G). Fair $11,000. Last 
week. "Where Go From Here" 
(20th), solid $14,000. 

Capitol (RKO) (2.000; 44-70)— 
"Valley of Decision" (M-G) (2d--wk). 
Great $14,500 after sock $18,000 tee- 
off. Holds. 

Grand (RKO) (1,430; 44-70) — 
"That's Spirit" (U). No dice at $5,000. 
Last week. "The Clock" (M-G) .(2d 
run), fast $6,500. 

Keith's (United) (1,500; 44-70)— 
"Call of Wild" (20th) (reissue) 
(h.o.). Favorable $4,000 after fancy 
$6,800 initialer. 

Lyric (RKO) (1,400: 44-70) — 
"China Sky" (RKO) (m.o.). All right 
$5,000. Last week, "Diamond Horse- 
shoe" (20th). fourth downtown fling, 
eight days, dandy $7,200. 

Palace (RKO) .(2,600; 44-70) — 
"Salome" (U). Excellent $15,000. 
Last week. "China Sky" (RKO), 
eight da'vs, okay $12,000. 

Shubertr (RKO) (2,100; 44-70) — 
"Where Go F«om Here" (20th) 
(m.o). Disappointing $3,000. Last 
week. "Affairs of Susan" (Par), third 
main-line sesh. near same. 



Weather Bops St. Louis 
But 'Sudan' Hefty 18G, 
W-'Heaven' Fat 13G1 

St. Louis, June 12. 

Prolonged cold, rainy weather is 
clipping the local b.o. "Sudan" and 
"Frisco Sal" will cop top honors with 
a solid $18,000. 

Estimates for This Week ; 

Loew's (Loew)- (3,172; 30-60)— 
"Without Love" (M-G). Will add 
$17,000 1o great , $24,000 grabbed in 
first session. 

Orpheum (Loew) (2,000; 30-60)— 
"Fighting Guardsman" (Col) and 
"Kitty O'Day" (Mono). Neat $7,500. 
Last week. "Keep Powder Dry" (M- 
G) and "Emmanuel" (UA) (2d wk). 
nice $6,600. 

Ambassador (F&M) (3,000; 50-60) 
— "Medal lor Benny" (Par) and 
"Swing Out Sister" <U). Mildish 
$12,500. Last week, "Salome" (U) 
and "Honeymoon' Ahead" (U), aver- 
age $13,500: ' - :". 

Fox (F&M) (5,000: 50-60)— "Sudan" 
(U). and '"Frisco Sal" (U). Hefty 
$18,000. Last week. "Patrick the 
Great" (U). and "Set My Lawyer" 
(U>. $14,500. 

Missouri (F&M) (3.500; 50-60)— 
"Imitation o£ Life" <U) and "East 
Side of Heaven" (U) (reissues). Fine 
$13,000. Last week.. "Diamond Horse- 
shoe" (20th) and "3 Caballcros" 
(RKO). $9,500. 

St. Louis (F&M) (4.000: 40-50)— 
"Chicago Kid" (Rep) and "Song Sa- 
rong" (U ). So-so $3,000. Last week, 
"It's a Pleasure" (RKO) and "Thun- 
derhead" (20th). big $6,300. 



'Canteen $14,000, Mont'l 

Montreal, June 12. 

"Hollywood Canteen" is the ace 
newcomer this week. 

Estimates for This Week 

Palace (CT) (2,700; 35-62)— "Hol- 
lywood Canteen" (WB). Sock $14,- 
000. Last week, "Tonight, Every 
Night - ' (Col) (2d wk), $7,500. 

Capitol (CT) (2,700; 35-62)— "Sus- 
pect" (U) and "Song Sarong" (U). 
FairistL_$9,000. Xastweek,. "Murder, 
My Sweet" (RKO) and "Pan-Ameri- 
cana" (RKO). $10,000. 

Loew's (CT) (2,800; 35-67)— "Bell 
Tolls" (Par) (2d wk), $14,500. Big 
after boff $17,500 opener. 

Princess (CT) (2,300; 34-47)— 
"Destiny" (U) and "Gets Her Man" 
(U). Good $7,000. Last . week, 
^Hangover-- Square?'- --(20th)- -and 
"Headlines" (Mono), $6,500. 



'Flame' Bright $23,000, 
Two Spots, in OK Hub; 
'Affairs 7 Boff 19G,H.O. 

• Boston. June 12. 

Good weather is helping biz, and 
several holdovers reaped unexpect- 
edly fine profits. "Affairs of Susan" 
is Jhe town's sensation in its second 
week. "Diamond Horseshoe" also is 
going well in first holdover stanza, 
as well as "Without Love." "Flame of 
Barbary Coast" is nice in two spots. 
Estimates for his Week' 

Boston (RKO) (3,200; 50-$1.10j— 
"Body Snatcher" (RKO ) with Geor- 
gie Auld orch. Irene Manning, 
others, on stage. Excellent $26,000. 
Last week. "Honeymoon Ahead" 
(U), with Cootie Williams orch, Ella 
Fitzgerald, others, $20,000. 

Fenway (M-P) (1,373; 40-74) — 
"Flame Barbary Coast" (Rep) and 
"Steppin' in Society" (Rep). Good 
$8,000. Last week, "Salty O'Rourke" 
(Par) and "Bullfighters" (20th), 
$7 000 w ; 

Majestic (Shubert) (1,500: 40-74)— 
"In the Bag" (UA). Good $8,000. Last 
week, "Col. Blimp" (UA), $5,000. 

Metropolitan (M-P) T4.367; 40-74) 
—"Affairs Susan" (Par) and "Molly 
and Me" (20th) (2d wk). Boff $19,000. 
Last week, big $24,000: 

Memorial (RKO) (2,900: 40-75)— 
"Diamond Horseshoe" (20th) and 
"Scarlet Chic" (Mono) (3d wk). 
Grand $18,000. Second week, fancy 
$22,000. 

Orpheum (Loew) (2.900; 35-75)— 
"Without Love" (M-G) (2d wk). 
Good $22,000. Last week, fine $27,000. 

Paramount (M-P) (1.700: 40-74)— 
"Flame Barbary Coast" (Rep) and 
"Steopiu' ■ in Society" (Rep). Nice 
$15,000. Last week. "Salty O'Rourke" 
(Par) and "Bullfighters" (20th), 
$14,000. 

State (Loew) (3.200: 35-75) — 
"Without Love" (M-G) (2d wk). 
Good $13,000. Last week, trim 
$18,000. 

Translux (Translux) (900; 20-74)— 
"Missing Coixse" (PRC) and "De- 
mon Doctor" (Emb). Mild $5,100. Last 
week. "Scarface" (UA) (reissue) and 
"Murder Times Square" (Col). $5,500. 

Tremont (T&N) (2.200: 44-85) — 
"Tomorrow World" (UA) (4th wk). 
Fairish $5,000. Last week. $6,000. 



'SALOME' WHAM 22G 
IN 2 DENVER SPOTS 

• Denver, June 12. " 

"Salome.. Where She Danced," day- 
date at Denver and Esquire, is pace- 
setter and way out ahead here; 
Estimates for This Week 

Aladdin (1.400: 35-74)— "Where Go 
From Here?" (20th) and "Secret 
Clue" (Mono), after week at each 
Denver. Esquire. Good $6,500. Last 
week, "Sister Eileen" (Col) (re- 
issue), good $6,000. 

Denham (Cockrill) (1,750; 35-74)— 
Affairs of Susan" (Par) (3d wk). 
Trim $9,000. and holding again. Last 
week, still, big $15,000. 

Denver (Fox) (2,525; 35-74)— 
"Salome, Where She Danced" (U) 
and "Booked on Suspicion" (Col), 
day-date with Esquire. Big $18,500. 
Last week. "Where Go From Here' 
(20th) and "Scarlet Clue" (Mono), 
also Esquire. $18,000. 

Esquire (Fox) (742; 35-74)— 
"Salome" (U) and "Booked Sus- 
picion!' (Col), also Denver. Boff 
$3,500 or over. Last week, "Where 
Go From Here" (20lh) and "Scarlet 
Clue" (Mono), also Denver, ditto. 

Orpheum (RKO) (2.600: 35-74)— 
"This Man's Navy" (M-G) and 
"Gentle Annie" (M-G). Bright $16,- 
000. Last week. "China Sky" (RKO) 
and "Pah-Amcricana" (RKO), about 
same. , : 

Paramount (Fox) (2.200; 35-74)— 
"Dillinger" (Mono) and '.'Honey-: 
moon Ahead" (Ren), day-date with 
Webber. Smash $12,500 in 8 days. 
Last week. "Patrick the Great" (U) 
nid "Identitv Unknown" (Rep), also 
Webber, good $8,200. 

Rialto (Fox I (878; 35-74)— "Sister 
Eileen" (Col) (reissue) after Week 
at Aladdin, and "Flame of West" 
(Mono). 'Nice $4,000. Last week.. 
"Diamond Horseshoe" (20th) and 
"G.I. Honeymoon" (Mono), after 
week at Aladdin. Denver. Esquire. 
Webber, solid $4,500. 

Webber (Fox) (750: 35-74)— "Dil- 
linger" (Mono) and "Honeymoon 
Ahead" (Rep), day-date with Para- 
mount. Big $4,000. Last week, "Pat- 
rick the Great" 'U> and "Identity 
Unknown" (Rep), also Paramount, 
big $3,500. 



7 New Entries Help N.Y.; "Wonder Man' 
Record 58G, Were Go'-Vaude Big 82G, 
Out of World -Wald-Lamb Strong 756 



The Broadway scene was ' enliv- 
ened during the past week by the 
arrival of seven new shows but then- 
grosses vary considerably. Crazy 
June weather, from a rainy, chilly 
Sunday (10) to a very warm, humid 
Monday (U) has not helped busi- 
ness. On Free Movie Day last 
-Wednesday (6) grosses -were- held 
down through admission via pur- 
chase of -a war bond. 

Among fresh entries is "Wonder 
Man," which came into the Astor, 
Friday (8) and got off to a sizzling 
start. Will ..hit $58,000 or close, rec- 
ord high. Both the Roxy and Par- 
amount, combo operations, brought 
in new shows last Wednesday (6). 
Former, playing "Where Do We Go 
From Here?" with Tony and Sally 
DeMarco, John Boles, Roddy Mc- 
Dowall and Jackie Gleason on stage, 
hit a very strong $82,000 on first 
week ended last night (Tucs.). Par 
went to an excellent $75,000 on first 
week with "Out of This World" plus 
Allan Jones, Gil Lamb, Eileen Bar- 
ton and Jerry Wald band.; 

On the disappointing side is "It's" 
in the Bag." which will get the Globe 
only $13,000 or a bit over. "Delight- 
fully Dangerous," at the Gotham, 
also is light at $8,500. Criterion, 
which opened "Son of Lassie" Satur- 
day (9) on initial week will get $22,- 
000 or over, good. State, with "With- 
out Love" on scCond-run, and Happy 
Felton and the Adrian Rollini Trio 
in person, looks $30,000 or over, very 
good. 

Among holdovers is the amazing 
biz-getter at the Music Hall. "Valley 
of Decision." Now in sixth smash 
week, it should add another $118,000 
to the $625,000 recorded on the first 
five, highest by $30,000 that has been 
done at the Hall by any film in five 
weeks,. Fifteen pictures have gone 
that far or .beyond; "Valley" holds a 
seventh. 

Capitol remains exceptionally good 
with "Thrill of Romance" and Guy 
Lombardo band, Joey Adams and 
June Havoc on stage, third frame be- 
ing $72,000 or over. 

Estimates for This Week 

Astor (City Inv.) (1,300; 70-$1.40) 
—"Wonder Man" (RKO). Blazing 
a trail for a possible $58,000 or near 
to establish new high here. Starts 
second week Friday (15). Sixth 
round for "Enchanted Cottage" 
(RKO) was fine $29,000. 

Capitol (Loew's) (4,820; 60-$1.20) 
—"Thrill of Romance" (M-G), Guy 
Lombardo orch, Joey Adams and 
June Havoc (3d wk). Still smart, 
with current sesh looking $72,000 or 
over. Second was excellent $79,600. 

Criterion (Loew's) (1.700; 60- 
$1.25)— "Son of Lassie" (M-G) (2d 
wk). Doing good at probable $22,000 
or over, and holds. "That's the 
Spirit" (U) on 8 days was fairly 
good at $21,000. 

Globe (Brandt) (1,416; 60-$1.20)— 
"In the Bag" (UA). On disappoint- 
ing side at $13,000 or near, but holds. 
Last week, second for "Flame Bar- 
bary Coast" (Rep) was okay $13,500. 

Gotham (Brandt) (900; 60-$L20)— 
"Delightfully Dangerous" (UA). 
Only light $8,500 but holding. Sec- 
ond stanza of "Molly and Me" (20th) 
was $6,700. 

Hollywood (WB) (1,499: 50-$1.20) 
"Corn is Green" (WB) (11th wk). 
Off sharply to mild $12,000 this 
week, while 10th was $16,500. Holds 
further. •• 

Palace (RKO) (1,700; 60-$1.10)— 
"China Sky" (RKO) (3d wk). Will 
be okay at $17,000, near to second 
week's $18,000, and holds. 

Paramount (Par) (3,664; 60-$1.20) 
—"Out of This World" (Par), with 
Allan Jones, Gil Lamb, Eileen 
Barton and Jerry Wald orch on 
stage (2d wk). Came through on 
first week, ended last night (Tues.), 
with an excellent $75,000. Sixth 
frame for "Salty O'Roitfke," (Par), 
Charlie Spivak orch, others, good 
$50,000. ' ' . 

Radio City Music Hall (Rocke- 
fellers) (5,945; 60-$1.10)*-"Valley of 
Decision" (M-G) and stageshow (6th 
wk). Continues sock pace, this week 
looking big $118,000. while fifth was 
sensational $122,000. Remains on. 

Rialto (Mayer) (594; 40-85)— 
"Body Snatcher" (RKO) (3d-final 
wk). Looks $6,000, fair enough, this 
week while second was strong $9,000. 

Rivoli (UA-Par) (1.092: 76-S1.25) 
—"Medal for Benny" (Par) (4th- 
final wk). Off sharply at $16,000 on 
third week ended, last night (Tues.) 
and goes only three more days. 
Second was okay $22,000. "Junior 
Miss" (20th) opens Saturday (16). 
Last night (Tues.) house held a war 
bond benefit show, including, in ad- 
dition to stage talent, a preview of 
"Junor Miss.".' 

Roxy (20th) (5.886: 60-$1.20)— 
Where Go From Here?" with Tony 
and Sally DeMarco. John Boles, 
Roddy McDowall and Jackie Glea- 
son in person (2d wk). Doing Very 
strongly, first week through last 
night (Tues.) haying struck $82,000. 
Fifth week for; "Diamond Horse- 



shoe" (20th), Count Basie orch - and 
Jerry Lester was fine $67,000. 

State (Loew's (3,450; 43-$1.10> — 
"Without . Love" (M-G) (2d run) 
and, . on stage, Happy Felton and 
Adrian Rollini Trio. Going is fast 
with $30,000 or over sighted. Last 
week, "Now Tomorrow" (Par) (2d 
run), _ with Yvettc, Frank Conville 
and Dr. Marcus, in person, $29,000. 

Strand (WB) (2,756: 60-$1.20)— 
"Pillow to Post" (WB) and Shep 
Fields orch (3d wk). Down to 
rather thin $31,000 or bit better on 
blowoff. Second week was good" 
$42,000. "Conflict" (WB), Louis 
Prima orch and Dave Clark open 
Friday (15). ■ .■ ~ 

Victoria (Maurer) (720; 70-$1.20)— 
"Way Ahead" (20th) (2d wk). 
Dropping to about $9,500, but okay 
and holds. Initial week was stout 
$14,700. 



'Affairs! Great 
17G Leads Prov. 

* Providence, June 12. 

No complaints hereabouts with 
most stands hitting better than aver- 
age takes. Weather has been on the 
bad side generally with little hint 
hereabouts that it's June. The only 
holdover finds "Affairs of Susan" 
still big in its second week at Strand. 
"Dorian Gray" and "Royal Scandal" 
look top newcomers. 

Estimates for This Week 

Albee (RKO) (2,100; 44-60)— 
"Body Snatcher" (RKO) and"Brigh- 
ton Strangler" (RKO), Doing nicely 
at $14,000. Last week, i "Tarzan 
Amazons" (RKO) and "Pan-Ameri- 
cana" (RKO), $15,000, 

Carlton (Fay-Loew) (1,400; 44-55) 
—"Keep Powder Dry" (M-G) and 
"Booked on Suspicion" (Col) (2d 
run). Oke $4,000. Last week, "Dia- 
mond Horseshoe" (20th) (3d down- 
town wk), swell $5,000. 

Fay's (Fay) (2,000; 44-55)— "Thun- 
derhead"-(20th) and vaude on stage. 
Steady $6,500. Last week, "Flying 
Tigers" (Rep) (reissue) plus vaude, 
$7 000 

" Majestic (Fay) (2,200; 44-60)— 
"Royal Scandal" (20th) and "Iden- 
tity Unknown" (Rep). Healthy $14,- 
000. Last week, "Pillow to Post" 
(WB) and "Fog Island" (PRC), 
about same, • . ... 

Metropolitan (Snider) (3,100: 44- 
55)— "It's in Bag" (UA) and "Phan- 
tom Speaks"' (Mono). Strong $16,- 
000; Last week, "Dillinger" (Mono) 
and "Rhythm Roundup" (Col), boff 
$21,000. 

State' (Loew) (3,200; 50-60)— 
"Dorian Gray" (M-G) and "A Guy, 
a Gal" (M-G). Given heavy- bally 
for nice $17,000. Last week, "Keep 
Powder Dry" (M-G) and "Booked 
On Suspicion" (Col). Tieavy $19,100. 

Strand (Silverman) (2,000; 50-60) 
—"Affairs of Susan" (Par). Second 
week began Monday (11). Last week 
marked Strand's 30th anni. Gov- 
ernor of State and mayor here pres- 
ent to congratulate Silverman and 
Ed Reed, who've been together since 
opening. Great $17,000 in first. 



'Flame' Rousing $15,000 
In K.C.; 'Lassie' Nice 16G, 
'Bells'- Vaude Tall 11 iG 

• • Kansas City, June 12. 

Biz continues on a fairly even 
keel. "Son of Lassie." at the Mid- 
land, looks tops. "Flame of Barbary 
Coast," day-date at the Esquire, 
Uptown and Fairway, opened big 
and is next best. : : 

Estimates for This Week 

Esquire, Uptown and Fairway 
(Fox-Midwest) (820, 2,043 and 700; 
40-60) — "Flame Barbary Coast" 
(Rep). Lusty $15,000. Last week, 
"Diamond Horseshoe" (20th) (2d 
wk.), good $12,500, but under- hopes 
after sock $20,000 initialer. 

Midland (Loew's) (3,500 : 45-65)— 
"Son of Lassie" (M-G) and "Blonde 
Fever" (M-G). Sturdy $16,000 or 
near. Last week, "Without Love" 
(M-G) and "Escape in Fog" (Col), 
$15,500. 

Newman (Par) (1.900; 46-65)— 
"Salty O'Rourke" (Par) (2d wk). 
Strong $12,500 after boff $1«,500 
opening sesh.. 

Orpheum (RKO) (1.500; 46-65)— 
"Escape in Desert" (WB) and "Tor- 
rid Zone" (WB) (reissue). Robust 
$11,500. Last week, "China Sky" 
(RKO) and 'Guy,. Gai and Pal" 
(RKO), about same. 

Tower (Fox-Joffee) (2.100; 3fl-60> 
"Bells of Rosarita" (Rep) and "Hol- 
lywood and Vine" (PRC) plus 
vaude. Nifty $11,500. Last week, 
"Man in Half Moon Street" (Par) 
and "Identity Unknown" (Rep) with 
Mary Lee and stage revue, ditto. 



Wednesday, Jane 13. 1#1S 



THE CASE OF THE 



MODERN 
WINKLE! 




VAN 






Imagine the surprise of Mr. Rip Van Winkle when 
he began to ask questions after his long snooze. 

When I fell asleep years ago," said Mr. Van Winkle 
a young Lion named Leo of M-G-M was the talk 
of the industry. Who's doing the roaring now?" 



M-G-M'* 

"VALLEY 
OF 

DECISION 

-mmo CITY 

MUSIC HAU 



a- 



V Wcit, fit. Vaw Wiwtcic, 




(Comimted above) 



Wednesday, June 13, 1945 



■PGautHht 



29 





M-G-M's 

THRILL 
OF A 
ROMANCE 

: (Technicolor) 

4™ WEEK! 
CAPITOL THEATRE 



THE HIT PARADE 

(All M-G-M!) 
"WITHOUT LOVE" 
NATIONAL VELVET" 

(Technicolor) 

"MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS" 

(Technicolor) 

"30 SECONDS OVER TOKYO" 
"MRS. PARTINGTON" 
"THE CLOCK" ^ 
"THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY" 
"SON OF LASSIE" 

(Technicolor) 



t 




-rv*t 4*2+ -tke -fx* ) j 




Yes, indeed! Mr. Van Winkle found that M-G-M 
was still the big noise of the industry— that's what 
probably woke him up. And when he heard about 
those giant production enterprises "ZIEGFELD 
FOLLIES" and "THEY WERE EXPENDABLE^ 
learned that they also are M-G-M, he did handsprings! 




ALWAYS- 



mm- 




2-1 



P^ SSnSTf Wednesday, June 13, 1945 





you gbttakiow my 
Uncle Joe % * 



Uncle Joe is a great man and a great actor. He says he r s a better actor 
than L. Barrymore. "But I don't get a chance, because my name is Joe Fit," 
Uncle Joe was complaining one day. "Why not get a new name lor mo?" . 

Later in the week I was going across the Metro lot when I passed an 
Arab village and one of the Arabs said, "You got a new name for me yet?" ( 
.It was Uncle Joe ... he was playing an Arab for a change. 

t 

"How about Montross Boyer?" I asked him. "I'll try it! " Uncle Joe 

• said to his Arabian beard. 

' . ' ■ ' I 

So if yon soon hear of that great new character actor, Montross Boyer, 

it's only myUncle Joe showing L. Barrymore how to act. 

* * • * * * 

Uncle Joe played in Ingrid Bergman's new picture, Saratoga Trunk; 
He -got hit over the head with a shovel. Gary Cooper was in the picture 
- he was a railroad builder, and Ingrid loved him. But they had 
arguments, and she kept throwing him over, and he went back to building 
' railroads, and then Uncle Joe got hit over the head with that shovel. "My 
head ached like a gong," he told me . . . Speaking of Ingrid Bergman, when 
she was just out of Sweden and I was just out of Harvard, I interviewed her. 
I was supposed to interest her in America, and vice versa. "I luv this 
country," Ingrid said. I asked her what kind of pictures she liked. "Those 
•• people who throw pies at each other," she told me. 

Uncle Joe wasn't very happy after he saw the rushes on Saratoga Trunk. 
"They decided they had too many railroad 
fights in it," he fumed. "So they leave me 



lay on the cutting-room floor! I shoulda stood 
in the plumbing business!". . . Uncle Joe's in the new Joan Crawford 
picture. He's the arm of the dead man you see in the first scene. Unfortunately , the 
camera angle cuts off the rest of my Uncle Joe. 



Stephen Longstreet's "My Private Life with the Stars"— with the author's own 
hilarious illustrations —is the freshest, funniest feature in any screen magazine. 
You find it only in motion picture Magazine. 

Uncle Joe is one of the many good reasons why more and more thousands of 
people prefer paying their 15c for every new issue of motion picture . , . 
they like its wit, the chuckles it gives them . . . they know it's truthful 
. . . it's always bright. ; ' .;■ 

Hedda Hopper, Sidney Skolsky, Fred Othman—all the people the movie- 
loving public wants to hear from -and about — are regular features '., 
of motion picture . . . motion picture Magazine looks ahead. 



Motion Picture 
Magazine 

Fawcett Publications, Inc. 



295/Mmfcon Ave., New York 17, N. Y. 
World's Largest Pobfehers of Monthly Magazine 



fr- Art Exclusive Fautcett Production 

created by Stephen I.ongstreet, 
famous author, for Motion Picture Magazine 



•VARUCTT'8' LONDON OFIKJB 
■ St. Martin'* I'luce, Trufulgur Huujir* 



INTERNATIONAL 



25 



Alternating Dubbed, Superimposed 
Ul fix Muddles Latin Distrib 



Launching of clubbed Spanish ver- 
sions of American films in Latin- 
\Ameiica "is far from smooth- sailing, 
according to word received by N. Y. 
homeoffices, these reports showing 
that absence of uniform policy by 
TJ. S. distributors being at least part- 
ly responsible for the muddled situa- 
-tion. ^Failure of the synchronized 
versions to catch on, as anticipated; 
thus far has resulted in haphazard 
switches from dubbed product to su- 
perimposed versions, and vice versa. 
All of this has tended to dim the 
launching of the dubbed produc- 
tions. : ' 

The worst situation has developed 
In Mexico City, where fierce compe- 
tition from Mexican distribs has fur- 
ther complicated the release of 
synced pictures from the U. S. In- 
stances of where a dubbed Spanish 
version has played four or five days, 
and then the superimposed print 
of the same picture has gone into the 
same house, have been reported. 
Also, there have been times when 
a dubbed film has been started and 
then for a certain matinee the usual 
superimposed version has been used. 
Reported, too,, that the theatres have 
been known to use the dubbed ver- 
sion, for severaLdays. and Jhenjiave 
advertised that for the .next two 
days the titled version would be 
shown. Accompanying ads invite 
patrons "to come and enjoy the 
original, with actors speaking in 
English." 

In Puerto Rico, one theatre an- 
nounced a special showing of a tilled 
version for students starting at 10 
p. m. The students squawked be- 
cause they wanted to see it at 6 
p. m. 

Reaction from this welter of con- 
fused results is that the ultimate pol- 
icy of several leading majors will 
be to use the customary superim- 
posed version in the original release 
house, and then employ dubbed ver- 
sions in other theatres. In this way. 
the distributors would be able to 
meet the demand of deluxe theatre 
patrons for the original screen ver- 
sion while appeasing the demand of 
subsequent-run and lesser houses 
for Spanish-language prints. 



SIX FEATURES SET 
BY REP FOR MEXICO 

Republic will produce six pictures 
in Mexico City this season, Herbert 
J. Yates, president, has revealed. 
While Yates recently was in the 
Mexican capital, he met a group of 
exhibitors headed by Emilio Azkar- 
raga, circuit owner and operator of 
the two largest radio stations there. 

He also disclosed that he plans to 
visit other countries in Latin Amer- 
ica to gel firsthand knowledge of 
their film requirements and prefer- 
ences. Yates said he had discussed 
with James R. Grainger, Rep's gen- 
eral sales manager, the system of 
sending the company's division and 
district managers to Mexico on a ro- 
tating visit basis. 



Agnew Tests British 
Reaction on UA's'Away' 

London. June 1. 

Neil Agnew, David O. Selznick's 
representative, how here, told "Var- 
riety" he has three reasons for being 
in England. First he wants to get 
his own reaction on "Since You Went 
Away." which is still being shown 
here, particularly the reaction to its 
length. Secondly, Agnew hopes to 
visit the Continent, particularly 
Sweden and France, for purpose of 
negotiating exchanges for the Sclz- 
nfcic organization!'. He also will con- 
fer with London head of United 
Artists on Selznick's new opus. "Duel 
in the Sun." Agncw's idea is to have 
the picture roadshown in London and 
keyspots of England, much as was 
done on "Gone With the Wind.'' 

He e.xoects to be in Europe for 
two weeks, returning late in June. 



Pratchett to latin-America 

A. L. Pratchett. Paramount Inter- 
national's Latin-American division 
manager, shoves «off today (Wed.) on 
a three-month survey of the Latin- 
Americas. He will check sales de- 
velopments, this being his first over- 
all tour since he was named in 
charge of South and Central Amer- 
ica. . , 

Pratchett returns' around Sept. 12. 



UA Will Not Dub For 
lst-Run Mexico Spots 

Mexico City. June 1% 
United Artists plans all first-runs 
of its product in- Mexico in English 
with Spanish titles, but will use the 
dubbed version for the smaller enr- 
oll its and provin c ia] cities, a nd towns. 
Tests show I hat the synced versions 
broke all records in the small towns 
and suburbs of Mexico. But in down- 
town detuxei'S, the boxolTice Was not 
so great. ■■; • 

Dubbed version of "Since You 
Went Away" broke all records in 
Toluca, San Luis Potosi and Leon, 
as in second-run houses of the larger 
cities.. 



NAME DIRECTORS TO 
M. P. EXPORT CORP 

All major U. S. films companies, 
with the exception of United Art- 
ists, are represented on the board of 
directors of the Motion Picture Ex- 
port Corp. formed last week to 
facilitate distribution where artifical 
trade restrictions - ! - !! - foreign - coun- 
tries hinder normal activities. A spot 
on the directorate 'of the organiza- 
tion remains open to an independ- 
ent producer rep. 

Directors elected to the MPEC last 
week were Joseph A. McConville, 
Columbia: Murray Silverstone. 20th- 
Fox: Major Arthur M. Loew, Loew's: 
George Weltner, Paramount; Philip 
R. Reisman. RKO; Joseph H. Seidel- 
man. Universal; Sam Schneider, 
Warner Bros. • 



Solid-Sending 

• Continued from page 1 ; 



however, discloses that Mitchell 
himself is a big draw. , ". 

He lias been a missionary in far 
lands, had plenty of thrilling experi- 
ences and knows how to tell them to 
the youngsters. Furthermore,- he 
plays a reed accordion that does 
things to joy up a hymn tune. 
Topping these qualifications, though, 
is a deep spiritual sincerity which he 
has an evident gift for conveying to 
his youthful congregation. 

Defied Downbeat 

Music plays a major part in the 
programs. There's lots . of singing 
Willi Rudy Atwood and Loren Whit- 
ney, professional radio performers, 
needling the choruses. Hymns are 
on the lively side and the bunch 
really does something to them with- 
out swinging them too much out of 
religious decorum. Bob Bowman and 
the Jiibilee-ers— all-girl chorus num- 
bering close to 100 — is a streamlined 
version of the old church choir. 

Service generally is along the lines 
of the Christian Endeavor meetings 
some of us attended in our youth, 
with more song and less preaching 
and praying. A brief period is 
given over to teen-agers' testimonials 
to personal spiritual experiences. 

The kids not only like it . . . they 
eat it up And one of the problems 
(this is on the level) is getting them 
to leave. 

End of the formal service always 
brings a demand for. Mitchell and 
his accordion and the meeting fre- 
quently extends into a long and en- 
thusiastic "jam session" of hymn 
music after the 9 o'clock closing 
time. ■ .;-.'. - • , . 

1'lullei e<t Airings 

Portion of the program is aired 
each Saturday night and a transcrip- 
tion is also rcrbroadcast later. The 
leaders '.refrained from comment, but 
the re-broadcast has all the ear- 
marks of a Hue lo'get the kids home 
early. The printed program carries 
the announcement of the late airing 
and urges: "Listen in to . you arid 
your buddies, too." 

Average age of the congregation, 
or audience, is probably about 18, 
This despite the fact that there is a 
Sprinkling of graybeards among the 
throng.- 

The fact that the services are com- 
pletely non-denominational and not 
hooked up with any church or creed 
is stressed. 

Anyway, whether it is. showman- 
ship or unassisted religious fervor 
that does it. there is wham in every 
meeting. The best, guess is that 
there's a touch of both, with modern 
■youth really taking the stuffiness out 
of religion. - 



Hoytt' Turnbull In 

Holly wood, June 12. 

Ernest Turnbull, managing direc- 
tor of-Hoyts theatres, has arrived 
from Australia for a two months' 
stay on business. 

He'll huddle with Charles P. 
Skouras. prez of National Theatres, 
and other circuit executives oinbiz, 
new operations, etc., concerning the 
NT-subsidiary in Aussie. ._„. 



Par Intl. Forms 
Theatre Dept. 

In line with its theatre expansion 
in the foreign market, reported in 
"Variety" two . weeks ago, George 
Weltner. new president of Para- 
mount International, last Friday (6) 
announced formal organization of a 
theatre department for the foreign 
market with Clement S. Crystal as 
head. "'■'-,, 

Crystal is a veteran N.. Y. builder, 
real estate operator and general con- 
tractor who recently was discharged 
from the Army, where he was a lieu- 
tenant-colonel, in the Engineering 
Corps. He handled construction of 
camps and airfields and laying of 
pipelines in the China-Burma-India 
theatre of war. r 

Function of new Par' International 
department. iWjllJpe^qijH^guire thea- 
tre properties and sites anoTbuilcT 
new houses as well as to remodel 
theatres and handle actual theatre 
operations. Before going into the 
Army, Crystal constructed and re- 
modeled several theatres, including 
the Trans-Lux and the Criterion, 
both on Broadway. 

Weltner New Par Inti Chief 

George Weltner, v. p. of Para- 
mount International Films, was 
moved up to president as successor 
to the late John W. Hicks. Jr., as 
forecast last week in "Variety." An- 
nouncement was made last week 
that Weltner was Par's new for 
eign head, after special meetings of 
the directorates of the parent com- 
pany and the overseas subsidiary 
Weltner. with Par for 23 years, has 
been a specialist in foreign sales and 
distribution, all the time identified 
with the film business. 

Joining the company in 1922, Welt 
ner represented Paramount in Latin- 
America and prior to that traveling 
to many foreign markets over the 
world for the company in sales 
supervisory cajpacity. Since 1934, he 
has been executive assistant to 
Hicks. When Par International was 
formed in 1944, he was made v. p. 
of the company and became a mem- 
ber of its board of directors. 



YATES IN MEXICO CITY 

Mexico City, June 12. 
Herbert J. Yates, Republic Pic- 
tures head, is here looking over the 
local film industry. Yates is ac- 
companied by his assistant, William 
Saal. 

Republic last January made 
"Song of Mexico" here, which Yates 
says is the first successful attempt 
at producing two versions, one in 
Spanish and one in English. He 
was so impressed with the picture 
that he may do others along the 
same lines. 



Current London Shows 

London. June 12. 

"Arsenic & Old Lace," Strand. 
"Blithe Spirit," Duchess. 
"Desert Rats/' Adelphi. 
"Gaieties," Saville. '.- . v * , 
"Gay Rosalinda," Palace.. 
"Happy Si Glorious," Palladium. 
"Honeymoon," York's. 
"Irene," His Majesty's. 
'"Jacobowsky-Col.," Piccadilly, 
"Lady Edinburgh," Playhouse. 
"Laugh Town Laugh," Stoll. 
"Love in Idleness," Lyric. . 
"Madame Louise," Garrick. 
"Night and Music," Coliseum. 
"Night Venice," Cambridge. 
"No Medals," Vaudeville. 
"Panama Hattie," Adelphi. 
"Peek-A-Boo Parents," Whitehall. 
"Perchance to Dream," Hipp. 
'.'Private Lives," Apollo. 
"See How They Run," Comedy,-' 
"Shop Sly Corner," St. Martins. 
"Skin of Our Teeth," Phoenix. 
"Strike It Again," Wales. 
"Sweeter Lower," Ambassadors. 
"Three's Family," Winter Gdn. 
"Three Waltzes," Princes. 
"Tomorrow World," Aldwych, 
"While Sun Shines," Globe, 
"Wind of Hca.yen." St. James. 
"Years Between," Wyndliams 
"Yellow Sands," Westminster. 



Some Foresee British Fib Strides 
To Degree of Eliminating Quotas 



Earlv Lines Form For 
U. S. Fix in Holland 

Showing of U. S. films has been 
resumed in Amsterdam, Holland, af- 
ter five years, lines starting at 4 
o'clock in the morning, although 
shows do not begin until seven hours 
later, according lo reports. 
- Reports -to— Warners -indicate that 
the Dutch population as a whole 
boycotted German propaganda pic- 
tures throughout the Nazi occupa- 
tion. Company has "Sgt. York.' 
"Air Force," "Watch on the Rhine" 
and "Action in the North Atlantic" 
on release there. 



CAN. EASES SOME TAXES 
BUTNOT20XAMUS.TOP 

Ottawa, June 12. 

Canadian follow-up of the Euro- 
pean kayo was revision of several 
of the Dominion's wartime ^taxes, 
some pending, others immediate, but 
the federal 20% amusement tax 
wasn't one of them. Taxation brass- 
hats say there hasn't even been dis- 
cussion- on— amusement— tax—revision, 
and it will be "some time" before 
it gets a mulling. 

The federal 20% tax was levied 
first on motion pictures in May, 1941. 
In July of that year it was exte'nded 
to include practically everything else 
from sports to horse racing. 



lipped Curbs 

Continued from page 1 



have been imposed, but they will be 
if the need is indicated." ; 

Big-league baseball already had 
rearranged its team travel schedules 
to cut the number of road trips to 
a minimum. However, show biz has 
done nothing about this yet. . 
Road Shows Curbed? 

Word from Washington, that trans- 
portation difficulties are developing 
which will affect civilian travel well 
into the year, and probably longer, 
has given managers a new source of 
worry over road shows next season. 
President Truman at a press con- 
ference stated that tlie mobilization 
of troops in Europe covered a period 
of four years, and that sending 
armies to the west coast for trans- 
port to the Japanese front, a task 
that is but one-third less in volume, 
must be accomplished within 10 
months. 

It's indicated that civilian sleeper 
and pullman accommodations will be 
sliced 50%, which would doubtless 
affect road-show people. The hope 
is that the crest of the westward 
transport movement will have passed 
before the new season gets fully 
under, way. and. if so, the pressure 
for rolling equipment will be less- 
ened. A big percentage of men and 
equipment was slated to be sent 
through the Panama canal, but for 
unexplained reasons that plan has 
not been feasible. 

In show circles it is figured that 
road shows will be affected west of 
Chicago and. therefore, the Coast 
would be clipped from getting 
Broadway attractions. United Book- 
ing Office, however, is routing shows 
as heretofore, it. being pointed out 
that When previous travel hazards 
loomed because of the war the prob- 
lem was not as difficult as feared 
earlier.' • '.' ■ ... .' ' : :; 

Players on lour have stood hard- 
ships to some degree for the past 
several seasons and it is likely that 
some .iumps will not be possible un- 
less day coaches arc used. Pinch 
in sleeper accommodations lias al- 
ready Ijccn on. for other traveling 
units, A New York major league 
baseball team, for instance, had to 
sleep in coaches out of St. Louis. ; . 

Availability of baggage cars is un- 
certain. Eastern lines are expected 
to furnish such equipment as far as 
Chicago but from that point west- 
ward there is less- assurance that 
road shows will be accommodated. 
The President's '-statement was that 
men in uniform— other than troops 
being shifted— comprise about one- 
third of the- passengers on a regular 
train. That means that only one 
out of four civilians now using sleep-.. 
er equipment could do so hereafter, 
for the number of uniformed men 
will greatly increase and the amount 
of material moving towards the 
Pacific will more than double the 
volume up to now. 



*- Development of the British film 
industry to such a strong level that 
a Quota ^Vct may not be necessary is 
envisioned by some foreign depart- 
ment executives, who have watched 
the strides made by British pictures, 
even under the worst sort of war- 
time conditions. While admitting it 
a bil early, some of these officals ia 
N. Y. feel that British industry fig- 
ures like J. Arthur Rank may estab- 
-lish -England^— picture- .business _inl 
such a strong position world-wise 
that operation of the Quota Law- 
would be superfluous. ' 

Great Britain's current quota law 
expires March 31, 1948. and under 
the provisions for the year starting 
last April 1, distributors' quotas 
were 27 J /£*; or the same as last year. 
Next April, the distrib quota in- 
creases to 30%. This means that for 
every eight features distributed by 
American companies in' England, the 
•U. S. company must produce three 
British features or the equivalent. 
According to the labor costs proviso 
and the amended portion providing 
that U.' S. companies can turn out 
pictures on a m6netary basis, the 
American company might make one 
costly picture amounting to overall 
cost of . about $750,000, instead of 
three budgeted at about one-third 
this amount. 

— Howeveirthe-Quota-La w-has-been 
amended and changed around so 
much in the last five years, say in- 
dustry experts, that even the most 
versed production and distribution 
executives find it difficult to know 
just exactly what is required. One 
stipulation is that instead of produc- 
ing a picture in England, the U. S. 
distributor may fill his quota b> 
taking a like British-made picture 
for distribution in this country. Idea 
back of the Quota Act, of course, is 
to strengthen the British film indus- 
try by forcing American companies 
to turn out quality pictures in Eng- 
land or take for U. S.-distribution 
their top films. 

The Quota Act would more or less 
automatically; be placed in effect for 
another 10 years at the end of 
March, 1948, unless revised or en- 
tirely eliminated during 1947. Idea 
of being forced to make productions, 
miles from Hollywood, in England in 
order to distribute their own product 
in that market always has been un- 
officially irksome to many U. S. dis- 
tribs. 

In reverse English, it would be the 
same as forcing a British distributor 
to produce a certain number of fea- 
tures in Hollywood in order to dis- 
tribute Us British-made fare in the 
U. S. American companies never 
have asked such a setup, feeling that 
British' product is welcome to come 
into the U. S. and cpmpete against 
American pictures, 



No Raw Stock Dearth- 
Mexico Union to Make 
Series of Arty Films 

Mexico City, June 5. 

Ministry of Interior, which han- 
dles raw stock rationing for Mexico, 
has okayed the necessary film to 
produce a series of pictures de- 
scribed as of "great artistic value." 
Despite the supposedly limited sup- 
ply of raw stock approval was given 
to the national Cinematographic In- 
dustry Workers' union. This is the • 
union which lost many members 
when six locals bolted a short time 
ago. ' '.;'.' 

Union, which claims it has three 
studios at its disposal, will use the 
latest methods in producing and de- 
veloping the finished product. Union 
also states that . several producers are 
willing to- invest several million 
pesos in the enterprise. ■ 



Bolle in U. Si 

Otto W. Bolle. acting managing 
director for 20th-Fox. in Australia, 
and supervisor of South Africa and 
New Zealand, arrived in N. Y, last 
week after having reached the 
U. S. from Sydney about a week 
ago. ". 

He will huddle with horheqfflee 
executives on new product and dis- 
trib problems Down Under. - 



MEX. HOUSE COMING DOWN 

Mexico City, June 12. 
Follies Bei'geres. local revue the- 
atre where many Americans played, 
is to be razed. In its place will be 
a modern 3,000-seater. New theatre 
will be closer to the main section of 
the city. : 



With All Your Might! The Mighty 7th War Loan! 




T H E HO LLYWO O D IN NEW 



28 



HOUSE REVIEWS 



P^RfEff 



Wednesday, June 13, 1945 



Paramount, IV. Y. 

Jerry Willi Orch (20) with Dick 
Merrick, Allan Jones, Gil Lamb, 
Eileen Barton, Lyn Shirley; "Out 0/ 
This World" (Pnr), reviewed in 
"Variety," June S, '45... 



arts. His hoop trick and sleight-of- 
handing with billiard balls are 
clever deceptions. Al Lyons aug- 
mented the pit band for this week 
and moved . it on stage to open 
show with medley of V'ctor Herbert 
tunes. Brog. 



Comic 'Gil Lamb, right oft the 
-parent company's Hollywood lot, is 
the main sparkplug- at, the. Para-, 
jnoiiiit, combining a deft routine of 
antics with a fine sen.se of timing 
find the ability to whip up a sym- 
pathetic response from the pewhold- 
ers, mostly juves. Sharing top bill- 
ing with him are Jerry Wald's orch, 
film star Allan Jones. and cute Eileen 
Barton. 

Lamb's spotted" twice, "cashing in 
most effectively with a rib-tickling 
jmprcsh of a jitterjerk sitting in the 
audience and being "sent" by the_ 
Wald crew. Comic takes it from the 
boxoffice all the way through, 
scrambling for his seat, annoying 
the neighbors and gaining top laughs 
•with bit in which he tries to sneak 
a smoke and has to swallow the 
cigaret when an usher shows up. It's 
all done panto and more firmly 
establishes the young Par featured 
player as sock stage and nitery ma- 
terial in addition to films. The guy's 
plenty versatile, kicking in a couple 
of eccentric dance routines <one with 
Wald as stooge) that are strictly in 
the payoff groove and, at one point, 
.grabbing a . tenor sax and tooling 
with the band. Latter eontrib, in- 
cidentally, sounds a lot better than 
those featured nightly by plenty of 
the 52nd street virtuosi. Lamb also 
comes through with a parody song 
routine on the Jack Horner nursery 
Thyme done a la Vincent Youmans, 
-Cole-Porter,-Gab-Galloway I -etc.,-ancL 
Jnterspersei his entire routine with 
mugging, contort ion islic body move- 
ments and a fast-moving line of 
chatter. 

Jones closes out bill strongly with 
characteristic sock tenoring, routine 
comprising "Cosi Cosa," "Strange 
Music." "Body and Soul" and the in- 
evitable 'Donkey Serenade" in the 
encore slot. Jones has the pipes, 
looks and manner to "charm both the 
oldsters and juves, even though lat- 
ter fail to go into any swoons over 
his robust vocalizing. They beat 
their mitts, though, and that's 
enough. 

Youthful Eileen Barton, skull- 
capped and high-schoolishly frocked, 
repeats the success she scored some- 
time ago when she played the Para- 
mount as a member of Frank Si- 
natra's troupe. She does "Why 
Don't You Look Me UpV". "Dream" 
end the peppy "Good, Good. Good!", 
a smart trio for her particular style 
cf singing, and returns for "Dear Mr 
Sinatra." reminiscent of Judy Gar- 
land's, "You 1 Clark Gable) Made Me 
Love You," but more than accept, 
able, nevertheless. 

Wald crew gets few chances to 
groove, what with time taken up by 
Jones, Lamb and Miss Barton, but 
impresses on opening jump stanza, 
as well as "Clarinet High Jinks," 
featuring maestro's tooting, and 
Laura," in which Dick Merrick 
takes over mike for croon-chorus. 
Femme trumpeter Billie Rogers isn't 
. spotlighted but comes through with 

SWS* °f.. kid in the audience. 
Walds an improved m.c. over his 
.last appearance here, being more at 
ease and handling announcements 
clearly and with enthusiasm. 

«r!'nh n .(S h "'T ley ' 3 l00ker and "^t 

aciobatic dancer, rounds out bill 

^hilLi 3 " llty r0l,line emphasizing 
shapely gameroos and some smart 
somersaulting and hand-balancing. 

Donn. 

Or>»heiim, I.. A. 

Los Angeles, June 8. 
Pied ^Pipers 14), Larry Stevens 

0?ch TIT' ' n Ly 2 ns , 
W*n 0 ) n5>; 7H J Scarl t , Clue " 

1i™'£i'f l T- is Ka J l, »'"g foul- head- 
Jo in fhi hl b H J € t- but tQ P hon °™ 
* t °.,,l th V p ied P^ers and their 
stnctly class harmony. Vocal 

anri' P d, 0 I ( ;} ,pieS Cl °f ing spot on bi » 
and, despite. an audience bored with 

»o much Morey Amsterdam, sold 
their turn to a big hand. Pipers 
3£ e <% a,es and ; on ? femme, elicit 

I !i» ,• n^ Ve '- V . %P e L. "Sentimental 
Journey/' "Embracable You," 

-Sream^ Tabby ' ,h ° Cat " a « d 

^v?,? C ih ing ,T a .l in , ee , went 25 minutes 
c\ei. the allotted hour, largely due 
to slowdown pace set by Amster! 

« a h;f T'%'? S ? nd - the dragging out 
of his ncxt-to-closing spot. His gags 
are unnecessarily rough, . also the 
Versions of "Rum and Coca-Cola" 
»nd -True, Man, True," which he 
. tings. 



.Stale, Hartford 

Hartford, June 8. 

XotVis Prima Orch (16) -tofth-Lity 
Ann Carol, Mike Cotton: Roily 
Rolls, Bobby Lane & Clnirc, Sam 
Kaplan House Orch; "Bells oj 
Rosarita" (Rep). 



Louis Prima aggregation moves 
smartly and smoothly. From tee-off 
to the pandernonium ^vmd up, -Prima 
keeps things wheezing along at a 
speedy clip with his shrewd show- 
manship. Warming up to his and 
instantly, the maestro is on most 
of the way, fronting the band. His 
combination of hoke, husky vocaling, 
hot trumpet playing and hoofing 
wind him 110 as a salesman supreme. 

Although band is musicaly forte 
and at times does extra curricujar 
ear blasting, it still is specifically 
Prima around whom the major part 
of the show is built. He parades out 
a series of specialist bandsmen. He 
steps in on each turn at the psycho- 
logical moment with a bit of his own 
to capture the accolade. 

Has on tap a series of faves that 
are currently associated with him. 
Vocals and trumpets each wimiingly. 
Band consists of piano, bull fiddle, 
skins, fo.ur trumpets, five saxes, three 
trombones, with the maestro rarely 
letting his own trump*et remain idle. 

Lily Ann Carol, band's featured 
chirperjjias been with the orch for 
many years. " Is -a-svelte-looking,- 
eye-filling number, and quite a bit 
differently attired from the sweater 
girl she was several years ago. Her 
singing sells easily and she dubs with 
both Prima and bandman, Mike Cot- 
ton. 

Two outside acts round out 60- 
minute stanza. Roily Rolls high- 
lights his varied and solid piano 
playing with a show stopper boogie 
woogie number. Plays a medley of 
Gershwin tunes on a postage stamp 
concertina for effective returns. Bob- 
by Lane and Claire, mixed hoofing 
team, register neatly with panto and 
satirical hoofing. 

Biz okay at second show today 
(Friday). Eck. 



Tower, K. €. 

Kansas City',- June 8. 
Alston 8c Young, Olympic Girls 
(2). Jerry Abbott, Athena, Tommy 
O'Brien, Val Williams. Toiuer Orcli 
(9); "Bells of Rosarita" (Rep) and 
"Hollywood and Vine" (PRC). 



Pleasing layout of music and hoof- 
ing, blended with comedy, make the 
current Tower bill a fast-moving 40- 
minute show that clicks. 

House orch opens with "Senti- 
mental Journey." the trumpet sec- 
tion getting a nice hand for its slick 
work. Val Williams handles m.c. 
chore neatly. 

The Olympic Girls, balancing duo, 
register with a snappy routine which 
pleases. In next spot, Tommy 
O'Brien, juve "Discovery Night" 
winner, warbles "Shine" and then 
taps out a chorus with giisto. 

Jerry Abbott, songster, scores with 
such numbers as "A Little on the 
Lonely Side," "You Belong to My 
Heart,'" "It Had to Be You" and 
"Irish Lullaby." For a getaway, he 
socks ' across "Saturday Night." 
Athena, shapely brunette, takes 
over next-to-closing for a flamenco 
dance turn which clicks. 

Alston & Young, sepia dance and 
comedy team, easily are standouts. 
The nimble terping of Alston regis- 
ters solidly, particularly his im- 
preshas of Bill Robinson, while the 
piano-playing of Youhg helps the 
pair score a solid hit. 

Capacity biz at first show. Earl. 

RKO, Boston 

Boston, June 8. 
Georoie Aidd Orch (15), Irene 
Manning; Tip, Tap & Toe; Patti 
Powers, Nan Roe & Mrs. Water- 
fall; "Body Snatcher" (RKO). 



wJ&J? Slevens, vocalist on the 
Jack Benny air show, has turned, to 
theatre dates for the summer and 
judging by his appearance here will 
Please 111 other bookings. A smooth 
voice and easy stage presence puts 
over "Eyalina." "You Belong to My 
Heart " "All of My Life" and "I'm 
in the Mood for Love." Dio«a 
Costillo, fiery Latin, mixes up songs 
and rhumba bumps in a manner 
tftat grabs hefty response from 

Sw dl ,T-' e -A Sbe - sings " Gui Clli " and 
North Ame-ican Way" and en- 
cores with the Latin stepping 
.Roy Benson clicks with .comical 
chatter and kidding of his magic 



A hot pot-pourri largelv vocal and 
instrumental on stage, coupled with 
good draw of thrill pic. packs 'cm 
into RKO. Auld's orch is pyrotech- 
nic and some of players cut curious 
tantrums, particularly a cellist who 
.seems to be winding a phonograph 
without end and a. pianist whose 
head bobs loosely on his shoulders. 
Auld mixes a lot of fancy steps with 
Ins directing and bothers not at al] 
with baton. The boys do all right 
without looking from "I Found a 
New Baby" through "Louisiana." 

Irene Manning is a lovely blonde, 
all coloratura and tulle, but a bit 
too sweet for an audience that cheers 
boogie-woogie. Has a nice lilt with 
'June Is Busting Out All Over." and 
does "Acapulco" and "Mary's a 
Grand Old Name." . 

Contrasting with (he sweet are 
Nan Rac and Mrs. Waterfall, whose 
gags need plenty of sapolio. Tip. 
Tap arid Toe. Negro cleat-artists, in- 
ject lively notes and many fancy 
gyrations. . 

Patti Powers, band vocalist, is a 
dead-pan gal who might unbend just 
a bit with more spirit in her offer- 
ings. However, does okay on "Sweet- 
heart of My Dreams." Dame 



Itoxy, N. Y. 

Roddy McDouwtl, Tony and Sally 
DeMarco, John Boles, Jackie Glea- 
son, The Pitchmen (3), Gae Foster 
Roxyelles, Paul Ash and Orch; 
■Where Do We Go From Here?'' 
i20(h-Fo.r) reviewed in "Variety,' 
May 30, '45. 

Current Roxy stage show is well- 
paced and glib. Each act gets a uni- 
formly - big salvo- from the-audience._ 
The 65-minute show flows along so 
evenly that it pretty well covers up 
the fact that with one exception its 
only an average bill. The exception, 
of course, is the de Marcos. 

Tony and JSally have now worked 
Tn so well together that the team is 
one-of Jhose drjgam things." Thoughts 
of the Tony-Rejnee combine are.for= 
gotten. Contract of Sally in a plain 
white gown and Tony in tails, makes 
moie vivid the visual picture of the 
two ace dancers as they give another 
exhibition of why they're the peer 
of ballroom teams. Duo does three 
numbers, including his interpretation 
of "Begin the Beguine," the dances 
being smartly varied in pace, all in 
distinctive pattern, and carried oft 
with the de Marco finish and flair. 
The team is the only distinguished 
part of the program. 

That is, of course, aside from the 
Roxyeltes. This time the Gae Foster 
troupe has two numbers, opening 
and closing. The opener is a gaudy, 
colorful bit, with the gals in Hun- 
garian costume, doing a novel tap 
routine to Liszt's Second Hungarian 
Rhapsody. The close is the sock 
Marine drill repeated from last sea- 
son, with the natty chorus, in full 
Marine equipment with gun.s and 
bayonets, bringing the house down 
with their smartness and precision. 
"Surrounding -"acts - include -Roddy- 
McDowall (New Acts); John Boles, 
Jackie Gleason and the Pitchmen. 
Boles, one-time screen star, more re- 
cently in the legiter "One Touch of 
Venus," makes an engaging appear- 
ance singing a melange of old ballads 
and finishing off with a yokel char- 
acter song, "Waiting at the Gate for 
Katie." Singer carries himself a 
little stiffly and his voice at times is 
a little heavy and nasal. He sticks 
to singing, omitting the usual visiting 
star's palaver, for which at least one 
customer was grateful. 

Jackie Gleason, late of the musical 
"Follow the Girls," tells a couple of 
stories, kids a few radio programs, 
and winds up with imitations of sev- 
eral film people, like Boyer, Lorre 
and Durante, the last being good and 
the best part of the act. The Pitch- 
men present their usual act of corny 
gags and fantastic assortment of 
scrap instruments, with their w.k. 
kazoo variations imitating instru- 
ments, birds, bandleaders, etc. 

Paul Ash and the pit orch lend 
notable support throughout. Broil. 

Oriental, Chi 

Chicago, June 7. 
..Willie Shore, Gene Sheldon & 
Loretta Fisher, Sandra Barrett, 
Viola Layne, Pick & Pat. Ray Lau<; 
Orch (12); "Jimmy Steps Out" 
(Astor). 



Current bill, headed by Willie 
Shore, . looks better on paper than 
it plays, but still holds a good share 
of entertainment' Shore, who marks 
up some kind of record in local 
theatrical history by playing this 
house within a month of the rival 
Chicago theatre, is still experiment- 
ing with material. He tries hard, 
sometimes too hard, but the comedy 
stuff he's got just doesn't jell as it 
should. His songs, quickie imper- 
sonations, pin ball maniac bit and 
restaurant skit get fair share of 
laughs but the heaviest applause 
comes when he does really fine soft 
shoe dancing to "Tea for Two" with 
ballet touches and the Pat Rooney 
takeoff to "Rosie O'Grady" for ter- 
rific mitting. 

Viola Layne, singing impressionist 
who just finished a long engagement 
at the 5100 Club, almost stops the 
show in second slot with her carbons 
of Bonnie Baker, Virginia O'Brien, 
Baby Snooks, Gracie Fields, Shirley 
Temple and Carmen Miranda but 
shows poor taste in using the risque 
night club lyrics of "I Wanna Get 
Married" and "Rum and Coca-Cola" 
in a family theatre. Discounting this, 
the gal does a good job of imitating 
other voices with the Fields number. 
"You Only Want It Cause You Can't 
Get It" outstanding. A hit. 

Gene Sheldon, assisted by Loretta 
Fisher, is standard comedy act with 
banjo playing and panto on high 
plane for socko results. Sandra Bar- 
ren, in opening niche, puts over a 
brace of tap routines to click and 
Pick and Pat, blackface duo, per- 
petrate one of the mothiest comedy 
routines to dire returns. JWory. 

« hicago. C hi 

„•:.' Chicago, June 9. : 

Jomi Merrill, Lowe, Hite & Stan- 
ley- Eddie Peabody, Lou Breese 
Orch (15) loith Marshall Gill; "The 
Unseen" (Par). 

Though short, running around 42 
minutes, current layout packs plenty 
of entertainment. Eddie Peabody, 
making his first stage appearance 
alter four years in the Navy, with 
Joan Merrill, held over, and the 
comedy of Lowe, Hite and Stanley, 
add up to a pleasing blend of melody 
and mirth. . 

Lou Breese .and orch get things 
started with "Meet Me In St. Louis" 
during which a lobslerscope effect is 



used and Marshall Gill, one of the 
trombonists, baritonps "Sentimental 
Journey" and ."Hello My Love," a 
new. catchy waltz-ballad by maestro 
Breese, for healthy returns, followed 
by Lowe, Hite and Stanley with well 
worked out routine of comedy busi- 
ness and drill'dance that nets them 
generous palm-whacking. 

Miss Merrill, held over, socks over 
a quartet of tunes in her usual 
manner, teeing off ' with "Sunny, 
SkTe of " the Street;" following-with' 
"I Should Care" and the pseudb 
spiritual, 'Send Me a Man" and 
closing with a dramatic delivery of 
"How Did He Look?" for a solid hit. 

Peabody, back in civvies after 
a hitch in the Navy in which he rose 
to be a Commander, is the same old 
-banjo. . pick ing _ehamp_ as^ of ■ yore. 
Plunks out such tunes as" "Sweet" 
Sue," "Marchila," "Stardust," "Some 
of These Days," "Two Guitars" and 
"St. Louis Blues" and teams up with 
Lou Breese for a banjo duet of 
"Dinah" during which they strum 
their own instruments as they finger 
the other fellows, an old minstrel 
trick of long ago. A hit. 

Lowe, Hite and Stanley return 
dressed as three girls for panto to 
Andrews Sisters' recordings of 
"Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" and 
Sonny Boy." Contrasts in sizes of 
the trio make it all the funnier, ' 
. Morg. 

, Apollo, ."V*. Y. 

Coolie Williams OrCli (16) tcifh 
Eddie Vinson; Ella. Fitzgerald, Ink 
Spats (4) Colce & Poke, Ralph 
Brown. "The Lone Texas Ranuer" 
'Rep). _ 

Apollo this week is parlaving 
Cootie "Wmranis'~bandr Ella" Fitz- 
gerald and the Ink Spots into sweet 
b.o. figures with standees the regular 
thing. The ex-Duke Ellington- 
featured trumpet is leading a first- 
rate crew of jivesters and alto sax- 
aphonist Eddie Vinson's a valuable 
asset with his horn solos and blues 
singing. The guy's a born showman 
and cashes in like one. 

Leader's work is strong, whether 
jamming it or playing it sweet. 
Band mostly relies on jump "stuff, 
but in "Mood for Coot" it displays 
a touch of Ellington and a nice feel- 
ing for the sweet. 

Miss Fitzgerald has smooth sail- 
ing from her walkon, tieing together 
"Beginning to See the . Light'," 
"Candy" and a scat version of "Fly- 
ing Home." She wins 'em. 

Ink Spots offer nothing new. 
stringing along with characteristic 
renditions of "Makiirg Believe," 
"Don't Care Who Knows It," "I'll 
Lose a Friend" and "Into Each Life" 
with Miss Fitzgerald returning to 
ioin in latter, a tie-in with the 
recorded best seller. 

Coke Sc. Poke, comedian-dancers, 
and tapper. Ralph Brown, provide 
sock support to the tri-headlined 
bill. The duo's exceptionally strong 
with mugging, falls,, banter and ec- 
centric stepping, putting them over 
mcely. Domi. 



State, X. Y. 

Happy Felton, Earl, Jack & Befly, 
Jane Kean, Miller Bros. & Lois, 
Adrian Rollini Trio; "Without Lore" 
fflf-G). 



Karle, Philly 

Philadelphia, June 8. 
Louis Armstrong Orch (18) with 
Velma Middleton. Gary Crawford, 
Bill Moore: Stepin Fetchil, Slim & 
Stueet. Red & Cttrley; "Betrayal 
from the East" (RKO). 



There's nothing like. a good sepia 
show to b.ring the Earle out of the 
doldrums. Current offering does it. 

With Satchmo Armstrong on 
torrid trumpet and gravel voice set- 
ling the pace, the show latches on a 
jive-happy beam from the start and 
except for a couple of slow-ups, 
stays there throughout the hour al- 
lotted. 

Armstrong's footers 'beat it right 
out from kickoff with "Keep On 
Jumping," featuring leader and Big 
Bill.Mooie and his sax. Next comes 
"I Can't Give You Anything But 
Love," "12 O'clock Boogie," "Groov- 
ing," "I Wonder" (with Satchmo 
vocalizing) and the finale "Roll Em." 

Armstrorfg's vocalists are top- 
drawer. Gary Crawford, a new- 
comer, handles "Laura" and "With- 
out a Song" with a pleasing, robust 
baritone. • Velma Middleton is 
whammo with "Candy," "Blues," and 
"Don't Fence Me In." 

Stepin Fetchit doesn't quite ring 

the bell with his turn. His lazy 

drawling manner, grabs plenty of 

laughs, but his material is skimpy 

and his gags and vocal are unin- 
telligible. '. 

Slim and Sweet, tall guy arid 
diminutive gal, have a refreshingly 
different act. Laugh high spot is 
Ineir Haiiemese version" of "Romeo 
and Juliet." 

R ed and Curley are clicko as usual 
in their dance and drumbeat ing act 

: ;.; s/mi. . 

RKO Gives Shorts to Kids 

. Hollywood, June 12. 
RKO is cooking up" a series of 
musical shorts, starting Jate in sum- 
mer, to function as a proving ground 
for young talent, in its stock com- 
pany. 

Currently the studio is producing 
two- non-musical shorts series, star- 
ing Leon Errol and Edgar Kennedy. 



The State has come up with one 
of its better bills, with Happy Fel- 
ton, Jane Kean and the Adrian Rol- 
lini Trio sharing headlining. It's 
well diversified .for comedy, novelty 
and standards, and Felton's emceeing 
keeps the whole - thing tied together 
neatly. . 

Felton. a frequent repeat booking 
at the State, is always personable, 
tells a joke neatly and knows how 
to mix easily with the other turns. 
A tune that's become standard with 
him, •'Allegheny Al," . is still being 
done.in..lilting_ rhythmic fashion dur- 
ing his own solo spot. " That Hitler 
gag, however, could be eliminatad 
for possible sensitivities. ' 

Miss Kean, formerly with her sis- 
ter Betty but more recently a click 
on her own in "Early to Bed," the 
Dick Kollmar musical of a couple 
of seasons ago, hasn't achieved her 
top capacity as yet, but she indicates 
that all that's necessary is a sock 
musical to show off her true poten- 
tialities. She can knock off a rhythm 
tune well, she has looks and a 
vivacity that's manifest in anything 
she does, and she also indicates merit 
as a comedienne. 

Miller Bros, and Lois are an enter- 
taining novelty terp trio, most ot the 
hoofing being done on elevated let- 
ters or a platform. They got the top 
hand of the night when caught. 
They're smart-looking in their brown 
tails, the gal being garbed similarly 
though in a skirt. > 

Earl, Jack and Betty are another 
novelty threesome of two males and 
_ajgaX_but this time they're on roller- 
skates. Tfiey gorirTroiigh" a~fff.st-fmtr 
minutes that's okay for the stretch. 
The costuming of the two guys is 
unorthodox for the type of turn this 
is; they're in straight civvies, while 
the girl is in an attractive abbrevi- 
ated costume; the boys should be at- 
tired similarly, since that type of at- 
tire would give the act a greater 
touch of flash. 

The Rollini trio— this seems to be 
a bill of nothing but trios—is still 
one of the smartest little combina- 
tions around, with Rollini at the 
vibes (from which he doubles to the 
piano) and the others at the electric 
guitar and bass viol. 

For the show's close Felton emcees 
a contest in which males don the 
chapeaux of their femme com- 
panions, and they parade on stage, 
the audience's applause deciding who 
models the hats best. An expensive 
hat prize goes to the gal whose lid is 
adjudged to be the best modeled by 
her.companion. It's good for laughs, 
and Felton handles the whole thing 
neatly. Ku<hn. 



Earle, Wash. 

Washinplon, June 8. 
Helmut Dantine, Andrew King. Lee 
Dams, Bob & Howard Roland. 5 
Witlys, Roxyettes, Jo Lorn bar di's 
House Orch; "Escape in the Desert" 
(WB). 

Smart booking of Helmut Dantine 
and . Andrea King with "Escape in 
the Desert." Lines were around the 
corner and three deep, when the 
Earle announced that the first 1.000 
women would be- given a rose and 
autographed picture of Helmut Dan- 
tine. 

Lee Davis, comedian, makes the 
Dantine-King personals click. He 
shows Miss King how to romance 
and they sing a duet, "Gab, Gab, 
Gab. ' Then Dantine comes on for 
an exchange of patter. He is wel- 
comed with hearty and squealing en- 
thusiasm. He proceeds to give Davis 
a lesson in romantic technique, with 
Miss King as a subject. He fol- 
lows with recitative of "My Coun- 
try, which takes him off to a good 
hand. . , 

On his own Davis gives out with 
a refreshing line of gags and clown- 
ing which registers. Bob and How- 
arq Roland blend voices in song and 
satirical takeoffs on radio commer- 
J 1V « Willys click with their 
.Uggling Roxyettes are on for two 
giacetul routines, niftily back- 
grounded by Jo Lombardi'S house 
_____ Arke. 

Capitol, Wash. 

,,•„ Woshinylon.Jnne fi. 
Glenn Miller's Modernaires." Dick 
Buckley, Joe. Lou and Airline Caites, 
6am. Jack Kaufmans House Orch; 
Simg of Bermdette" 1 20(h) . 

Milt Slosser's songfesl opens show 
and he really gets the audience sing- 
ing. Show is neatly put into motion 
by the tap daXcing, buck and wing- 
ing of Joe and Arline Caites. After 
a spirited opening by the two young- 
sters of the trio, the elder is brought 
out to demonstrate how he used to 
•°,u ,u Act is a wow °" sentiment 
with the oldlimer getting a rousing 
hand. 

. Glenn Miller Modernaires are a 
singing act par excellence. The male 
quartet, witl» Paula Kelly, offer 

Lullaby of Broadway," "I've Said It 
Again, "Juke Box "Saturday Night" 
and a caricature of the Ink Spots for 
solid returns. 

Dick Buckley, with the aid of four 
accomplices from the audience, does 
ms Amos 'n Andy" stunt, with no 
hint of ventriloquism and with re- 
markable versatility. His use of live 
dummies proves unusual and the 
audience gives him a walloping hand. 

A rice. 



Wednesday, Juitte 13, 1945 



29 





That's the business on this rhythmic 
romance that The Exhibitor says is 
"packed with entertainment rang- 
ing from burlesque to excellent 
ballet!" Here's a hit with an earful 
of outstanding music and an eyeful 
of burlesqueens, spectacular pro- 
duction and marquee headliners 
all adding up to a boxoffice total 
that will please in any situation! 





L A. film Salesmen Form Own Org; 
Fix Briefs From Distribution Centres 



Hollywood, June 12. 
In older to provide fraternal and 
«ocial_ benefits lor Los Angeles film 
salesmen, a new organization was 
formed known as Motion Picture 
Salesmen of L. A. Plans call for 
revival of the annual Film Row 
summer picnic and early fall dance. 
Directors of MFSLA are I, J. White, 
M. J. McCarfy, Larry Kennedy, Hat 
Shields and Moz Buries. 

.}.'.'. New Bristol, Conn., House 

. Bristol. Conn., June 12. 
Clearing the way for the erection 
ef a new movie theatre on Farming- 
ton ave., the Bristol City Council 
voted unanimously to change the 
lone on property at Farmington ave. 
and Jerome ave., owned by Joseph 
T. Donovan, local land developer, 
from residential to business. 



Buff Variety Robbed 

Buffalo, June 12. 
Variety Club, Tent No. 7. was 
burglarized, the robbers getting 
away with about $1,000 in cash rep- 
resenting weekend receipts. 



. WB Home Office Confab 

• A three-day conference of War- 
ner- Bros, district managers and 
home, office execs will be held by 
Ben Kalmenson. general sales mgr., 
June 26-28, in N. Y. It's timed to 
permit the district managers to at- 
tend- the "Rhapsody in Blue" preem_ 
on Broadway. 

Charles Einfeld, v.p. in charge of 
advertising and publicity, who will 
be in New York at that time, also 
will take part, in the sessions. 
. Home office executives participat- 
ing, in addition to Kalmenson, will 
include Joseph Bernhard, Samuel 
Schneider, Mort Blumenstock, 
Arthur Sachson, Roy Haines, Jules 
Lapidus. Norman H. Moray, I. F. 
Dolid, Ed Hinchy, Stanley Hatch, 
Bernard Goodman, A. C. Braun- 
iriger, Charles Baily, Bill Brumberg, 
and others. 



House will be located near the Col- 
lege of the Pacific, which . has a, large 
Studeivt bodyVj. 

M.P. Associates Net $10,000 

Grossing approximately $18,000 on 
its 26th annual dinner-dance held 
last week at the Waldorf-Astoria ho- 
tel, N. Y.. after all expenses, esti- 
mated that the Motion Picture Asso- 
cites will net around $10,000. . 
- Deducted from. the gross was the 
purchase of a station wagon for the 
Red Cross which cost $2,500. plus 
extras for accessories, and an . elab- 
orate plaque' awarded George J. 
Schaefcr for outstanding war work. 

Chi Variety Tent Names 3 

Chicago. June 12. 
New members of Variety Club tent 
here are Richard J. Finhegan, pub- 
lisher of Chi Daily Times; Stan 
Kramer, Warner Bros, flack: and 
David N. Dewey, Chi Theatre Sup- 
ply Co. 

There now. are 325 active mem- 
bers of this tent. 

Dawson theatre, Strongh ttrst; Ill- 
taken over by Bob Tc-dd. Todd also 
operates Diana, Blandinsvlille. 111., 
and Anius-U, Lallarpe, HI, .. 



hibitor, and his brother-in-law. 
Houses belonged to Mitchell Conery 
Circuit. 

Two L. A. Houses Change Hands 

Los Angeles, June 12. 
Two local film houses, the Colony 
and- the AUena, changed hands, for- 
mer's lease being bought by Thomas 
A. Akin, from the Jewel Theatre 
Corp. Joseph S. Skirboll sold the 
Allena to Lena Shatz. 

New Ilarrisburg Operation 

Harrisburg, Pa. ..June 12. 
Construction ot a new 1,000-seat 
neighborhood ■ theatre, suburban 
Camp Hill, for about $150,000, ex- 
pected to slart soon. Harry Chert- 
coff, of Lancaster, who operates a 
circuit- in Central Pennsyl vani a, is 
builder. 



U's Dawson Tops Navy Exchange 
Memphis, June 12. 
Lt. (jg) R. P. , (Pete) Dawson, for 
merly with Universal here, assigned 
as Offlcer-in-Charge of the Navy's 
Fleet Film Exchange at San Fran 
cisco after two years with amphi 
bious forces in (he Pacific. 



• F-WC Buys Stockton Site 

" "". . ■ Stockton, CalT, June 12. 

Fox-West Coast bought an acre and 
a half of land here as the site of a 
1,200-seat theatre to be constructed 
as soon as war regulations permit. 



Elman, Horde Move Up 

Lou Elman, RKO branch manager 
in Des Moines, appointed Milwaukee 
brancli manager, effective June 18. 
He succ«sds the late Arthur Schmitz. 
- Seymour Borde, salesman :in:RKO 
Chicago blanch, promoted to succeed 
Elman as Des Moines branch man- 
ager, effective June 11. Bernard 
Cobb, of National Screen in Chi, 
moves over to be RKO branch man- 
ager in Chicago. 

Grainger Adds to Chain 

E. C. Grainger, Colonial Theatre 
Co. of New Hampshire prexy, a'n-< 
nonnced this week that the company 
has .leased the Colonial theatre in 
Nashua, N. H. Company also oper- 
ates the State and Tremoiit there. 
Effective June 1. Colonial Theatre 
Co. is part of the Shea circuit. 

I Upstate V..-i'— House-Ghauges 
Albany, June 12. 
The Family in Watervliet and 
Casino in Waterford have new oper- 
ators, Sam Slotnick, Syracuse ex- 



. Hickory, N. -C, Beats 

Raleigh, N. C, June 12. 

Sale of two theatres at Hickory, 
N. G, by Hickory Amusement com 
pany to Colonial Theatres Co., of 
Valdese. N. C, announced by J. F 
Miller. Transfer will be made July 1. 
Miller is retiring. ' 

Colonial had- seven theatres be- 
fore this buy. George D. Carpenter 
will manage. 



Curb Play Buys for Pix 



Continued from page 3 



unsuitable for 



F-WC Buys Frisco Site for llorfse 

San Francisco, June 12. ; 

Fox-West Coast bought a block of 
real estate lieie for a" postwar cOii- 
structiOn . of 1.500-seat theatre, 
"equipped for television and pictures. 

Property Is in new residential sec- 
tion, where Metropolitan Insurance 
Co. recently built 1,600 dwellings. 



Youngstown Theatre Project 

Youngstown, O., June 12. 
City Planning Commission has 
okayed plans to build a $700,000 
community center on the north side, 
to include two theatres. Peter Well- 
man, theatre owner, who plans the 
project, has asked priorities. 




Humphrey IOGART. Alexis SMITH 
Sydney CREENSTREET 
In Wwatr Rres. hit! 
"CONFLICT" 

In Prrton 

LOUIS PRIMA 
AND HIS ORCHESTRA 

Also In I'erMon 

DANE CLARK 
I'way at 47»h St. STRAND 



B WAY & 
47th St 



PEARL RUCK'S 

"CHINA SKY" 

Handdlnll Nc-oll. Ktlth Warrick 

An RKO Jlaaiu Picture 



R,\IIIO 
CITV 



MUSIC HALL 

"THEVALLEY 
OF DECISION" 

Spectacular Stage Production* 



'OUT OF THIS WORLD' 

A Tarainotmt Picture 
In Persc-u 
Al l A* WSKH . filr. I.AMB 
K1I.KEN BAKTON 
•TKItltV WAT.D »n<l Band 
BUY BONDS HERE 



K. C. Pic House to La Vine 

Kansas City, June. 12. s 
Herman H. La Vine, former man- 
ager of Gillham, Colonial and other 
nabe houses here, purchased the Pic, 
new residential theatre. 

The old Wood theatre at Excelsior 
Springs, Mo., reopens June 13 as the 
Siloam, with "Curley". Wilson as 
manager. 



ON 8CRKKN 

Thurs.-, June 14 
.loan 
FOSTAISK 
Artiirn d« 
CORDOVA 

"Frenchman's 
Creek" 



IN I'KKSON 



•ORDONI 
Mary 
RAYE 

ami 

NALDI 



OAVID 

NIVEN, 



two ernes 



A JOIk 
Onlury.rex 
'••lto» 



VICTORIA 

, l'w.y»4«HiSt._ 




i 



NOW AT ROXf 



Srvi LIGHT 
ON CONGRESS I 



IV ft H C H 
• • T ! M F 



W 



A MEDAL 
FOR BENNY 



A Paramount PIVOI I B '*>y * 4»tt> St. 
Picture * T Doon Op«n 8 :30 a.m. 



SAMI ICI. <i01.I»H V'N prVwnlK 

, DANNY KAYE 

In' ' 

"WONDER MAIN'' 

- in 'rpchhicoior 

It'imv ICT/MI f-oiiiliinouK 
* IJftll St. AOIUH Popular Price.* 




More WI'B Okays 

Dallas, June 12. 

WPB authorized B. Forrest White 
operator of the Maple theatre, to 
construct a new building at cost of 
$32,500. New house, to replace the 
present one. would be built several 
blocks away from the present Maple. 

Authority to construct a new the- 
atre at Greenville to replace one de- 
stroyed by fire was also granted by 
the WPB to Sullivan & Moore, Beau- 
mont. 

Scheduled to open in a few weeks 
is the Goliad theatre, in Goliad. Tex., 
being built at a cost of $ti,000 by 
Ruben Frels. Frels is operator of a 
circuit in South Texas with head- 
quarters in Victoria. WPB approval 
obtained and construction now under 
way. 

Northwest Highway Drive - In. 
owned and operated by Underwood 
& Ezell, now open for" the season. 
Preem delayed for installation of 
newest drive-in -theatre innovation, 
individual speakers in every car. 



properties found 
screen purposes. 

4. Growing feeling that published 
works are generally better source 
material for the studios than plays, 
and are available at more reasonable 
prices. (Top prices for novels range 
from $100,000 to $250,000, with only 
a handful purchased by studios in 
this price range.) 

Weighing potential effects of a re- 
conversion period, when b.o. possi- 
bilities may. be . revalued downward, 
major studios are, for the most part, 
not inclined to increase the unpre- 
cedented studio inventories (around 
$250,000,000 in completed negatives, 
story properties, etc.') still further 
with material bought at the very 
peak. 

Standard-Bearers Vary 

Noteworthy that each year a dif- 
ferent studio steps out as the leading 
bidder for plays and usually emerges 
as a more reluctant, buyer the fol- 
lowing season. 

During 1943. 20th-Fox made com- 
mitments totaling approximately $1,- 
545,000 for screen rights to plays, in- 
cluding a $1,000,000 guarantee on 
"Winged Victory." During 1944 this 
studio purchased the rights to a sin- 
gle legit property, "Junior Miss," for 
$400,000. 

During 1944, Warners stepped out 
as the leading contender on- the play 
■market, with commitments of $1,- 
657,000, aside from profit-participa- 
tion on such properties as "Life With 
Father." 

Currently, Paramount is among 
the most active bidders in the play 
market. 

Metro, which purchased approxi- 
mately 11 legit properties in 1943 
and 1944, investing around $800,000 
has not filmed or placed in produc- 
tion much, if any, of the material 
acquired during that period. During 
1944 Metro bought rights to "The 
Fledgling." unproduced play ($25.- 
000) ; "Cabbages and Kings," tin- 
produced musical ($100,000): "Vio- 
let" ($100,000); "The Damask 
Cheek" (.$35,000); "Soldiers Wife" 
($75,000); "Laugh Parade" (around 
$35,000): "Or. the Town" ($100,000 
against ceiling of $250.000). ' During 
1943 Metro bought "The Pirate 
($225,000); "Sons and Soldiers" ($60,- 
000); "Hold On to Your Hats" ($.40.- 
000). Georg-. Haight, Metro producer, 
is reported considering filming "Sol- 
dier's Wife," but "Violet" and "Sons 
and Soldiers" may never be made. 
Par's Top Price 'So Far 
Thus far during 1945 Paramount 
has paid the top price for the screen 
rights to a play, $75,000 for "Oh, 
Brother," plus a percentage of the 
weekly b.o. receipts during the run 
of play, with a ceiling of $200,000. 
Ed Peskay and associates purchased 
the film rights to "10 Little Indians" 
for around $150,000 against a per- 
centage, when Samuel Bronstou who 
was negotiating for the rights at the 
close of 1944 failed to consummate 
his deal. "Indians" is scheduled to 
be released through 20th-Fox. 

Other purchases thus far this year 
scarcely involve commitments o£ 



for "Ruth" is being held in abeyance 
as a result. 

There is, of course, strong picture 
interest in several current Broadway 
hits but terms being asked for the 
screen rights have delayed deals. 

"Dear Ruth" may be sold before 
the year is out. Similar circum- 
stances resulted in stalling sale of 
"Junior Miss" when Mary Pickford 
held off deal pending settlement of 
a dispute. Warners then stepped in 
as a bidder for the piece, which was 
eventually bought by 20th-Fox. . 

Metro has a 25% interest in 
"Bloomer Girl," but is not included 
to enter into any deal for the film 
rights on a percentage basis. As in 
former years, studio heads continue 
wary of percentage arrangements. 

"Harvey's" $500,000, Plus 
r Several studios are interested in 
"Harvey" and "Up in Central Park," 
to mention a couple. Film execs re- 
port, however, that price being asked 
for "Harvey" is a $500,000 cash 
guarantee against 15% of the profits 
from the film version after cost of 
production and distribution ate de- 
ducted. Percentage or other high 
cash guarantees are also reported 
asked for other properties. ' 

Mitch, of course, depends on the 
suitability of any vehicle, for a\ 
specific studio star. Louis B. Mayer . 
has been credited with telling his 
production execs to buy a vehicle at 
virtually --any—price,- short of -a per- 
centage deal, if it will make a good 
property for one of the stars on the 
I Metro lot. 

{ Feeling at this studio, also, is that 
| there is no need to finance legit pro- 
| duction unless there is simultaneous- 
ly a deal for the picture rights. If 
the studio is to compete with others 
in the open market after a play 
clicks then execs question the wis- 
dom of bankrolling in the first place. 
The objective, it has been pointed 
out, is not merely to make a profit 
on a legiter but primarily to secure 
a .strong vehicle for the studio. _ ". 

Studios may, of course, step up 
buying of screen rights to plays 
during the last half of 1945 to an 
extent which may radically change 
the current outlook. Much will de- 
pend on the price level, studio in- 
\ I ventories and general b.o. conditions. 



Film Reviews 



Army Films 

ssi Continued from page I 



'SUSPENSE' GETS 4006 

Hollywood, jftine 12. 
Minimum budget of $400,000 has 
been allotted by the King Bros, for 
their forthcoming production, "Sus- 
pense," to be made independently, 
with a name star still to be con- 
tracted. 1 

Brothers are financing the new 
picture with profits from their re- 
cent release. "Dillinger." 



camps in (his country got to see it. 

And Army Pictorial Service now 
has on hand 1,000 16-mm prints and 
1,000 35-mm. prints of "Two Down 
and One to Go" which has completed 
its theatrical run. . Some educational 
groups want prints for private show- 
ings. . ., 

The Army's new thought is to 
gather together all stuff that can be 
released and offer it to the highest 
bidders as surplus war goods. This 
may be done in the near future. 

Meantime, Col, Edward Muhson, 
head of the Almy Pictorial Division, 
is said to be preparing a report on 
what films were destroyed and why. 
Part of the report would claim that 
much of what was burned at Astoria 
was too obsolete to be -used. War 
Dept. is also expected to explain the 
complications arising from the use 
of films with Hollywood stars now 
irf the service, but who are under 
contract to studios. Main stumbling 
block has been the scoring. Music 
rights are given, free to the Army, 
but copyright owners would make 
claims if the pictures were sold com- 
mercially. 

Thus the available stuff would 
largely have to be uuscored and 
without any contract ■ actors. Prin- 
cipally it would consist of technical 
training films which could be shown 
to limited groups. 



Tracteflhown n. X. 
linn* «1 MINS. 

Al*x Gregor. , 

, MfUlrtl Daniel 

more than $125,000. In addition to | (Seorga Keenc.. .;. 



Continued from pace 17 ss 

'l>n OnlN m Oh ■!<•«' 

tinhorn dancehall operator. Others 
of cast are adequate in the lesser 
roles. 

In addition to titular number there 
are three other songs. Will Jason 
has directed in breezy tempo and 
Ben Klines gameraing is okav. too. 

Edlw. 

The Frozen l.lioM 

Unlvftrjsal release ot Will i\>wun uivilnfl* 
Uon. 'StarH l^oii Clmnoy: featured Kvclyn 
AjiJkorM. " Martin Kosleclt. Mlllmni Kt<me. 
Directed by Harold Venn*.. Snwiiplov, 
Bernard Schubert; and J.uci Wartl front oris- 
Inal hy Harry Carter and Itiimt Sueher: 
diiplalion, Suclier: camera, I'uul Ivanii. 

June I J, '.4K Raanninn 



"Oh, Brother.". Paramount has 
"Alice Sit-By-The-Fire'; (price not 
disclosed) and "The Odds on Mrs. 
Oakley," $15,000. Hal Wallis, releas- 
ing through Paramount and pro- 
ducing on a partnership basis with 



....... . T,nn, . (.'tuitiey 

Wvlyn AnUern 

Mlllmni SUme 

. Unuclass Dnmbi'llla 
.... , Mi) rt in KoHte.ek 

rciena YenitiKO 

Mine. Mfttmt Tula 'Btvell 

Skeptic... Artlnir H-ibl 



.peetnr Brant.. .. 

Km! I Pqldan , 

Nina. Coudreuu 



Lon Chaney enacts the role of a 
mentalist who becomes scared of his 
the studio. Who last year bought own powers when a person whom he 



The Searching Wind," has purchased 
"The Perfect Marriage" for $35,000. 
He is also reported dickering with 
Oscar Serliri for the rights to "Beg- 
gars Are Coming to Town." Ted 
Reeves play slated for August re- 
hearsal. ..... 

Other Buys 

RKO has purchased "Sex Is Out.'' 
unproduced play, for around $10,000, 
and "Hit the Road," tmproduced' 
coniedy (price not disclosed). 20th- 
Fpx has purchased "Where Flowers 
Once Grew," unproduced play (price 
not disclosed). Metro has purchased 
"But Not Goodbye" for around 
$20,000. Columbia has "Lola and 
the' Wolves," unproduced play (price 
not disclosed). . . ; : 

"Sheppey,"-'.V. Somerset Maugham 
play, was purchased last year (1944) 
by independent producer E. L, Al- 
person, who has a releasing deal 
with 20th-Fox. : It was purchased on 
a percenta'ge basis. "Decision," -for 
which Samuel Bronston was dicker- 
ing last year on a percentage basis, 
was later taken off the United Artists 
releasing schedule when Office of 
War Information officials opposed 
production. 

In case of "Dear Ruth." Columbia 
claims it is an infringement on an 
original titled "Dear Mr. Private," 
which the studio, owns. The Par deal 



hypnotizes dies right in front of an 
audience. From that point ori" "The 
Frozen Ghost", becomes more in- 
volved by the minute. Its climax, 
however, is surprising enough to 
please whodunit fans. 

Based upon the Inner Sanctum 
mystery stories, this .. yarn finds 
Chaney's business agent steering him 
into a wax museum; run by one of 
their mutual woman friends to rest 
his nerves, following the incident. 
However, the aide of the museum 
owner, jealous of Chaney's way with 
women, connives with the business 
agent to drive him mad. When the 
duo actually find out one of the 
\vomen whom they've tried to put to 
sleep actually dies, they become 
panicky and fall into the trap which 
ends the film. 

Chariey gives a forthright per- 
formance, as do Evelyn Ankers/ as 
his vis-a-vis, and Milburn Stone. 'as 
his business agent. Remainder of east 
aids, in giving suspense to the pro- 
ceedings. Harold Young's direction 
keeps things moving. Slen. 

DOLL FACE' STARS SET 

Hollywood, June 12. 

Perry Como and Carole Landis 
will co-star at 20th-Fox in "Doll 
Face," film translation of the legit 
play, "The Naked Genius." 

-Filming starts early in July; with 
Lewis Seller directing and Bryan 
Foy producing. . . 



Wednesday, June 13, 1945 



P&R1ETY 



RADIO 



31 






ORK HYPO ON WAY 



Klauber s Victory Vs. WWB 

'';."'■'. Washington,. June 1% 

Edward Klauber, former executive v.p. of the Columbia Broadcasting 
System' and currently second in command of the Office of War Infor- 
mation, has won his year-old "feud" with the Writers' War Board, 
voluntary group of New York literati that received partial financial 
assistance via Government funds. After July 1 the Writers' War Board 
wiy have to" get along 100% tinder private' financing; Thismeans that~ 
about $30,000 .spent annually to support an OWI liaison office and staff 
at the Board in Manhattan will no longer be available. 

Klauber's opposition to the Board is stated by his friends at OWI to 
be administrative and not ideological. While the board and officers of 
OWI has not always shared the same viewpoint in general, amity has 
existed, it is said. Elmer Davis hims,elf was a founder-member of the 
WWB before heading up the OWI (as he was also a Klauber employee 
at CBS) so the situation is involved. Klauber's argument seems to be 
that there were too many purely "private" projects mixed 1 up with the 
"Government aid" activities of the Board. 

Chairman of the Board is Rex Stout and there now appears to be 
some doubt as to-whether he'll continue. It's considered a likelihood 
that either Clifton Fadiman or Christopher LaFarge, both active Board 
members, may take over the chairmanship. 

While the makeup of the Board is almost, of a strictly 'literati flavor, 
its activities in radio, particularly, in the campaign it has been waging 
against the perpetuation of racial and minority stereotypes, has been 
largely responsible for projecting it into national prominence. ■ v 



Nets, Agencies Scramble for Postwar 
Birdmen's Chamber of Commerce Biz 



STEELS, MOTORS 
TO WOO PUBLIC 

By GEORGE ROSEN 



One of the most unusual post--* 
V-E deals for air time is currently 
in the process of .negotiation. It in- 
voles the purchase of time and pro- 
gramming by. the Aeronautical 
Chamber of Commerce, whose mem- 
bership is comprised of the various 
aeronautic outfits in America. Un- 
der auspices of the ACC, which re- 
portedly has unlimited funds at its 
command, an effort will be made 
via the splurge into radio to educate 
the American public to the role of 
air power in helping secure the 
peace. .',-'.'. 

Just what format the program- 
ming will assume is still to be de- 
termined when the heads of the 
various companies allied with the 
ACC meet within the next two 
weeks to study the various pro- 
gramming presentations made by the 
networks. These were presented to 
the ACC last Friday (8) in Chicago 
by NBC, CBS and the Blue, all of 
-whom are making a bid for the 
business. Meanwhile, there's also a 
beehive of activity among agencies 
seeking the account, With a mini- 
mum of five thus far in the running, 
among them the Grant Adv. Co.. 
Ruthrauff & Ryan, Campbeil-Ewald. 
Davics-Fitzgerald-Sample, etc. 



O'Neil Shift Cues 
Brooks Mad On 

flann.v O'Neil is slated lo go into 
the CBS 7:15-7:30 p.m. slot eifective 
June 26, but assignment of the kid 
from Chi into the spot hasn't been 
resting any . too well wilh Joan 
Brooks and her hus'band-manager. 
Kerr. 

For some time latter have felt that 
the 11:15-11:30 p.m. slot long occu- 
pied by the ferome singer has. been 
the retarding factor in her develop- 
ment as a sock commercial prospect 
and that given a crack at a more fa- 
vorable time slot, such as the newly- 
opened 7:15 segment, would be the 
"convincer" that she's good sponsor- 
bait. Drawing power of Miss Brooks 
during her two-year accupancy of 
the late spot was cited as a factor. 
CES programming ■ dept., however, 
decided in favor, of O'Neil. : ' . 

Kerr reportedly was willing to 
call it quits and tear up a five-year 
contract. Miss Brooks checks off I his 
Friday « 15) for the summer, going 
overseas for USO. 

Johnson Family 'Singers of North 
Carolina (they were spotted on the 
WBT - originating CBS "Carolina 
Hayride" show) go into the spot va- 
cated by O'Neil. ..: .. .,'.- 



Met Tenor Taking Over 
For John Charles Thomas 

Richard Tucker, Metopera tenor, 
will replace John Charles Thomas 
pit latter's Westinghouse CBS stanza 
for six weeks starting July 22, while 
he takes a summer hiatus. 

Program is heard Sundays from 
2:30 to 3 p.m. • 



Lum V Abner on First 
Vacation in Three Years 

Lum n' Abner take their first, va- 
cation since tiking over the Alka- 
Seltzer strip show on the Blue three 
years ago. 

Team is going off for a six-week 
July-August vacash. Their 8:15-8:30 
show is also moving up to the 8 
o'clock spot. 



Johannes Steel 
Wants Probs Of 
'Pressure Guys 

Johannes Steel on his WHN fN, if.) 
news commentary program last 
week (6) called for an investigation 
of "pressure groups which have suc- 
ceeded in forcing commentators off 
the air in certain parts of the coun- 
try.'! . He alluded specifically to 
Boston, "where organizations have 
engaged in economic b o y c o i t s 
amounting to blackmail." 

Steel's Boston reference was in 
answer to action of the Washington 
Jewelry Co. in the Hub which 
dropped sponsorship of his program 
on WHDI I. Boston, following re- 
ported protests from "pressure" 
groups which threatened to boycott 
the firm's chain of stores unless it 
dropped Steel. 

" Steel's broadcast was occasioned 
by last week's 1 6> editorial in "Va- 
riety" on ' freedom .of radio and its 
inherent dangers in the wake of V-E 
Day. which formed the basis off his 
talk. 

."■'Variety's' courageous blast," said 
Steel, "is occasioned by the fact that 
the code committee of the National 
Assn. of Broadcasters .is talking 
about the; idea of opening up sale of 
time for controversial issues, and the 
pitfalls of the situation. ' ■" 

" 'Variety' suggests that the answer 
might lie in the fact that, the NAB 
could set up its own central organ- 
ization to probe the sincerity, back- 
ground and auspices of all who want 
access lr> the' ears of 130 million peo- 
ple. 

"We. agree with "Variety' that 
radio ought to be alerted to what jt 
calls 'an ominous threat' to both 
its integrity and good intentions, but 
we are not so sure that the NAB 
might not pursue 'very .reactionary 
policies in determining who is or. is 
not sincere." 

.Generally speakmfc. Steel con- 
cluded, "there is a ni.uch greater 
freedom of speech . on independent 
stations than there is' on the net- 
works."- "■'".'. ' : 

Boston. -George A. Hay ward, for- 
merly of WUYN, Holyoke, has 
joined WCOP's annnfhv.ing staff. He 
is a graduate of the third announcers' 
school at WKEI here. 



From all indications the nation's 
heavy industries — such as automo- 
tive, steel, etc. — are getting set to 
enter the radio picture in a manner 
that, it's freely predicted, will far 
outstrip any pre-war use of the' me- 
dium. With the readjustment period 
about to set in, there are pronounced 
signs of the automotive industry, in 
particular, coming to life, with one 
major network exec characterizing 
the present institutional phase of 
radio advertising as a mere "fooling 
around" process in comparison with 
proposed coin outlays for shows. 

Already the signs are unmistak- 
able as to the increased interest in 
radio. . Ford, already tops on the 
Blue network account books and in 
J. Walter Thompson billings, is hy- 
poing its programming with a fiO- 
minute Detroit Symphony show set 
for next fall. In addition the Ford 
outfit- is-blueprinting-plans^to- spread 
its wings wide over the whole net- 
work picture. Chrysler, currently 
represented by the Thursday night 
Morton Gould show on CBS, wants 
an additional program. and has asked 
its agency to get busy. General 
Motors, which through the war years, 
has been a consistent top spender in 
radio with its sponsorship of the 
NBC Symphony Sunday afternoon 



Progress Means Biz 

Widespread use of radio in the 
postwar era by such heavy In- 
dustries as steel stents from a 
direct consumer tieup and is the 
outgrowth of the war years. 

For out of the constant experi- 
mentation that's been going on 
in connection with war produc- 
tion activity have come, light- 
weight metals - for ' household 
utensils and other products 
geared for the housewife. Sim- 
ilarly, new uses of plastics will 
open up entire, new markets that 
will be directed at the consumer 
via radio. ' 



program, is holding tight to its time 
franchise and though its agency, 
Arthur Kudu'er, is in the market for 
a full extra hour of nighttime pro- 
gramming. Nash, one of the pre- 
war air spenders, is concentrat- 
ing on exploiting the refrigeration 
end of its biz via the Nash-Kelvina- 
tor Andrews Sisters show pending a 
post-war return to auto selling. 

As it shapes up for the future, it'll 
be a far more ambitious venture 
than in the days when Studebaker 
was sponsoring Dick Himber, Hud- 
son was programming Dave Elman 
and Crevrolet hitched on to Jack 
Benny. (Oddly enough, with the 
single exception of the Chevrolet- 
Benny tieup, there hasn't been a 
single auto account show that hit the 
top ratings; Chrysler's identification 
with Major Bowes, it's recalled, 
came after the latter had attained 
his air peak). 

Big Steel Contract 

As for the other heavy industries, 
U.S. Steel is about to embark into 
bigtime programming with its The- 
atre Guild Sunday night show on the 
Blue, representing $1,500,000 a year 
in gross billings alone. General Elec- 
t Continued on page 44) ' ;.. '■■ 



General Foods Reshuffle in Works, 
Kale Smith Show Goes to ^-Hour 



'Mediation Bd/ Up to 60 

"Alexander's Mediation Board," 
the Sunday night Serutan-sponsored 
Mutual show, is expanding again to 
a 60-statipn outlet. 

Program was cut down about a 
year ago to a 12-station hookup. 



Freelancers Get 
Big Break Jn 
Script Market 

The bullish market season for 
freelance script writers appears to 
have set in.' The boys who had been 
finding it increasingly tough to land 
assignments are now coming out of 
retirement and becoming more and 
more conspicuous around the net- 
works and agencies in New York. 

Principal factor in the current 
break for the freelancers is the 
wholesale desertion of regular net- 
work airers for the summer months, 
with the regular writers joining in 
the exodus and the freelancers step- 
ping in on replacement shows. Fac- 
tor, too. are those organizations— 
quasi charitable, etc. — that are go- 
ing into radio on a large scale with 
programs of their own. • 

National Paralysis Fund, _which 
has been utilizing radio to a~larger 
degree, recently inserted a classi- 
fied ad in the N. Y. Times for a 
radio writer. At the end of the week 
there was only one response — from 
a gal in Washington who got the job. 



♦ General Foods is reshuffling its 
Friday and Sunday night network 
shows.-Huddles were held yesterday 
(Tues.), with no definite decish as 
to which show lands where, with 
additional huddles later in the week 
expected to straighten matters out. 
What is definite, however, is that 
GF is cutting a half -hour off the 
b'0-minute Kate Smith stanza on 
CBS, but whether the show winds 
up in. the Sunday' segment or switch- 
es back to Friday night is still to 
be determined. 

Thursday night's Dinah Shore and 
Burns & Allen NBC programs will 
remain undisturbed but the reshuf- 
fling plans may involve the Fannie 
Brice CBS airer, in addition to the 
Kate Smith show on Sunday, and 
the "Aldrich" and "Thin Man" Fri- 
day night programs. 



Who Wants to Be 
Prexy of NAB? 

With J. Harold Ryan stepping 
down July 1 as prexy of the NAB. 
the committee-in-search-of-a-n e w 
president is still pretty much up in 
the air on finding the right guy. 
Whoever he is, it's pretty generally 
agreed that he won't be around un- 
til the Jap war is over and the com- 
mittee* has fairly well resigned it- 
self to the fact that July 1 will See 
an interim guy go' in. Men like 
Elmer Davis and James L. Fly, ex- 
FCC chairman, before whom 'the 
the NAB is willing to dangle a mini- 
mum $50,000 salary tag. just don't 
appear to be interested. 

Committee met in Washington yes- 
terday (Tues.) to sift tlie names of a 
number of candidates but there's 
nothing even approaching a definite 
decision. 



Shirley Booth'* R&R Audition 

Half-hour package show headed 
up by Shirley Booth and built 
around the Dottie Mahoney charac- 
ter heard in her Sunday night Kate 
Smith guest appearances was au- 
ditioned Sunday night 110); .-'.'' 

A John Gibbs package, it was: au- 
ditioned for Ruthrauff & Ryan. 



Spelled Backwards Or Sideways 
Kobak Grabs That Lindlahr Biz 



For the past several weeks a num- 
ber of Blue network employees were 
piously deploring the fact that the. 
Bine was ready to grab a chunk of 
business, the type their ex-bbss, Ed 
Kobak, didn't countenance as good 
radio and had made a practice of 
shying away from: It was a skedded 
five-times-a-week show, 'by Victor 
Lindlahr, one of the principal own- 
ers of Serutan and author of "You 
Are What You Eat," whose diet- 
health program and advice on thera-, 
peutics was once a long-time WOR 
tN Y.) show.' 

The chief squawks about Lindlahr 
stemmed not so much from the sen- 



sitivites involved in plugging the 
Serutan product as from the fact 
that as an authority on therapeutics 
he had long been rendered a suspect 
by the American Medical Assn. and 
the target of association attacks. 

It now develops that the Blue 
deal has gone cold and that the 
Lindlahr biz and program goes' to 
Kobak and Mutual with a July 
preem skedded. And coming in the 
wake of Mutual's recent pacting of 
the John J. Anthony-Carter Little 
Liver Pill program, which provoked 
attacks from social organizations, 
many in the trade see Kobak as do- 
ing a toe-stubbing reprise" 



Bergen-Allen In 
Duo Preem Will 
Star Dummies 

Fred Allen and Edgar Bergen, who 
return to the air next fall as star ' 
salesmen for Standards Brands in 
their 60-minule back-to-back Sun- 
day night NBC parlay, are planning 
a "gala premiere" kickoff in which 
the two shows will be integrated in 
Lhe manner of the recent Danny 
Kaye-Durante-Moore sequencing on 
CBS. 

Bergen is mulling postponing his 
fall return, skedded for Sept. 2 (he 
has ai; overseas tour and two pix 
deals pending' to occupy his" time) 
and wait until Allen's Oj't. 8 preem. 

Allen, who incidentally is returning 
to the air with the same format of' 
old, including Mine'rva Pious and the 
Alley gang, .will tee off with his 
own Allen-created dummy as a buf- 
fer for Charlie McCarthy. 



Upton Close Off 
Mutual July 1 

Upton Close, Mutual . network 
commentator, is being cancelled by 
his sponsor, Lumberman's Mutual 
Insurance "Co. Latter cites "business 
conditions" as the reason for -the 
dropping of the program, inferring 
that while it had intended cancelling 
Close some time ago, the company 
stuck with the program as a "con- 
vincer" that it subscribed to Close'i 
viewpoints and was not being pres- 
sured by the many who have pro- 
tested that the commentator is mak- 
ing no small contribution toward 
furthering the cause of the reac- 
tionaries in America.; 

It's known that as a result of the 
feeling toward '; Close, the insurance 
company has suffered cancellation of 
a number of policies. 

Meanwhile, it appears problemati- 
cal whether any other network will 
"touch" Close. CBS, which bans dis- 
cussion of controversial issues on 
sponsored shows, put itself on rec- 
ord some time ago with one of the 
agencies that so far as that Web was 
concerned Close was not acceptable. 
: C'ose goes off on July 1. ■ ' 



Life Buzzes Buzz 

■ Deal has been .worked out by 
Young & Rubicam agency on the 
Life, mag half -hour show slated for 
the Blue network next fall, whereby 
Burgess Meredith will take over the 
emcee role. 

Format idea, it's understood, Is 
built around a "Life Goes to a 
Movie." "Life Goes to a Play," etc. 



32 



RADIO 



Wednesday, June 1$, 1915 



Red Charge Vs. 'Soldiersf ith Coupons 
Backhand Swipe At OPA, Sez Wooley 



New Mans i 



A House o£ Representatives eom-t* 
mittee last week charged that the 
N.Y. Office of Price Administration's 
Mutual network show, "Soldiers 
With Coupons," follows a Communist 
line. This despite the fact that the 
program is sponsored by Standard 
Brands, one of radio's largest adver- 
tisers and scripts for the show are 
passed by the bankroller's agency, 
J Walter Thompson, and the net- 
work, besides the OPA and the Of- 
fice of War Information. 

Chester Bowles. OPA chief, was 
ordered to appear before the House 
Un-American Activities Committee 
next Wednesday (20) to answer 
charges that an OPA employee in 
N.Y. has "disseminated Communist 
propaganda in radio broadcasts." 

Daniel P. Woolley, agency re- 
gional administrator in N. Y., has 
issued a statement charging the 
house committee with attempting to 
smear the OPA. and said the attacks 
came from those Interests which 
want to 'see price control killed. 

"It is obvious that the statement 
of some members of the house com- 
mittee jnust_be_ regarded as an at- 
tempt to smear this agency when the 
price control bill to continue OPA 
is up for consideration in Congress. 
As far as I an concerned, person- 
ally, any attempt to link my name 
with Communistic activity is laugh- 
able," said Woolley, who is a former 
vice-president of Standard Brands. 
The program, "Soldiers With Cou- 
3 pons," started on WNEW, N.Y., Aug. 
31, 1944, and was heard on 32 other 
stations throughout the country, 
transcribed. It is being heard, on 50 
Mutual stations (since May 1 this 
year) sponsored by Standard Brands, 
in the 6:15-6:30 p.m. slot on Tues- 
• days. 

Tex Weiner. producer and writer 
of the program, is radio regional 
director for OPA. He reportedly is 
the person referred to "as spreading 
Communist propaganda in the radio 
broadcasts," although not named by 
congressional committee members. In 
1942 he broke into network radio as 
scripter of the U. S. Navy "Bulletin 
Board" show aired over 142 Mutual 
stations. He yas a writer ore the 
Prudential "Family Hour" show over 
CBS, and also the Goodyear "Salute 
to Youth" programs over NBC. Wei- 
ner won the 1944 award of the Na- 
tional Conference of Christians and 
Jews for the single outstanding show 
cementing racial and religious rela- 
tions, also scripting special war bond 
shows tor CBS, prior, to Joining the 
OPA. 

On May 15. 'Soldiers With Cou- 
pons" got a citation from the Ohio 
State U. Institute for Education by 
. Radio. 



Sill Murray Out of Hosp. 

William B. Murray, head of the 
Morris agency's radio dept., is con- 
valescing at Mill Neck, Long Island, 
following his recent hospital siege. 

He'll be. back in activity after July 
4. Meantime Wally Jordan is con- 
tinuing to handle the agency's radio 
dept. 

No Squawks On 
WNYC Budget 

New York's municipal radio sta- < 
tion. WNYC, last week got an indi- 
rect vote of confidence for the first 
time in its existence from the Demo- 
cratic politicians in the City Council 
When the city's 1945-46 budget came 
before the council, not a Democrat 
objected to the $114,000 item request- 
ed by Mayor Fiorello H. LaGuardia 
for the stations' operation. • . 

From its very inception the station 
has beenjL political football. Estab- 
lished in 19247 WNYC slid' along for 
14 years as an adjunct to the city's 
Department of Plants and Struc- 
tures, being used primarily for 
hunting missing persons and ditto 
votes for Tammany. 

In 1938 a new city charter placed 
the station directly under the Mayor 
as a separate city department. La- 
Guardia appointed Morris Novik di 
rector. 

From that time on the station's 
budget problem involved a unfunny 
routine which was repeated 1 every 
year. The Mayor would submit his 
budget, the Democratic majority in 
council would vote it down. LaG. 
would veto the council's rejection 
the council couldn't raise a three- 
quarters plurality— and at' last the 
budget would become law. 

This year that routine was missing. 
The Mayor's request for $114,000 for 
WNYC went through without 
squawk. 

But there's a reason. Between La- 
Guardia and Novik, WNYC has at- 
tained -recognition as- a real radio 
station. And the councilmen, who 
must face re-election this year, didn't 
dare make the station a political 
issue. 



Lt. Henry Cook of Army Air Force 
rejoins NBC announcing staff in Chi- 
cago after Ihree yeaiis in service. He 
-had completed 45 bombing missions 
and; 5p0 combat hotirs over enemy 
territory. '.~-.il' 



A lot of guyt from radio ore 
getting out of uniform and returning 
to the fold. Because of the industry- 
wide interest in the "who-hoio- 
when-where" status of these "new 
civilians," "Variety" will try to bring 
their movement* up to date and to 
show note the industry is responding 
in taking care of its otun. "Variety" 
twill welcome any week-to-week ad- 
ditions to the list. 



Sgt. Joseph Ruscoll, formerly a 
CBS staff writer before , donning 
uniform, to Ward Wheelock agency. 



Col. Walter Sullivan has resigned 
as executive officer of Perm. Selec- 
tive Service headquarters in Harris- 
burg, to rejoin Young and Rubicam 
as vice-president and director of 
personnel in N. Y. He'll fill a newly- 
created post as supervisor of all the 
agency's personnel. Col. Sullivan 
was in the contract dept. of the 
agency from 1936 to 1941, when he 
resigned to enter the Army. 



NAB Committee to Huddle in N. Y. 
On Radio Arts, Sciences Academy 



Tom Foy Resigns WGN 

Chicago. June J2. 

Tom Foy, news editor of WGN, 
has resigned to freelance and leaves 
the station June 23. He started with 
the station 14 years ago, when he 
organized the publicity dept.. was a 
member of the continuity dept. for 
a while and has Been news "editor 
for the past five years. - ; - 

Until permanent successor has 
been appointed, Robert Hurleigh, 
recently joined staff as a news an- 
alyst, will be acting news editor, 



Edward T. Sullivan, a 2d Lieut, in 
the Quartermaster Corps, has joined 
WBZ, Boston,- -in continuity - dept. 
following his discharge from Army. 
He wrote radio shows for the Special 
Service Division while in uniform. 



Appointment of Lt. Col. Joseph R. 
Stauffer as program production head 
of N. W. Ayer radio dept., as de- 
tailed in "Variety" several weeks 
ago, was confirmed by the agency 
this week. Stauffer was honorably 
discharged from the Army last 
week. He was assigned as an in- 
structor at West Point, from which 
he was graduated in 1920. 



Times-Picayune Co., Long 
Anti-Radio, Buys WDSU 
Time to Up Circulation 

New Orleans. June 12. 

Eyebrow-raiser in radio and press 
circles here is sfternoon slot pur- 
chased on WDSU by the Times- 
Picayune Pub. Co.. long an out- 
spoken foe of radio, for The New 
Orleans States, its afternoon rag. 
Quarter-hour spot. Monday through 
Saturday, features news digest, fea- 
ture story dramatization and inter- 
views with celebrities, not to men- 
tion generous plugs about the sheet. 

it has been noted that the States' 
masthead slogan, "Louisiana's Lead- 
ing Afternoon Newspaper." has been 
missing past few days. This has 
caused gossip locally that sheet's 
circulation is off and that the owners 
have turned to radio as a hypo. Rival 
afternoon paper. The Item, pur- 
chased by Ralph Nicholson from 
James M. Thomson a little over 
three years ago, has zoomed in cir- 
culation, and this is what may have 
prompted -the "about face" on radio 
by the Times-Pic owners. 



Ukelele Ike on MBS 

Cliff Edwards will succeed Lanny 
and Ginger on the series of three 
five-minute programs weekly over 
Mutual, Edwards will be backed by 
three musicians on these sessions. 
New program starts July 2 and has 
options up to two years. 

Donahue & Coc bought the set-up 
from the William Morris agency for 
Grove's cold tablets. 



N. Y. POST'S 450G BID 
FOR KMTR LOOKS GOOD 

Hollywood, June 12. 

N. Y. Post's radio subsidiary was 
green-lighted by radio station 
KMTR's board of directors over the 
'weekend in the deal to buy the 
Coast outlet. FCC has been peti- 
tioned to approve the sale, which is 
reported to have been set for a 
purchase price of around $450,000. 

Kenneth Tinkham, manager of the 
station, submitted his resignation 
following the decision of the board, 
with Don Fedderson slated as gen- 
eral manager of both KMTR and 
KYA. San Francisco. FCC is re- 
ported to have already okayed the 
sale of KYA to the Post subsidiary. 



Helen Hayes, JWT TO \ 
Decide Future Status 

Back in New York this week fol- 
lowing close on her '•Harriet" legiter 
on the Coast. Helen Hayes huddles 
with her sponsor . (Textron ) and J. 
Walter Thompson agency reps on fu- 
ture statu* o£ her network show, cur- 
rently heard Sunday nights, on Mu- 
tual. Show is switching oyer to CBS 
in the Saturday 7:30 p.m. slot on Au- 
gust 18. after a summer layoff begin- 
ning July 1, and, because of that new 
between-matinee - night -performance 
time, the star has expressed reluc- 
tance to continue: If she stays firm 
in her decision shell be replaced.' 

Because of the post V-E dropping 
of Army nurse recruitment, which 
formed the basis of the 15-minute 
show, the entire format will be 
switched and expanded to a half- 
hour. 



RENEW SnrCLAJBEB 

Toronto, June 12. 
Following two 13-week sessions. 
"Headliner" series by Gordon Sin- 
clair, globe-trotting reporter and 
former "Variety" mugg, has been 
renewed for '52 weeks. 



'Hands Off; Blue 
Stance on Union 



CBS Affiliates Board 
Okays 'School' Shift; 
Program Clinics Set 

CBS Affiliates Advisory Board 
meeting in N. Y. last week voted in 
favor of switching the network's 
"School of the Air" cross-the-board 
program to an after-school spot. 
Two-told purpose will permit Arthur 
Godfrey to stay as a network fixture 
in the morning slot (he was origin- 
ally put in /as summertime sub for 
"School") and also eliminate the 
necessity of doing' a repeat for the 
Coast on the educational airer, 
which in the past has proven a tal- 
ent stymie since it practically tied 
up program participants for the day. 
Meanwhile, the Godfrey, show is up 
for sale. . 

Switching o£ "School" to an after- 
noon slot after 15 years, of morning 
channelling into classrooms has cued 
speculation as to how educators will 
react. It's the contention of CBS 
that the move will meet with general 
approval; that the pedagogues in 
general prefer "School" as an extra- 
curricular activity for the kids and a 
strictly local educational pitch in the 
classroom. 

Affiliates Board set up a series of 
Program Managers Clinics (three in 
N. Y., one in Los Angeles) for net- 
work stations, designed to acquaint 
local station program personnel with 
plans, procedure and technique of 
programming and for an interchange 
of program ideas and problems. 
Initial clinic set for N. Y., Julv 11, 
12 and 13. . 



The union organizing pot continues 
to boil around the Blue network 
Nevy York headquarters. Monday 
(11) marked the first appearance of 
the "Blue Salary Broadcast," mimeo- 
graphed sheet aimed at lining up 
Clerical staffers-- etc.-, to organize. -— 
In the meantime, Blue execs, while 
keeping closely informed on devel- 
opments, are officially silent on the 
entire procedure, their only action 
having been to appoint Joseph A. 
McDonald, general attorney for the 
web, and programmer Charles "Bud" 
Barry as spokesmen to confer with 
union organizers, officials, etc. 

It's known, however, that vice- 
chairman Chester J. LaRoche holds 
to the attitude that, if a majority of 
the so-called "white collar" workers 
at the Blue decide . for themselves 
that they want union representation 
in such matters as wage scales, 
working conditions, etc.. the Blue 
high command stands willing to go 
along with the payrollers. 

LaRoche, it's felt, thinks the im 
portant thing in labor relations, as 
far as the Blue is concerned, is to 
have a cooperative crew of workers 
from top to bottom. The Blue, along 
with all other networks, has several 
union pacts with other types of em- 
ployees so that union negotiations 
for clerical help, etc., will be nothing 
new. - 

There's been no indication, thus 
far, that Blue toppers are interfer 
ing in the slightest with the present 
organization campaign and, those 
I close to the top. declare there will 
be no change in this attitude re- 
gardless of the progress, or lack of 
same, made by the Blue Salary Com- 
mittee. . 



<►.' Further step toward establishment 
of an Academy of Radio Arts and 
Sciences will be taken in New York 
on June 18 and 19 when the Na- 
tional Ass'n of Broadcasters public 
relations committee will meet to dis- 
cuss the plan. 

Talent groups of many independ- 
ent station managers and network 
officials favor creation of a demo- 
cratic organization with wide mem- 
bership from all interests in broad- ' 
casting, and which would work ac- 
tively for the advancement and im- 
provement of radio arts and sci- 
ences. 

The academy would be organized 
as a non-profit corporation. One of 
its chief aims would be "the facilita- 
tion of closer collaboration among 
all branches of the broadcasting in- 
dustry for cultural educational and 
technological progress." 

According to' those familiar with 
preliminary discussions, the acad- 
emy will steer clear of topics con- 
cerning the broadcasting business, 
politics and labor economics. 

Approval by the NAB public re- 
lations committee is one of the final 
steps necessary to beginning active 
organization of the proposed radio 
academy. Unless the committee 
blocks the plan, it is expected to 
win approval of the NAB board of 
directors at its next meeting in July." 
This would be the starting gun for 
formal presentation of the plan to 
individual industry groups, most of 
which already have signified tacit 
and off-the-record approval. 

While details of the academy plan 
will not be disclosed until after the 
NAB committee , meeting in New 
York, it is understood to include 
sponsorship of a wide range of cul- 
tural and educational activities 
which will be helpful to the indus- 
try as a whole. These include forums 
and workshops, permanent recording 
archives of best American radio pro- 
grams, libraries of books and publi- 
cations covering arts and sciences in 
broadcasting, and presentation, of 
annual Oscars for outstanding 
achievement in radio. 

The Radio Writers Guild has al- 
ready gone on record in favor of 
establishment of an active academy. 
It has pointed out that although 
broadcasting is a distinct medium of 
art and a forceful contributor to na- 
tional culture, the industry on its 
25th birthday has no broad organ- 
ization in which all branches can 
join to advance arts and sciences of 
the medium. 



P&G DROPS 'GAIETIES' 
FOR 'LIFE OF RILEY' 

Hollywood. June 12. 

"Life of Riley." dropped 'by Amer- 
ican Meat Institute (you know 
why), will, be taken on in the fall 
by Procter & Gamble for Teel. That 
means "Gaslight Gaities" has been 
chucked overboard and the Saturday 
night NBC time niched by the Irving 
Brecher package starring William 
Bendix. ..,:'.'•; 

Don Bernard continues as director 
•arid Lou Koslolf remains to master 
the downbeat. In support of Bendix 
will be John Brown, Conrad Biriyon 
and Sharon Douglas and, On the 
scripting end, are Asnmead Scott, 
Alan Lipscott and Ruben Ship. Deal 
was handled here by Stan Joseloff 
for the Biow agency and George 
Gruskin for the William Morris 
agency, representing Brecher and 
Marx, Miller Sc Marx, 



DON COPE TAKES OVER 
TORTIA' VICE HAWKES 

Don Cope, formerly with the Ted 
Bates agency, has been named direc- 
tor of the soaper "Portia Faces Life" 
at Benton & Bowles, and is expected 
to be named shortly as head of day- 
time radio for the agency, too. 

He succeeds Kirby Hawkes. who 
resigned a couple of weeks ago fol- 
lowing a tiff with Mona Martin, 
writer of the program, 



Byron, Writing 'DA,' 
Looks for Right Guy 

Because he's having difficulty find- 
ing the right scripter, Ed Byron, 
who's just returned to civvies and 
his ex-directorial post on "Mr. Dis- 
trict Attorney;" is also writing the 
stanza. Last week's (6> broadcast 
was a collaborative job., by Arthur 
Gray with Byroti planning_.to take 
on- freelancers until he feels the 
right guy's come along. 

It's a question, says Bj'ron. of com- 
patibility and teamwork. As before 
he went into the service, it's a case 
of Byron doing the final draft on 
the script job. He also continues as 
director of the CBS "Assignment 
Home" series. 

Ben Grauer takes over announcing 
chore on "D, A." starting tonight 
(Wed.). He replaces Fred Uttal. 



REST FOR 'GILDY' 

"Great Gildersleevc" will be re- 
placed by a War 'Shipping Adminis- 
tration-dramatic show. "Men at Sea." 
for eight weeks beginning July 8, 
while Hal Peary takes a summer 
hiatus. 



Frank Morgan Show In 
Waxworks, Wayne Griffin 
To N. Y. for Sales Job 

After long preparation of format, 
material and cast assembly, the 
Frank Morgan show has gone into 
the wax works on the Coast with 
Phil Rapp, creator and director, col- 
laborating with Z. Wayne Grifjtn, 
of Berg & Allenberg on the produc- 
tion. Half-hour show will have a 
musical-comedy variety pattern and 
package carries a price tag of $15.- 
000. Griffin left for N. Y. yesterday 
(Tues.1 with the, spinner to parley 
with several clients interested in the 
exhibit as a fall entry. 

In support of Morgan will be 
Ralph Bellamy, Reginald Gardiner, 
Olga San Juan, singer, Brazilian in- 
strumental team of Jose Oliviera 
and Nestor Amoral, seven-year-old 
Norma Nilsson and A! Sack's orch . 
of 26. Hob Mosher and Joe Connelly 
are the scripters. It's a Morgan en- 
terprise all the way. with the vet- 
eran comic footing the bills for the 
audition. ' • 



RUSSELL WITH DAVIS 
WRAPS UP SWAN SHOW 

Hollywood, June 12. 

With Andy Russell practically set 
as featured vocalist and second lead, 
the Joan Davis program for Lever 
Bros. (Swan sbap) : is all set to go 
to the barrier in the fall. Previ- 
ously contracted were Dick Mack as 
producer and Harry Von Zell. an- 
nouncer and secondary comic. 

Given the option of remaining 
with Sealtest or casting with the 
Davis show, Shirley Mitchell and 
Verna» Felton chose the latter. 
Music and writers are still to be 
selected. 



Wednesday, June 13, 1945 



P^rWFt 



RADIO 



33 





THROWN INTO CHAOS 



Civil liberties Union to 'Watchdog' 
Sales of Foreign Lingo Stations 



Any steps that may be taken in 
_the .future, to transfer ownership of 
radio stations specializing in foreign- 
language broadcasts will be watched 
by the radio committee of the Amer- 
ican Civil Liberties Union. 

Thomas R. Carskadon, chairman of 
the ACLU's radio committee, wrote 
to FCC chairman Paul A. Porter 
Monday (11), asking the latter that 
the committee be notified of any fu- 
ture FCC hearings on sale of such 
stations. . . - ; •; ' 

On the basis of a memorandum 
presented to a committee meeting 
several days earlier by Morris No- 
vik, manager of WNYC, the group 
voted to press its point of view on 
the subject before Porter. 

According to the committee, war- 
time censorship has had a healthy 
effect on programming over foreign- 
language stations, establishing for 
the fi rst ti me a mon itoring system 
which, on the whole, "has : helped 
raise standards. 

But new owners of stations are 
dropping or curtailing foreign-lan- 
guage service, Novik pointed out. He 
recalled that in four cities recently — 
New York, Philadelphia, Boston and 
New Haven — foreign-language 
broadcasting had been largely 
snafued through the sale of stations 
WHOM, WPEN, WCOP and WELL 

In his letter to Porter, Carskadon 
wrote: "When sale of a station whose 
service area includes a sizable pro- 
portion of foreign-speaking popula- 
tion is being proposed, the commit- 
tee urges that the FCC consider the 
question of whether the proposed 
new owners plan to continue any 
present services that. the station may 
fce rendering in the way of carrying 
foreign-language programs." 



Eliminate the Blue 

Blue network publicity and 
promotion departments are on 
the receiving end of a body blow 
as the web changes its name to 
the American Broadcasting Co. 
come Friday 1 15 ). 

Stacks of pictures, mats, cuts 
and other promotional material 
will have to be tossed on the 
scrap pile inasmuch as prac- 
tically . all of the stuff gives 
prominent- display to micro-' 
phones, banners, etc. bearing the 
Blue network lagline. Amount 
of money involved cannot be 
computed but it's known to be 
heavy. . 

Likewise publicity biogs and 
stories of stars, execs, etc. will 
all have to be rewritten to elints 
inate the Blue references and 
substitute the new title. It's 
gonna take Ume__and money. 



Kellogg Biz Stays With 
K&E in Chi Despite 
Chet Faust Exodus 

Chicago. June 12, 
Rumors in the trade here that 
Chet Faust; vice-president of the Chi 
office of Kenyon & Eckhardt. who 
resigned last week,- would lake a 
healthy chunk ot the Kellogg busi- 
ness with him was denied here to- 
day (Tues.) by Ralph Olmstead, 
adv. mgr. of the cereal company. 
Kellogg biz has long been con- 
sidered a' vest pocket account of 
Faust's due to the fact that when 
he left Jf) Walter Thompson two 
years ago to. join K & E he took 
the corn flake| and rice crispies part 
of the account with him. Two 
cereals represented 65% of Kellogg's 
»d budget. Kj& E had the other 35'i 
-of-the-bra-at-' that time. 

: V. T. Norton, who takes . over 
Faust's job as head of the K&E 
office, will serve the account, with 
John Brew in the New York office 
serving as account exec. Faust, who 
also handled the Morton Salt ac- 
count, extensive users of spot radio, 
is currently dickering with several 
agencies for an executive post. 



Action Expected 
In NBC Research 

That long-awaited announcement 
of NBC's appointment of a director 
of research who will funcliort 
as an important exec in the 
network's operation, is reported as 
fairly imminent. Meanwhile, there 
appears to be some speculation as to 
whether or not it means Hugh M. 
Beville will return to the NBC fold 
Jo head up all research. He held 
down that post until going into the 
service shortly after the outbreak 
of the war. 

Barry T. Rumple has been func- 
tioning as research manager of the 
network. Whether or not he's stay- 
ing with NBC or just how he'll fit 
into the operation under the new 
research- director isn't known. But 
the trade is manifesting considerable 
interest in NBC's ambitious move to 
hypo its research operation. 



Autry Cowboy Series In 
Fall for Wrigley Gum 

Chicago. June 12. 
Gene Autry, warrant officer in the 
Army Air Force for the past three 
years, will sign with P. K. Wrigley 
to do a musical show in tte Fall for' 
the chicle magnate following his re- 
lease from the Army sometime next 
month. Show will replace one Of 
the three service shows currently 
aired over CBS. 

Myerhoff agency is trying to clear 
time for a five-a-week show, failing 
which, the singing cowboy will take 
over one of the Columbia spots con- 
trolled by Wrigley. Autry is current- 
ly overseas on an entertainment tour. 

Final plans to air the "Scattcrgood 
Baines" serial, which were expected 
ip be ; completed this month, will 
leave one war theme show on the 
air for Wrigley. Replacement for 
this show is expected to be set by 
Fall. 



PAYROLLS, OX TO 
EUROPE DOOMED 

. The House of Representatives last 
week slashed the OWI budgeiTfbf 
1945-46 down to a figure which 
would ; spell junking $200,000,000 
worth of DX apparatus, throwing 
more than 1,000 radio people into 
the labor market abruptly, leaving 
all European propaganda to other 
governments, and putting the kibosh 
on all domestic radio'work done by 
all government agencies. .-; 

These possibilities were cued by 
the fact that when the OWI 1945-46 
budget came before the House, the 
latter slashed the figure down to 
$18,000,000. Elmer Davis' funds for 
the fiscal year had already been re- 
duced by the House of Appropria- 
tions Committee to $35,000,000. By 
taking off $17,000,000, the House was 
making it impossible for the OWI 
to do anything but Far Eastern and 
Pacific "propaganda: work— something- 
which, obviously, most, isolationists 
did not dare endanger. 

Eisenhower Backs Davis 
Powerful backing for Davis is be- 
ing lined up for a showdown battle 
in the Senate. Davis has carried 
his case to President Truman. Gen- 
eral Eisenhower and Secretary of 
State Stettinius are understood to be 
ready to go to bat for Davis. 

Prex J. Harold Ryan of the NAB 
told "Variety" in Washington that 
cutting OWI domestic radio opera- 
tions would throw government 
broadcasting "back to the chaos of 
1941-42, when all the different gov- 
ernment agencies were clamoring to 
the networks and local stations for 
time on the air. It would constitute 
a real headache for the stations, as 
far as handling government requests 
for broadcasts are concerned." 

The NAB will go before the Sen- 
ate Appropriations Committee to try 
to save domestic radio operations for 
OWI. But it will be up to Pres. 
Truman, Eisenhower, Stettinius and 
Davis to save the trans- Atlantic 
overseas: " operations in the upper 
body of Congress. 

The government has built more 
than $250,000,000 worth of shortwave 
radio transmitters . since the war 
started, increasing the total number 
of transmitters from 12 pre-Pearl 
Harbor to 39. Most of those trans- 
mitters are in the_East or midwest, 
and would remain silent the minute 
OWI went out of business. 

Private industry is not as yet 
geared to take over the DX job. 
Only two of the shortwave licensees 
— CBS and NBC— have any program 
staffs at all. The others in the field 
— General Electric, Westinghouse, 
Crosley, and World Wide Broadcast- 
ing Corp. — have not had any people 
at all at work on the program side 
since the war started. 

Private industry has no operating 
plan. At least a dozen different 
tentative plans have been suggested 
by the original licensees, the State 
Department, the Navy, FCC, and 
other government and private 
groups. But when it comes to a single 
plan, providing for coordination of 
operations and programs on short- 
wave, the U. S. simply doesn't figure 
at all. Great Britain, France and 
Russia know where they are going 
DX-wise. We do, too, as long as 
OWI exists. But with OWI off the 
air, the U. S. position in European 
broadcasting will be less significant 
than the position of Yugoslavia or 
Belgium. • "'■ 
Of course, radio transmission is 
not, the only phase of OWI work 
that would suffer. The. European 
} film situation is still snafu, with the 
New coast-to-coaster skedded to ow j the on i y agency capable of 
teeoff on Mutual in the Sunday 3 | straightening out .the situation-. Then 
p.m. slot June 24 will be tabbed j there are the other phases of im- 
"Press Conference" and format is a | p 01 -tant work, such as distribution of 
streamlined news gimmick with an j books & M magazines, leaflets, educa- 
putstanding figure of, the day inter- I tional work, etc. "* 
viewed each week, Martha Roun- Unless the Senate reverses the 
tree is producing and Houston Peters House action, all of this work -would 
will act as moderator. , .. simply, be killed without ado. But 

"Press Conference" will have a while other government agencies 
tie-irt with American Mercury mag,, concerned with economic affairs or 
tor selection of guest stars and sub- educational work* could up the Eu- 
jeets for discussion. Miss Rouritree ropcan film business and concentrate 
also is producer of "Between Us ; on the necessary book distribution, 
Girls" on Mutual. Latter show, in- j there is no singly body in this coun- 
cklcntally, is now being femmceed j try equipped or staffed to take over 
by Paula Stone vice Elissa Landi. i OWl's DX operations.- 



Dick Mack Quits As 
Kaye Producer, Moves 
Over. to Joan Davis 

Holly wood, ... June 12. 
Pabst's 'Blue Ribbon Town" will 
have a new producer next fall for 
the first time since taking to the air 
two and a half years ago. Dick 
Mack, who has successively produced 
the series", with Groucho Marx, Ken- 
ny Baker and Danny Kaye, has set- 
tled his contract rather than move 
to New York with the show next 
season. . 

Kaye will do the program from 
Manhattan fOr the next two seasons, 
feeling the need of stage and nitery 
work to further his career. Imme- 
diately after washing up his contract 
with Kaye, Mack signed to produce 
the Joan Davis show, Kaye will 
practically start from scratch in the 
autumn, losing, in addition to Mack, 
most of the writers, supporting play- 
ers and Harry James, who has not 
been renewed for the new season. 
Harry Sosnik will probably draw the 
baton.' : ' '■ 



Associated B casting Corp. Looms As 
Fifth Network Set for Fall Teeoff; 
Versluis Net Bar to Blues ABC Tag 



Brother Act 

Buffalo, June 12. 

The Tranter brothels are now 
in opposition against one an- 
other. ' • '.y " ../ c'~: '; 

Jim Tranter, just out of the 
Army; takes over tomorrow 
(Wed.) as radio editor of the 
Buffalo Evening News,; succeed- 
ing Darrell Martin. Brother Don 
has been longtime radio ed of 
Buffalo Courier-Express. 



CBS Tears Hair 
For Sustainers 



It's reachjjd a point where the CBS 
programming dept. boys are almost 
ready to call in Perelli's Dogs— or 
its equivalent — for auditioning as a 
summertime sustainer, with deadline 
time fast approaching for filling in 
hiatus slots. Right now Doug Coul- 
ter and his associates are going 
through the aspirin routine of find- 
ing four suitable replacement shows. 

The network-built Zero Mostel 
package, which looked all set for the 
8:30 Mbnda'y night slot being vacated 
for the summer by Swan Soap, is 
definitely out. Although the pro- 
gramming boys had high hopes of 
prepping it as potential sponsor bait 
in the fall, they, decided after the 
•final audition that the show just 
didn't shape up and abandoned the 
whole project. 

Filling the last half (9:30-10) of 
the Monday night "Lux Radio The- 
atre" spot is also a problem. "Casey 
the Photographer" was originally 
slated for the segment but conflict in 
shows for Statts Cotsworth (he's also 
on. at 9 Mondays on the Blue) re- 
sulted in switchover to the Wednes- 
day night 9 o'clock time being 
vacated by Max Factor. 



Mutual Tress Conference' 



Bringing Mike Into Army 
Press Confab Too Much, 
Brass Sez to WOR Charge 

6 Washington, June 12. 

Radio people can't expect to put 
a mike into the midst of a press con- 
ference held by a general, where re- 
marks may be spoken euffo, and yell 
discrimination — according to the 
War Dept. 

The department made that point 
in its answer to a round-robin wire 
from the N. Y. indies who kicked up 
a fuss because WOR's special events 
man, Dave Driscoll, couldn't set up 
his microphone at a press conference 
held at the Waldorf, in N. Y., by 
General Omar Bradley. As soon as 
this happened, WOR convened reps 
of the N.Y! indies, and the protest 
Was sent to Washington signed by 
WOR, WEVD. WHN, WHOM, WINS, 
WLIB. WMCA. WNEW, WNYC. 
WOV aod WQXR. 

Col. Luther L. Hill, acting public- 
relations director for the Air Corps, 
answered the wire for the War De- 
partment and insisted there had 
been no discrimination against radio. 

Col. Hill pointed out that news- 
paper reporters and newsreel people- 
must wait until a press conference 
is Over before' they distribute their 
stories, which is considerably differ- 
ent from going right out on the air 
Irom the confab itself. 

Radiomen's answer, however, is 
that Hill skirted issue. Driscoll says 
he was willing to record his press 
confab so that Army censors could 
delete any untoward remarks before 
airing. ' ;.. 

Meanwhile, radio is sot to cover 
the arrival of General Eisenhower in 
N. Y., skedded: for next Tuesday 1 19). 
Under the . chairmanship of Morris 
Novik. manager of N. Y. station 
WNYC, and head of the city's radio 
committee, arrangements have been 
Continued on page, 45) 



. Chicago, June 12, 
Climaxing several months of spec-" 
illation and rumors in the industry 
as to the formation of a fifth net- 
work, confirmation of the advent 
was made last week by Leonard A. 
Versluis, President of the Associated 
Broadcasting Corp., Grand Rapids, 
Mich., when he signed an order with 
the American Telephone and Tele- 
graph Co. for permanent transcon- . 
tinental facilities beginning in early 
fall, probably around Sept. 16. 

The ABC chain, which has been 
presenting sustaining and a few 
commercial programs to some 100 
stations on a per-oceasion basis 
since January, 1944, expects to get 
in full swing with a 16-honr daily 
schedule over 25 to 35 stations, lo- 
cated in large cities, in September. 
Programs will originate from Grand 
Rapids,- -Chicago, -Hollywood — and - 
New York with program managers, 
representing ABC,- to be installed in 
each of the cities. Chain will have 
two outlets here, WJJD, which has 
been taking some of the programs, 
and another station, to be named, 
which will take the bulk of the daily 
proposed schedule. Sales offices will 
be opened here and in New York 
and Hollywood, according to plans. 
"Streamlined Network" ' 
Speaking of the new network, 
Versluis, who also owns WLAV, 
Grand Rapids, said, "The ABC struc- 
ture has been designed as a small, 
inexpensive, compact 'streamlined 
network' for coast-to-eoast major 
market coverage. It was created to 
afford many independent radio sta- 
tions in the nation an opportunity to 
augment their already excellent 
public service features, with those of 
a national and -international scope, 
and provide a new avenue of talent 
expression by the exchange of out- 
standing local programs between af- 
filiates." 

Corporate structure of the ABC 
besides Versluis is composed of Roy 
C. Kelly, exec v.p., who is also pres- 
ident of the Wolverine Network in 
Michigan; Richard F. Connor, v.p. in 
charge of operations, formerly of 
station relations, domestic radio 
bureau, OWI in. Washington, and 
director of stations relations for Mu- 
tual, New York; Clayton W. Kuning, ' 
v.p. and g.m., with William G. Hen- 
derson, v.p. in charge of station re- 
lations. Van C. Newkirk, for many- 
years an executive of the Don Lee 
network, has been named v.p. in 
charge of the West Coast. 



Todd Gets Nod As 
Tibbett Replacement 
On 'Hit Parade' Show 

Dick Todd looks all set to take 
over as permanent replacement for 
Lawrence Tibbett on the Lucky* 
Strike "Hit Parade" Saturday night 
show on CBS. Switch in stars is 
slated within next few weeks. For 
a while it was a three-way tossup 
between Todd, Andy Russell and 
Phil Brito, with Todd getting the 
nod. ,. • 

For Todd it's something in the na- 
ture of a comeback. Back in '38 he 
was on the Old Gold show with Rob- 
ert Benchley. He's an ex-"Basin 
Street" show alumnus arid also did 
a Lever Bros, program, among 
others. ... 



MITCH BENSON JOINS 
GALE AGCY. RADIO DEPT. 

Mitchell Benson, long with the 
William Morris agency's radio dept., 
and before that with sundry adver- 
tising firms, is now .one, of the Gale 
agency's radio triumvirate. He 
joined the Gale office last week to 
build radio package shows, etc. 

Also in the organization is Jim 
Stevenson, ex-Lt. Col., and before 
the Army' service with WJR, De- 
troit, and George Silver. ex-Asso- 
ciated Press, where he alto built 
AP's air programs. ' 



31 



RADIO REVIEWS 



VXfilEfY 



Wednesday, June 13, 19 IS 



"THE ADVENTURES OF TOPPER" 
With Roland Young, Fa' 1 ' Mann, 

Frances Chaney, Hope Emerson 
Writer: Stanley Wolf 
Director: Kirby Hawkes 
'30 Mins.; Thurs., 8:30 p.m. 
GENERAL FOODS 
WEAF-NBC, N. Y. 

(Benton & BowtesS 

This is the Roland Young show 
packaged by Stanley Wolf. 'who also 
supervises the scripting, that's been, 
on the verge o£ sponsorship for some 
mouths. Lipton Tea was all set tp 
buy it some time ago but changed 
its mind at the last minute. Now it s 
been acquired by General Foods as 
the summer replacement show tor 
Frank Morgan, although spotted in 
- GE_s£grn^fj£acate.dJiv_ 
for the hot months. 

A radio serialization of the late 
Thorne Smith's 'Topper" character 
(Young also appeared in the two 
"Topper" pix). it's probably the 
poorest of the three media as a laugh 
getter. For while that "ectoplasmic 
metamorphosis" and the ''material- 
ization" of the Kirbys out of thin air 
reads good on paper and was even 
enhanced in the film treatment, there 
were long stretches on last Thurs- 
day's (7) opening program ;th'at were 
singularly unfunny. For basically 
the laughs stem from the succession 
. of "visual" stunts perpetrated by the 
pair of spirits that "have to work 
their, way up to heaven" and not 
from the lines themselves. Thus, to 
conjure up the proper, vision, it be- 
comes necessary via the radio adap- 
tation to virtually "blueprint" .the 
"ectoplasms" and describe the move- 
ments, which go far toward nullify- 
ing the laugh content. (The way that 
Post Toasties commercial was worked 
into the script, incidentally, is one 
-for the -books; you-have to hear it to 
believe it.) 

From a casting standpoint, there's 
no fault with "Topper," with Young, 
of course, a natural for the title role. 
Paul Mann. Frances Chaney and 
Hope Emerson as the other* prin- 
cipals are also okay. But judging 
from the opener "Topper" isn't the 
answer to good radio comedy. 

Rose. 



THE DUNNINGER SHOW 

With Dunninger, Bill Slater, Marilvn 

Day, Mitchell Ay res orch. Andy 

Love vocal group 
. Producer: Ted Huston 
Writer: Earl Kennedy V- '" 

30 Mins.; Fri., 10 p.m. 
LEVER BROS. 
WEAF-NBC, N. Y. 

iRuthravff & RyatO 

Second attempt to put "master 
mentalist" Dunninger over as a net- 
work attraction shapes up as a me- 
lange of unrelated bits with the 
wizard spotted on three different 
occasions performing telepathic feats 
of unbelievable proportions. In fact, 
his stunts are so remarkable that it's 
doubtful it even the most gullible 
"at home" listener could be con- 
vinced Dunninger wasn't reading all 
the answers oft a huge blackboard 
in the studio with the audience and 
judges sworn to secrecy. 
! The guy ought to miss once in a 
"while, or at least stumble and evince 
a shade of uncertainty, You can't 
help but get the reaction that, if he 
can pick one single word off the 
front page of a Houston. Tex., news- 
paper picked at random bv a con- 
testant. Dunninger should be able to 
'come up with the answer to whether 
or not Hitler is dead. and. if so. 
"where's the body'.'" And he can't 
get away with the gag about having 
to get mental impressions because 
millions of people all over the world 
are concentrating on . those very 
questions. 

C'nion. Dunninger. where's Adolf? 
We're concentrating. 

Mentalist's best spot on preem of 
summer replacer for Amos 'n' Andy 
(8-t was opener which found him 
working with hand mike in the audi- 
ence. This gave him a chance to 
confound seatholders by telling them 
their names, addresses" phone num- 
bers, etc.. and his tag line, '% box 
of Rinso for the lady, please" might 
have a Chance of catching on despite 
it's, obvious roots in "Dr. I.Q.'s" gift- 
making slogan on the Mars candy 
■ airer. 

Before the very eyes of judges 
June Havoc, editor Dan Misch. of. 
. Look" mag. and Lt. Bill Robinson, 
first Army man to meet With Rus- 
sians in Naziland. Dunninger stood 
.40 feet away and X-ray ^eyed the 
name, address and point of origin on 
a prize-seeking letter and then di- 
vulged two. not merely one. names 
froni page 50 of the New York tele- 
phone book apd added the addresses 
arid phone numbers for good meas- 
ure. All this while reassuring every- 
one that he had no way of knowing 
beforehand what names were going 
to be designated. They're marvelous 
tricks, all right, but a little bit' too 
marvelous, perhaps, for the folks at 
home listening in. Stunts are tied in 
With cash awards as mail pullers on 
a challenge basis. .-; • 

Rest of new. Rinso program has 
Bill. Slater as. emcee and ' salesman 
and he turns in a first-rate job. com- 
bining enthusiasm and sincerity in 
the proper proportions to make plu" 
segments of the stanza listenable and 
at the. same time profitable for the 
bankroller. Plugs' are tied in Duri- 
nmger-wi.se with latter getting im-. 
piessions that Slater has something 
to say, Dunninger's right as always 
because Slater comes right back with 
something .to say about Rinso. In 
these instances, though. .Dunninger 



doesn't deny that he gets his im- 
pressions from the Earl Kennedy 
script. 

Musically the show has Mitchell 
Ayrcs orch dging a good job with 
newcomer Marilyn Day and an Andy 
Love combo , on hand for vocal 
chores. Former trilled "Dreams Are 
Getting Better" and "I Should Care" 
on show caught. ..•'.••, Point, 



"THE ABBOTT MYSTERIES" — 
j ("The Brown Paper Bag") 
I With Julie Stevens. Chuck W eus ter, 
.lean Ellyn, Luis Van Rooten. Louis 
Soi'in, Sidney Slon; announcer, 
Frank Gallop • '..''. 
Director: Roger, Bower 
Writer: Howard Merrill 
30 Mins.; Sun.. 6 p.m. ' 
HELBROS WATCH CO. 
! WOR-Mutual. N. Y. 

iWeiiltratibi 
j Hardly believable was the story 
I 'upon which the first of the new Mu- 
1 trial whodunit series. . "The Abbott 
i Mysteries." was based last Sunday 
(10 i; And if author Howard Merrill 
\ continues to put together so many 
'loose ends into one broadcast each 
week, he's going to find himself with- 
l out any listeners worth Hooperizing 
i before very long. • v . : • '; 

|.' The hero and the heroine, as well.' 
sound like a couple of graduates of 
Harvard, far out of character. They, 
too, will have to come from out of 
the Upper stratas to. give this new- 
comer some mass appeal. 
■ Initial airer found the newlywcd 
Abbotts, played by Chuck Webster 
and Julie Stevens, involved in a Nazi 
escape plot while on their Mexican 
honeymoon. In a trek through Mex- 
ico City, they track down the group 
of enemy agents with the. help of. an 
actress and her USO troupe and a 
romantic Latin copper. There was 
"something in there, too. about $1.- 
000.000 of escape dough. But. after 
about 10 minutes, one lost interest, 
since the goings-on were too un- 
believable for comfort. 

Direction by Roger Bower lacked 
pace, and those Helbros Watch com- 
mercials weve overlong. coming as 
they did in the midst of the proceed- 
ings. Organ background by Hank 
Sylvern kept the proceedings en- 
livened in good musical taste. 

■ Sfen. 



Jolson's 'Ham' Shot 

Al Jolson. after refusing all 
sorts of guest -shot- radio offers 
during his Gotham stay, did one 
for Millon Berle (Eversharp) 
last week,' frankly 'because "the 
'ham' in me, I guess, made me 
give in," to quote the. star. "I. 
liked the miniature cavalcade of 
songs it permitted me." 

Jolson was never better, it was 
generally conceded, as he re- 
prised a tabloid autobiog in song. 
And an impressive record it is. 
dating from the Winter Garden 
through his historic contribution 
to soundpix with "The Jazz 
Singer" and into radio. 

Jolson's guest-shot fee was 
.$3,000— recently" he got $5,000 
from— Lux for -a--Stephen Foster .... 
program— but what made him do 
it was because he wanted "Erie's 
folks in Arkansas to hear me." 
Kile Chennault Galbraith is the 
new Mrs. Jolson and hails from 
Little Rock. She is related to 
General Chennault. - -. Abel 



tion to veterans of this war, reckoned 
at $750,000. 

A. slight stiffness among the speak- 
ers, making it sound as if they might 
be reading a script, was apparent to 
critical ears, and an opening band 
recording came right off the cob. A 
series of crowd noises, culminating 
in cries of "Taxes, taxes," 'might be 
more effective. The fadeout music, 
a sickly semi-classical ' intermezzo, 
provided a p'ale ending for what had 
otherwise been a concise, clever 
handling of a problem which be- 
comes, more pressing with the ap- 
proach of reconversion. ' Bran. 



"THE DOCTOR FIGHTS" 

With Cary Grant, Lee Cobb, Lurene 
Tuttle. Peter Leeds, Joseph Kearns, 
Cathy Lewis, others; James Well- 
ington, announcer 
I Writer: Milton Geiger 

Music: Leith Stevens 

Producer-Director: Dee Englebach 

30 Mins.; Tues.. 9:30 p.m. 

SCHENLEY LABORATORIES 

WABC-CBS, N. Y. 

(.Biotr) . 

For the second successive summer. 
Schenley labs have skedded the CBS 
"Cresta Blanea" spot as a tribute to 
.the U. $. medical profession from 
the organization's penicillin. division. 
This year, like -last, "The Doctor 
Fights" promises to be a hard-hit- 
ting, well-paced show. It remains to 
be seen whether the program will 
gain or lose in comparison with 1944 
by featuring a different guest star 
instead of establishing narrator-con- 
tinuity as it did a year ago through 
Raymond Massey. . Fact is. though, 
that the teeoff stanza (5) was of very 
high caliber. 

Cary Grant had the principal role 
on the preem. which told the storv 
of Major Livingston Pope Nobell. Jr., 
a 29-year-old physician who could 
have Red to safety when the Japs 
took Balaan. but chose instead to 
stay on. with the litter cases.: Dr. 
Nobell went through the "death 
march." prodded by Japanese bay- 
onels. and wound up at Sanlo Tomas 
. prison camp where he was rescued 
when MaCArthur returned to the 
Philippines. 

Playing two other major charac- 
ters were Lee Cobb as another U. S 
Army doctor, and Lttrene Tuttle as 
an American Army nurse. It was a 
toss-up belween the two men as to 
which did his part better, both of 
them performing very capably. But 
i there was no doubt that the sock 
performance iii the piece was given 
| by Miss Tuttle. 

Dee Englebach as producei-direc- 
I tor deserves a bow for full-bodied 
I production and smooth, at times sen- 
jsilive. direction. And the music of 
■Leith .Stevens- was something verv 
| special. What happens too rarely in 
dramatic radio took place on this 
show. Every bridge was a real span, 
irv both tone and- mood, from' ono ac- 
tiotl or emotion to another Too 
| often, music bridges do nothing but 
| fill, a short span of time: here the 
music was part of an integral whole 
meaningful and mealy. : 
. T,le 'story was documentary, point- 
ing up not only the heroism of the" 
American medical personnel in the 
hands of (he enemy, but the "nature 
ol the enemy ' too. As .such, it be- 
came a positive contribution to the 
fight in the Pacific. At the end of 
he show.. Dr. Nobell himself was in- 
terviewed briefly; his cool. ■ temper- 
ate, voice added to the value of the 
stanza, giving the listener greater 
confidence in the men who must fin- 
ish the job in the field before V-J 
Day is a reality. 

The fact that this show wpnt on 
tor a second summer is further proof 
of the fallacy .in the thinking that 
sets warm wealhel- aside for pop 
music and sheer escapism. "Doctor" 
is excellent all-weather fare Cars 



HARRY JAMES ORCH. 

With Kitty Kallcn. Buddy DeVUo 

Producer: Bill Livingston . 

Writer: Bob Smith 

30 Mins.; Fri.. 10:30 p.m. 

PABST BREWING 

WABC-CBS, N. Y. 

iWcinciei. & Leglery. 

Harry James' orchestra, replacing 
Danny Kaye for the summer (il pro- 
vides background for him during the 
regular series), turned out a neat 
musical job on its first show Friday 
i8>. However, since James is not be- 
ing supplied with any guest talent or 
other ideas, his show necessarily 
m.Ust:JJe_egmpared with an ordinary 
remote" pickup. '.-• ; r ..." 

In his pacing. James made his first 
broadcast, done from Halloran Hos- 
pital. N. Y. I all shows will emanate 
from service hospitals in the N. Y. 
area during James' stay at the Aslor 
hotel, N. Y.), as interesting as pos- 
sible.' Beside the usual pops and 
originals, well played, he came up 
with a new tune written by an Army 
captain titled, "I Walked My Post 
in a Military Manner." It was sung 
by a Wac. Patricia Lindman. who dis- 
played a voice of good quality. An- 
other highlight of the show was an 
arrangement in various tempi of 
"Tea for Two," featuring also saxist 
Willie Smith. . 

While broadcasts from the usual 
makeshift facilities in Army and 
Navy camps and hospitals usually 
provide a poor balance for orchestras 
of any type. James' band came over 
exceptionally well. There was no 
excuse, however, for the occasional 
faults of monitoring, one of which 
hindered Buddy De Vito's "Laura." 
Kitty Kallen did one tune this show, 
a click iob on "I'm Beginning to See 
the Light." 

Commercials, delivered by a sing- 
ing group and spoken, were frequent 
and reminiscent of morning soap 
operas and station break plugs. 

Wood. 



"STARLIGHT SERENADE" 
Willi Nestor Chayres, Bea Wain, Al- 
fredo Antonini orch, Del Stmt butt 
Director: Roger Bower 

"Writer:". Agency Stall " ~ . '— ••• - 1 - 

30 Mins.: Thurs., 9:30 p.m. 
CONTI SHAMPOO 
WOR-Mutual, N. Y. 
iBermmuhain. Cnslleiiinn & Piercel 
Hot "weather replacer for "Treas- 
ure Hour of Song" bowed in over 
Mutual. Thursday night (7) and 
shapes up as a pleasant musical seg- 
ment featuring the robust Spanish 
tcnoring of Nestor Chayres, cur- 
rently featured in Billy Rose's "Con- 
cert Varieties." together with Bea 
Wain and Alfredo Antonini's smooth 
instrumental combo. Latter is hold- 
over from "Treasure Hour." 

Themer has Chayres singing a 
Latin-American heart warmer in ils 
native, tongue with the Espanola 
lyrics carrying over through the 
greater portion of his contribs. Miss 
Wain didn't appear to be in best 
voice on preem. this being especially 
noticeable during the last of her two 
songs, "Time On My Hands." She 
-sounded-better--on-"Anywhoi-e--and 
seems a sure bet to cash in as the 
series progresses with her distinctive 
style a definite asset in this day and 
age when most gal warblers sound 
so much alike. -There's no mistaking 
the Wain voice and phrasing, how ; - 
ever. 

Chayres turned in a neat perform- 
ance from his opening "You Belong 
to My Heart" right on through a 
sock lineup including ballads and a 
paso doble as his finale. Antonini's 
crew likewise cashed in playing 
sambas, a tango and the familiar 
' Dreams Are Getting Better." 

Commercials by Del Sharbutt are 
introed inoffensively and, for the 
most part, stress purity of product 
along with an unmistakable infer- 
ence that Conti shampoo will "make 
you beautiful." "Starlight" seems 
well equipped to hold down itslum- 
mer assignment. Doitn 



I "TAXPAYERS MEETING OF THE 
AIR" •' 

With Charles Hansbury, Charles 
Bickel, Anne McCarthy, George E. 
Stringfellow, guest; Jerry Roberts, 
announcer 
i Writers: Hansbury and Lee Hirsch 
I Director: Hansbury 
{ 15 Mins.; Tues., 8:45 p.m. 
Sustaining 

WAAT-N. J. State Network, Newark 

This lively, politically hep talk 
j session, caught on its 36th airing (5). 
I could serve as a model of radio used 
as a beneficient propaganda outlet. 
The show is put together in a style 
which makes the minutes fly and the 
message — more awareness of where 
taxes go— emerges clearly and with- 
out partisan bias. 

Only giminick is offering of a free 
booklet. "On Guard for You in 1945." 
explaining aims of central organiza- 
tion, New Jersey Taxpayers Assn.. 
Inc.. and urging listeners to join 
j community branches. Program is 
i spread out over state, via outlets in 
j Trenton. Bridgeton, in southern sec- 
tion.' Newark, for metropolitan area 
I and Easton. Pa., to hit the farm belt. 
I General effect resembles an iri- 
- t'mate'ehat. Charles Hansbury, with 
a slight rural twang on some sylla- 
i bles. delivered a spiel from "the 
j State House steps." to the effect that 
Jersey will spend $80,000,000 begin- 
jning July 1, then told how .'bills 
i passed this year . will affeci^exMndi- 
ture. i.e.. transfer of Highway Fund 
! to State Treasury, long a sore po'in; 
| in Jersey: establishment of a State 
■ University at Rutgers, with im-' 
. portant changes of government per- 
! sonnel also noted, 

j There was a quick switch to Bickel 
; and Anne McCarthy, dialoging the 
i association's platform, which seems 
to- -aim in the direction of lower 
' taxes. At this point. Bickel intro- 
i duced. George Ev" Stringfellow, Re- 
j publican "and a y.p. of Edison Indus- 
! tries, who asked a full turnout at 
approaching primaries. Stringfel- 
low's theme was. "citizens get the 
sort of government they, deserve" 
and that improvement in government 
must begin with more intelligence at 
the polls. ' 

For a rapid windup. a question 
period contained answers as to the 
cost of the war to date, on the Fed- 
eral level: Federal payroll, which 
costs each person in the United 
States $33.35 per year, and the pay- 
ment of unemployment compensa- 



"ONCE UPON A TIME" 

With George Waight. George Secord, 

Kay Parkin, Roy Locksley Orch, 

Chorus 
Producer: Esse W. Ljungh 
Writer: Ray Darby 
Music: Roy Lockslev 
Narrator: Jack Scot* 
30 Mins.; Sun., S p.m'. 
Sustaining ■ . 
CKY-CBC, Winnipeg 

"Once Upon a Time." summer CBC 
replacement for "Ozzie and Harriet." 
is one of the smoothest airers to 
come over the Canadian webs since 
the crystal set went out. Displaying 
exceptional cooperation between 
writer, producer and the man with 
the baton, this 13-week series al- 
though designed for the juves. will 
have the adults leaning on it like 
Pod plays with Junior's toy train 
Slick production, on-the-button tim- 
ing, boff scripting and music, blended 
to a. super-silk schedule, make 
Once' probably the "something 
new the industry has been Sher- 
locking for. at least in the way of 
musi-drama. If the rest of the shows 
Fh the list, all written by Darby 
hit the standards this one set (3) 
Canadian dialers are sitting pretty 
for the hot days. 

' '"Once" teed off with an air ver 
smn of Darby's juve best-seller. 

Peter Smith and the Bugs." Done 
in easy verse, story told of a six- 
year-old friend of the insects who 
cot a present of a trip through in- 
sect land. Reduced to bug-size he 
went to a party on an ant hill, heard 
the beetle band give out. caught a 
sky show by dragonfly B-29s. The 
music was cued to plav as important 
a part as any of the characters and 
songs were Dlenty -but refused to in- 
terfere with the general effect. The 
only clean-up to. suggest would be 
substitution of straight lines for the 
verse. Dialers wilt find themselves 
waitinc for the .rhyme rather, than 
the story. Vocals were handled by 
unbilled but okav warblers. Music 
songs, script and story were per- 
fectly balanced. 

Waight Winnipeg banker and vet 
stock and radio man. played the kev 
spot as the spider for all he had 
but not overmuch. Secord, top 'Peg 
air actor, okav as the ancient beetle 
who settled all problems. The Peter 
role got a boff doing by Kay Parkin 
and the narration-in-vei'sc bv Scott 
topped any previous CBC voicing. ' 

Incidentally, sound effects were 
few. most of them worked into the 
original Locksley score more by sug- 
gestion than by actual sounds.' With 
a happv Sun. p.m. spot, and the CBC 
rrans-Canada net to play on. the 

Once" series is due for a pop sum- 
mer run. There's a sizable possibility 
radio can find in il a medium for 
bringing musieomedv .to the air in 
its best form. . Gorm. 



THE STl'ART KKU'lN SHOW 

With Erwin, Peggy Conklin, Pert 
Kelton, Cameron Andrews, Milen* 
Miller, Jay Blackton orch, chorus, 
John Reed King, unnouncer 

Writer: Leonard L. Levinson 

Director: Bill Wllgns 

30 Mins.; Moil., 10:30 p.m. 

BALLANTINE ALE 

WABC-CBS, N. Y. 

U, Waiter Thompson) 
Ballanline unwrapped its new CBS 
show Monday night (11> bringing 
Stuart Erwin back to radio in his 
first permanent spot since' that co- 
star venture with Jack Oakie in the 
"Camel Caravan" back in '37. In a 
bid to hypo interest in the 1(1:30-11 
p.m. slot, the client has ripped out 
the whole stooge-struck format, 
switching over to situation comedy, 
though retaining .(.at least until his 
contract runs out) its ex-headliner," 
Cameron Andrews, who's relegated 
to a supporting role. The Jay Black-, 
ton orchestra also stays put. but 
Otherwise Ballanline is starling from 
scratch, with Peggy Conklin play- 
Ling the femme lead and Pert Kelton 
I also woven into the continuity. 
With a little.' patience on the part 
of Ballantiiie. (and Obviously the 
sponsor must have plenty of it after 
that long-run succession of gag show 
fiascos'! this one may eventually 
wind lip; as a pleasant, listenable 
hall-hour entertainment, Not that 
Monday's initialer. however, pro- 
vided any guarantee. For the open- 
ing program was woefully lacking 
in script material. Few of the laughs 
stemmed from the basic situation 
comedy but were the result of sup- 
plementary gags or extra-curricular 
characters. . 

Apparently what they have in 
niind for this Erwin show is to build 
it into a Fibber McGee & Molly 
formula-,' with the -aim of projecting . 
characters with the warmth and un- 
derstanding that have distinguished 
those Don Qiiinii scripts. All of 
which may take a very long time. 
But it's also gonna requite a much 
better scripting job than the open- 
ing show provided. Basically it's the 
one thing that a comedy show of 
this type requires — good scripting. 
The principals, on their part, appear 
capable of lending it animation. But 
those Were pretty feeble lines Erwin 
was forced to play around wjth on. 
Monday. 

Program's two breaks spotted 
Blackton's orch and chorus, and vo- 
calist Milena Miller, in the first, for 
a rendition of "I'm Gonna Love That 
Guy," with a singing Ballantine com- 
mercial and some Falslafl'ian ver- 
sifying in the second break. Only 
extensive commercial of the "3-Rinn 
'Beverage" was at opener, with John 
Reed King doing the copy treatment 
effectively. Rose. 



"TODAY AND TOMORROW" ,- 
With Kvyctt Holies, James A. Don- 
nelly, John Russell, Maurice F. 
McElligott, William Sullivan 
Producer: Fred Kilian 
30 Mins,; Sat., 4 p.m. 
Sustaining 
WBBM, Chicago 

Aimed : to clarify the listeners' 
minds with respect to the various 
changes that are taking place in the 
social and economic world, and more 
or less to offset conflicting reports 
put out by Governmental agencies, 
this new informative panel series 
could well be copied by other sta- 
tions in various sections of the na- 
tion as a public service feature of 
great value. Naturally this program 
deals with problems as they wilt 
affect the Chicago area. 

Taking part in the opening dis- 
cussion, entitled "My Job" were 
James A. Donnelly, exec vcepee of 
the Illinois Manufacturers' Ass'n; 
Maurice F. McElligott. secretary- 
treasurer Illinois State Industrial 
Union Council of the CIO; John Rus- 
sell. Regional Chief of Information 
of the WMC. and William Sullivan, 
Regional Information Executive of 
the WPB. Everett Holies, acting as 
moderator, threw such questions to 
them as "When Shall I Look for a 
Post- War Job'.'". "Will There Be Suf- 
ficient Jobs'. 1 ", "What Economic Pro- 
j tection Does the Defense Worker 
Have as Reconversion Is Adopted?"; 
| "Does the Veteran .Have Priority 
j Over the Civilian Who Has Replaced 
Him on a. Job?" and many others 
| regarding- job. issues pertinent *ta 
I both the civilian and the returning 
I soldier or sailor. '•■ 

Questions were met honestly by 
the spokesmen oh the panel with 
answers that couldn't help but 
clarify the issues for the listener. 
Holies, as moderator; kept the speak- 
ers in line and did not let them 
wander from the. subject. Succeed- 
ing program will take up the sub- 
jects of "What Can I Buy'.'". "The 
Returning Veteran," the food situa- 
tion, etc. Morg. 

" ATTE NTIO N VETE BANS" 

15 Mins.; Thurs., fi:,;o p.m. 

Sustaining 

WGY, Schenectady 

A new !ind timely public servicer 
of WGY. this one might be presented 
in more attractive form to gain and 
hold the attention of general listen- 
ers. The information offered— much 
■of it sought in questions from vet- 
erans or members of their families- 
is interesting to them, but as broad- 
cast, it may not always have too 
wide an Outside appeal. 

Frank Mellen. representative for 
the Veterans Administration In 
Schenectady, is the regular ' miker. 
(Continued on pa'ge 40) . 



. jlt that time— you will travel to Europe, where, 
XjL for five long years, millions of people lived in 
utter tlarkness, in constant fear, in stifling silence. 
You will hear how, little by little, the silence was 
shattered . . . how tiny beams of courage and hope 
drove then way into the black horror. These tiny 
beams were human voices . . . free voices . . . 
giving precious information to enslaved, freedom- 
loving people by radio. You will hear these voices 
tonight, broadcasting just as they did when it 
meant certain death to be caught! 

You will hear, too, how radio met the challenge 

.of total war here' on the home front — thrilling true 
stories of how it became the Weapon of Decision 
that helped make the world's greatest fighting 
force out of the democracy that Hitler called 
decadent . . . and how it brought us within three 
seconds of our men in the foxholes. 

The philosophy that radio is a free Weapon of 
Decision for the American People has been applied 
here in America for the past three years. And it 
has been approved by you, the people. It has been 
applied by America's youngest network— the Blue 



Network— which was bom during and matured 
by our country's greatest struggle. Out of our 
experience during these tumultuous war years, we 
developed a whole new concept of radio. 

One of the foundations of this new concept was 
"freedom of the air." We picked newsmen and 
commentators with experience and a sense of 
responsibility — and then let them have their say 
on the air. We set a policy of reviewing their 
scripts only for good taste and for competent news 
authority — not for censorship — because we believe 
that no man in this or any other network is wise 
enough to know what the public ought, or ought 
not, hear. Why did we take this unprecedented 
step? Because we trust America. Experience has 
proved that if you, the American people, are 
given all the facts, you will make sound decisions. 

The program on the night of June 15th marks 
a great event in the development of our young 
network. On that day, we change our name from 
the Blue Network to one that we feel more truly 
expresses the reason for our existence. From this 
day forward, your radio will say, 



| 

^ This is the American Broadcasting Company" 



Born during and matured by our nation's 
greatest struggle, America's youngest net- 
work has evolved an 



ON June 15th, the Blue Network 
will become the American Broad- 
casting Company . To live up to this 
name is a big order, but we think 
our short history proves we are up 
to the task. 

During January of 1942, with the 
world at war, a group of experienced 
business and radio executives — men 
who had new ideas about the role 
of radio in a democracy — began to 
operate the Blue Network as an 
independent network. 

During the next three years, whole 
nations were engulfed and enslaved. 
Freedom of speech was denied mil- 
lions. During these three years, 
: radio assumed mounting responsi- 
bilities to 130,000,000 American 
peop1%-and this new network 
learned to take the momentous in 
its stride!*. . ' * 

. V • • • 

- Never «r|/ so many need 
to knmvjo mtich 

Out of its tumultuous existence, 
the Blue Network formulated a new 
concept of public service in radio: f I 
daring new Version of "freedom on 
the air." We picked newsmen and 
commentators with experience and a 
sense of responsibility — and then 
let them express their own opinions. 
We review their scripts only for good 
taste and for competent news au- 



thority — not for censorship; because 
we believe that no man is wise 
enough to know what the public 
should, or should not, hear. We 
trust the American people. Experi- 
ence has proved that, given the 
facts, they will make sound de- 
cisions. 

Entertaining a Nation 

Radio serves a great function by 
bringing relaxation and entertain- 
ment into the homes of our people. 
We, therefore, have an obligation to 
bring to them good entertainment— 
the best possible. 

During the past season, listeners 
to this network have regularly heard 

Ethel Barrymore • Charlotte Green- 
wood • Guy Lombardo • Quiz Kids 
Walter Winchell * Andrews. Sisters . 
Drew Pearson • Arlene Francis 
Alan Young • William Bendix 
Tom Brenetnan's Breakfast in 
Hollywood • John B. Kennedy 
Mary Small ;• Raymond Swing 
Lone Ranger • Counterspy 

Also presented were such outstand- 
ing programs as the Metropolitan 
Opera, America's Town Meeting, 
- the March of Time, and the Boston 
Symphony. The first organized 
broadcast of the famous Herald- 



Tribune Forum , and conferences on 
international security organized by 
Sumner Welles and Orson Welles, 
were' some of the special features. 
. Regular programs were created, by . 
and for labor, management, the 
Army Air Force, and the Navy. 

A Young Network 
Conies of Age 

Growth came fast to this young- 
0 est of America's networks. As a re- 
■ suit, the network that started in 
1942 with 116 stations now has 196 
stations coast to coast . Over 22 ,000,- 
000 homes in America can tune in to 
the programs that originate on this 
network, and if you add together 
the audiences of our various shows 
over a period of a week, the total is 
475 million people. People to whom 
radio listening is a vital part of their 
lives. This is the dimension of our 
opportunity and responsibility. 

A Pledge to Tomorrow 

The challenging years ahead will, 
we feel, bring new significance to our 
ideas which have already served the 
country. So we rededicate ourselves 
and all our facilities to the constant 
alerting of the minds of our people 
. . . to finding and presenting new 
shows and stars of tomorrow. For 
only by giving America all the un- 
biased facts, and by giving them the 
best in the field of entertainment, 
Ifpan we continue to live up to the 
gVeat responsibilities which are those 
of A radio network serving a great 
nation. 



* Tune in your American Broadcasting Company station for a special full hour program. 

Friday, June 15th, 10:00 P.M. EWT. 



Wednesday, June 13, 1945 




1 



These 13 stations {oifi The American 
Broadcasting Company on June 15th 

■ . .13 more stations whose owners and managers feel that they 
can serve their communities better by being on America's 
youngest network. It means more listeners for the American 
Broadcasting Company, it means 196 stations coast-to-coast, 
making programs of this network available to over 22,000,000 
homes, and at a cost per thousand that makes the "American 
the biggest value in radio today. 




"This is ^ American Broadcasting Company 



3U 



Wednesday, June 13, 1943 




*** 









FRE- 




- • ■ - 




FRE- 


STATION 


CITY 


POWER QUENCY 


STATION 


CITY 


POWER 


QUENCY 


WPDQ 


Jacksonville, Florida. 


5,000 


1270 


WHBL 


Sheboygan, Wisconsin (Day) 


1,000 


1330 


WRJN 


Racine,- Wisconsin ......... 


250 


1400 




. (Night) 


250 




WCOP 


Boston, Massachusetts. . . . 


-500 


1150 - 


WCBS 


Miami, Florida. . . 


10,000 


710 


KRNT 


Des Moines, Iowa ......... 


5,000 


1350 


WCAE 


Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 


5,000 


1250 


WFBR 


Baltimore, Maryland . . . 


5,000 


1300 


WNAX 


Yankton, South Dakota. . . 


5,000 


570 


WJBC 


Bloomington, Illinois. ...... 


250 


1230 


WEEU 


Reading, Pennsylvania. 


1,000 


850 


VtHGB 


Harrisburg, Pennsylvania . . 


250 


1400 


WLAW 


Lawrence, Massachusetts. . . 


5,000 


680 



13 MORE STATIONS whose owners and managers feel 
that they can serve their communities better by becoming 
a part of America's youngest network. It means more 
listeners for the American Broadcasting Company; it means 
186 stations coast-to-coast, making programs of this nefc- 
vork available to over 22,000,000 homes, and at a cost per 
thousand that makes "American" the biggest value in 
radio today. 

Eut station and coverage improvement is only one thing. 
Kere are some others— 

1. Created the soundest program department in network 
radio. 

2. Set up a capable, experienced talent-buying depart- 
ment. 

3. Created an on-its-tces network promotion depart- 
ment, entirely new in concept. 

4. Loosened " our schedule, permitting us to put good 
shows into good time spots . . . initiated the building 
of sound sequences. 



5. Put into practice a new policy on Co-operative pro- 
grams—the first time any network has attempted to 
really program for its affiliates. 

6. Formulated a new "Freedom of the Air" news policy 
— no censorship of news commentators. 

7. Instituted a new public service policy, a far-seeing 
principle designed to protect radio's franchise . . .to 
get new listeners. 

8. Started an examination of facilities to improve overall 
network coverage. 

9. Made major station improvements. 

10. Gone into television with a definite plan and a com- 
pletely new department. 

11. Set up a policy, and put it to work, of refusing tran- 
scription business on the network. 

12. Organized promotion on our own M&O stations to do 
a solid job in key markets. 

We think all this is important, because it once again con- 
vinces us that the youngest network is steadily marching 
ahead— that the "American" offers advertisers the No. 1 
opportunity. 




Wedne*d«y, June 13, 1945 



39 



■ Si 



PQ - ... as if new ideas, new stations and a 
» 0« new name were not enough,,. 




0 a 





m 



■ast week, CAB joined in our celebration. At 
L least, that's the way it looks to us. In comes 
the report'for May 5 to May 11 and 19 to 25. And 
here's how it adds up; our own Walter Winchell, 
editor of the Jergens Journal, tops tfiem all. The 
highest-rated program in radio is on the American 
Broadcasting Company. 
Well, there's a great lesson in that. > 
It shows that our facilities can do it, given a 
good show. It points up the fact that the impact 
we have been making on Sunday — day and 
night— is still showing strong progress— progress 
that you will see duplicated night after night as 
we move into the future. And don't forget this: 
Success on "American" can come at lower cost 
than on either of the other two major networks. 
You pocket a sizable sum in time-cost savings 
before you start. That's why Walter Winchell, 
now the most listened-to show in all radio, is only 
one of the shows we have that is a leading radio 
value. 

You can have a successful show on the air without 
paying a premium in time costs. The higher costs 
don't guarantee a rating— or a value! 



40 



TELEVISION-RADIO 



Wednesday, June 13. 1915 



Ready for Bandwagon Hop After V-J 



Wall St. Eyes Tele Equipment Field; ""'IS^i.ta Jerse y Wonders, 'What Goes' 



With- full clearance expected on 
requisite materials for television 
soon after V-J Day, Wall Street al- 
ready is attempting to appraise the 
companies most likely to have choice 
seats on the tele bandwagon. Be- 
cause the terrific advance in the 
value of radio shares that heralded 
the arrival of full-scale radio 

roperations-still is-recalled,. the j:uiV 
rent tendency in the financial dis- 
trict is to pick up shares of almost 
any company with even a slight con- 
nection with the new medium as a 
hedge against future developments. 

Numerous financial statisticians 
look for radio-electronic companies 
that manufacture tele sets and 
equipment to. benefit most in the 
first* three years of the new enter- 
tainment medium. Few believe that 
interests tied up with programming, 
networks, etc., are likely to stand 
much chance of making many profit 
strides in the earlier phases of sight- 
sound broadcasting. 

General Electric, Westinghouse, 
General Precision Equipment, Allen 
DuMont and a couple of others look 
likely to be in the van of leading set 
and equipment companies in a posi- 
tion to participate in any advance of 
television share's. Radio Corp. of 

-America,-- while-certain to have a 



big stake in this part of television, is 
handicapped by having a great num- 
ber of shares outstanding. 

General Precision holds a substan- 
tial interest in Scophony Corp. of 
America, which has had successful 
tests of actual theatre television in 
England. Scophony itself may have 
, its own telecasting stations and do 
g me of its own manufacturing. Should 
this programHb"e~cafrie~d"out, it's-tin-- 
derstood that Scophony would enlist 
financial houses in underwriting 
such expansion. In this case, 
Scophony also likely would have 
shares in the hands of 'the public. 

Of companies likely - to benefit 
after television gets going three or 
four years from how, Columbia 
Broadcasting System, several film 
companies such as Warners, Para- 
mount and 20th-Fpx and American 
Telephone & Telegraph Co. appear 
in a strong position to cash in. Last- 
named would benefit if its co-axial 
cable was used to a great extent as 
its' phone lines now are used on net 
work radio shows. 



WRGB, GE Tele Outlet 

Mutual last week closed a deal 
with General Electric's video out- 
let, WP.GB, whereby the web will 
televise a program over the Schenec- 
tady station oi ice- weekly,; beginning 
about Aug. 1. 

MBS will Use its quizzer, "The. 
Better Half." as initial format. WOR, 
N.Y. flagship of the • network, long 
has had a regular weekly show on 
DuMonl's N. Y. station. 

Marks the second network to use 
tli5r-GE-lelevision-facilitie.s,-x)ther be- 
ing the Blue web which also has an 
audience-participation program on 
the station, "Ladies. Be Seated." 



When Cops Say, "No Tele in Window' 



San Antonio. — Jeanne Searle, for 
the past several years merchandising 
manager at WOAI, has resigned 
Rose May Walker, now with KMAC 
I is expected .to take oyer. 



THE 

CABOOSE 
IS IN 
SIGHT! 



ad® 




•s, the "Gravy 
Train" is beginning to 
go by (the Caboose is in 
Sight!) and it behooves 
every time-buyer to 
review the profit-pro- 
ducing value of the 
Stations he uses. 

We will welcome such 
a review! 



AMERICA'S 
3rd MARKET 

5000 WATT 
MUTUAL AFFILIATE 

610 K. C. . ■ 

Represented Nationally by GIO. P. HOUINGBERY CO. 




Radio Reviews 

i Continued from page 34 ; 



A guest is also .presented. Mellon 
is. not too good a script reader: he 
should- try to achieve more smooth- 
ness, naturalness and emphasis. On 
a salvo heard, Lieut. Col. Ray Sny- 
der, recently retired from the Army 
and now a counselling adviser for 
the Veterans Administration in 
Schenectady, was a guest. He did 
not prove to be a topflight talker, 
either, although his material had 
value. Even Burrell -Smith, WGY 
announcer - writer - producer, who 
asked Mellon questions, was appar 
cntly a bit below form. 
- Ar note-- Of- greater- informality:, 
real or simulated — and freer ex- 
change of ideas would be helpful 
Use of veterans in the role of par- 
ticipants or interrogators might also 
give the program a more convincing 
touch — assuming they could be avail- 
able. Inasmuch as the broadcast is 
primarily for vets, civilian represen- 
tation should not be too heavy. 
Might even be wise to have a wife 
or mother of a serviceman broadcast 
occasionally. Queries propounded 
cover a wide range. Indications are 
that not only the matter of further 
education but also of loans for vet 
erans may be pressing. 

Noticeable, for instance, was an 
nterrogation from a 38-year-old 
WA.C at Rome Air Base. She wanted 
to know about her eligibility for the 
GI Bill of Rights and retention of 
-vil service status. 

'•Attention Veterans" features the 
offer of a valuable 64-piige booklet 
on veterans' rights, published by 
The Army Times, of Washington. 

Jaco. 



Radio Followup 



tonnee Boswell guested with the 
Chrysler show and Morton Gould's 
orchestra last week (7 ) and in three 
songs proved herself head and 
shoulders above the majority of 
femme singers available today and 
the equal of any. She burnishes 
even .the most-faded pop songs with 
individual phrasing and expression 
thats as modern as the excellent ac- 
companiment she drew from Morton 
Goulds big band. Miss Boswell did 
a job tins show on "I'm Beginning to 
See the Light" that no performance 
of the rhythm number so far heard 
could come close to equalling. She 
was excellent, too. oji "Little On the 
Lonely Side'' and "Dream," both 
ballad?. ■ • 



Jean Hersholt temporarily bowed 
out of "Dr. Christian" on CBS (6) 
to make a plane flight to his native 
Denmark for an . inspection of the 
war s effects on it. Claude Rains 
taking over in a new character, that 
?. f D „ r ' Alexander Webb. Rains did 
the first broadcast of the latter role 
with Hersholt last week. Hersholt 
who ■ is president of the Danish- 
American Relief Society, started the 
first leg of ther journey to Denmark, 
June i i. He announced on the air 
that he would next be heard report- 
ing from Copenhagen. Announce- 
ment of the winner in the $2,000 na- 
tional "Dr. Christian" play-writing 
c°«*fst will be delayed until Her- 
sholt returns. . 

Madeleine Carroll, former film 
£ n,nv jWcrviewing Wacs and 
Ked Cross workers from France on 
American Eagle in Britain" fed by 
BBC to Mutual Saturdays. Her stint 
(9) was a touching yet stimulating 
one: she tallied with Wacs who had 
^adopted ' French orphan children. 
The attitude of Miss Carroll and- of 
the girls (a representative cross sec- 
tion of the United States) as they 
chatted about their charges was 
flawless. A quiet, almost casual re- 
mark by a Wac that her child neither 
talked nor smiled was pregnant with 
si|mtlcatice:-;..this is a byproduct of 

Lieut. Vic' Knight, former radio 
producer, in signing off Miss Carroll, 
said that her work had endeared her 
to the Wacs and Red Cross person- 
nel; that her "millions-ofcifans" could 
be proud of her. As a matter of fact, 
every listener could be proud, too, 
of the Wacs, who displayed the 
friendliness, neighborliness, tender- 
ness, and desire to help the less for- 
tunate that is typical of Americans. 



CBS Tele Gets Ready 
For Sponsored Shows 
Moskovics Joins Staff 

With the creation of two new de- 
partments. CBS television is all set 
to go after possible video" bahkrollers 
in. a big way. New departments are: 
commercial television operations, 
headed by George Moskovics; and 
dramatics, headed by Johannes 
Reich. 

Veepee Joseph H. Ream, who an- 
nounced the Moskovics shift, also 
spoke of setting up a CBS Television 
Audience. Research Institute which, 
obviously, would, be another aide in 
the direction of the flow of sponsors' 
money into the web's video work.,.. 

That all this activity is cued to the 
arrival of Col. Lawrence W. Low- 
man, CBS v.p. iii charge of tele- 
vision,, who returns from the Army 
to his job on July 1. was made clear 
by Ream's announcement. 

Even the physical set-up of WCBW, 
the nej.'s N, Y. yidco_ outlet, is being 
enlarged in preparation for expan- 
sion. Additional space was taken 
last week in • the Grand Central 
Terminal building", where (he sta- 
tion is now located, giving the op- 
eration a total floor space of 25,000 

sq. ft. • ■ • 

Moskovics was with the net for 
nine years, having had experiences 
in various branches, including sales, 
engineering, and advertising. Reich 
formerly executive producer for Max 
Reinhardt, was a professor of drama- 
tics at Cornell U. before coming to 
CBS. Moskovics' former job, assist- 
ant sales manager for CBS Radio 
Sales in N. Y. is being taken over 
by Herbert A. Carlborg. 

Ream also tied in the Moskovics 
appointment with CBS television's 
continuing research and "expanding 
development of high definition tele- 
vision in full color," mentioning the 
latter as another of the web's new 
steps in video. It has been known 
in the trade for several weeks that 
CBS plans to hypo its color work 
about August 1. Video competitors 
have been worried about the pos- 
sibility that CBS may steal a march 
on them by emphasizing color tele- 
vision. 



Joseph Woroble, . owner of u re- 
tail radio store in Belleville, N. J,, 
appealed to NBC recently for an 
answer to. a problem he faces these 
nights: crowds gathering in front of 
his establishment to watch television 
shows on a receiver. 

Pointing out that his establishment 
is located on the same block as a 
film theatre, he says, "We have been 
showing television evenings since 
1939, "but have~ had - no Uoublti until 
recently when we began having fric- 
tion with the manager of the house." 

People, according to Woroble, 
look into the window from the street 
to see the shows, "but the chief of 
police in Kearney, N. J„ claims we 
are not allowed to show television 
where there are more than two 
people outside the store." 

He's wondering just how retailers 
will show video sets after the war, 
when they'll demonstrate In the 
store and have it in the window on 
display. He wants to know if there's 
a law against showing television in 
retail stores. ' 



Fran Harris To 
R&R for Video 

Chicago, June 12, 
In line with plans to exoand their 
television activities, Fran Harris, for 
three years a staff member of tile 
Balaban & Katz television station 
WBKB, joins Ruthrauff & Ryan 
here on June 15 to head the agency's 
video division under radio director 
Ros Metzger. Agency pioneered the 
first commercial telecast here about 
a year-and-a-half ago when they 
brought Don McNeill and the 
"Breakfast Club" before the WBKB 
cameras for Marshall Field & Co. 

As a member of WBKBt Miss 
Harris was writer, director and gen- 
eral technician. First chores with 
R&R will be to whip up several 
video show ideas for submission to 
the agency's clients. 



Television Review 



"ACTORS IN THE MAKING" 
With Lucile Wat son. .Herbert Keyee, 
Joset Draper, Julia Poliakov. 
Frances Woodbury, Lex Lindsley, 
Robert Allen, Ruth Barlow, Paul 
Keyes. Joan Llkelln, Marion Pog- 
nock, Jane Thomas, Lynn Carney, 

nffV ? rew ' Jane Dufrayne, 
David Andrews, Lee Porter 
Writers: Richard E. Davis, Owen 
Davis 

Producer: Ernest Collin* 
Technical Director: Al Protzman 
Scenery: Robert Wade 
64 Mins.; Sun., H p.m. 
Sustaining 
WNBT-NBC, N. Y. 

Richard McDonagh. NBC's script 
department chief, can recognize a 
solid idea. When gome students of 
the American Academy of Dramatic 
Arts recently suggested a method 
i°* Putting their idea on video, 
McDonagh saw the thing had sense. 
The result was an extremely good 
hour of television over WNBT last 
Sunday (10). - 

_ Opening the show, which Mc- 
Donagh had Richard E. Davis script 
was a scene at the Academy, show- 
ing some of the students being put 
through then- paces, at; times pain- 
fully, by their instructors. This 
business then segued into an ex- 
ample of what some of these novices 
had learned. They put on the sec- 
ond act of Owen Davis' "Icebound " 
and did an acceptable job. 

Ruth Barlow as Jane, and Paul 
Keyes as Ben in the famous Owen 
pavis piece, were particularly fe- 
llci 1 t ,°»s- They handled themselves 
well before the camera, used their 
voices with enough clarity and re- 
straint, and on the whole behaved 
like actors rather than students, 
home of the others in the cast were 
obviously fledglings. But as an en- 
semble, they worked well together. 

The play was given good produc- 
tion, and the one set in the "Ice- 
bound act was all that the stage 
demanded. Once again, NBC video 
has done a worthwhile show and 
in addition, has opened up a new 
field for dramatic students. Cars. 




These chicks, with their sis- 
ters and cousins, brought 
$23,295,000 to Utah chicken 
and turkay growers last year. 
That's nearly $2,000,000 a 
month, which helps to "feather 
the nests" of quite a number of. 
KDYL listeners in this steady-: 
income market. 

Local Advertisers Know 

KDYL Brings Results 

When it comes to "hatching" 
sales, local and national ad- 
vertisers have 
learned t hat 
KDYL show- 
manship gets 
results. It's the 
station most 
Utah people 
listen to most. 




National Representative: 

John Blair & Co. 



Wednesday, June 13, 1945 



f^&RIETY 



RADIO 



41 



Giveaway Gimmick On Churcher 
Basis for 10,000,000 Aud Claim 



Chicago, June 12. ♦ 
While giveaways are something 
new when worked in connectidn 
with a religious radio program, they 
are proving that "Victorious Living," 
a six-times weekly, flve-minute dra- 
matic show, heard on transcriptions: 
over many stations, has a substantial 
listening audience. Tests made the 
first full week, of this month, when a 
reproduction t>f Warner Sallman's 
"Head of Christ" was .offered' to dial- 
cis' of "tr~e"series, -indicate -(using a 
yardstick measuring basis furnished 
by one of the national networks) 
tliat the discs have a listening audi- 
ence of around 10,000,000. 

Series was awarded one of the 
three citations given in the field of 
religious broadcasts at the Institute 
of Education by Radio, held at Co- 
lumbus, O., last month, where it was 
commended by the contest judges 
.Rnd_radip_experts "for the effective 
use of sinipfc, authentic stones by 
which to convey religious principles 
and for the format which makes for 
wide usability." 

Considered unique in the field of 
religious, education the live-minute 
shows use stories based on current 
everyday happenings of strong re- 
ligious appeal and' message is put 
across on the capsule broadcasts 
without benefit of preaching. Series, 
- jrofripfrf .fay the. Internati onal Cpqhr 
oil of Religious Education, is spon- 
sored by local ministerial associa- 
tions and community organizations. 
Originally started on 25 stations last 
January 2 the broadcasts now are 
heard over 88 stations in 28 states. 



from WTAG'S 

HIGH HOOPERS 

7-7:30 P.M., SUNDAY , • 

(32 City Avtrag. National) ' | 

CBS—KATE SMITH — 7.2 

(City Zone Average Worcesterl 

WTAG — KATE SMITH — 25.3 



YMCA Says POW Policy 
Helped U. S. Captives 

• In answer to radio charges of 
coddling Nazi POW's in this country, 
the International YMCA insists that 
decent treatment of the Germans 
here has made it possible for the or- 
ganization " to - give : American pris- 
oners in Germany during the war 
from 20 to SO times as much service 
as the Germans got on this side. 

That, in substance, is the answer 
•which the YMCA's ' War Prisoners 
Aid Committee wilt give tonight 
(13) in a 15-muiute rebuttal pro- 
gram over the N. Y. indie, WO\i 

Answer time for the YMCA was 
granted by WOV after the commit- 
tee had . objected fo~ accusations 
voiced in a "Memorandum' to Amer- 
ica" program put on May 23 by the 
station's program manager, Arnold 
Hartley. 

The YMCA was burned up by that 
program, insisting that its 'position 
was presented unfairly. In its an- 
swer, the YMCA will point out. that 
it operates under Geneva Conven- 
tion rules, and that the only reason 
the German -oiiUtarisls—WouId allow 
access to Americans in Germany is 
because 'the. -Nazi heads knew about 
decent treatment given POW's in 

the-u. :.s. a. .';7'; 

On the YMCA's program* tonight 
(Wed.) at 10 o'clock, an executive 
of the War Prisoners Aid Commit- 
tee and two servicemen — Sgt. James 
Washer and Lt. Frank Leonard- 
are skedded to present the YMCA 
version of how prisoners of war 
Were handled. 



Philly Amity 

Philadelphia, June 12. 

Philly radio and press have • 
launched a novel stunt to help 
cement better relations with 
Negro community. 

Stunt is a series of cocktail 
parties with members of Negro 
press fraternity to discuss mu- 
tual race problems and methods 
of getting better understanding. 

Sparkplug behind the stunt is 
Katharine Clark,. WCAU news 
..commentator, who recently was 
awarded a medal from Negro 
press for her understanding and 
handling of the bitter transit 
Strike last summer which 
stemmed from anti-Negro bias 
among certain members of the 
trolley operators union:- - \- .-- - 

Others on the committee are 
Charles Fisher, Record column- 
ist; Orrin Evans, Record Negro 
newsman; Howard Cushman, 
Bulletin, and George Beck, 
Philly Inquirer. 



W Tf 




W O R C 


ESTER 



Gertrude Hoffman Heads 
Blue 'Script O.K.' Dept. 

Gertrude Hoffman has been named 
to head up the Blue's continuity ac- 
ceptance dept. She succeeds Doro- 
thy Kemble. who lias joined her ex- 
boss, Ed Kobalc, at Mutual. 

Miss Hoffman joined the Blue two 
years ago as assst. on continuity ac- 
ceptance and last October was put 
in charge of continuity clearance. 
She was formerly with. CBS in Chi- 
cago and on the Coast, .';■'. "'. .- 



'- 



FOR AiLSfiUES 1 




Philly Powerhouses To 
Aid Returned Vets Via 
Govt. Co-op Programs 

Philadelphia, June 12. 

Philly's two 50,000 watters— KYW' 
and WCAU— have teamed up to help 
get jobs for returning vets. 

KYW has : tied up with Philly's 
new vet centre, known officially as 
PVIAC ■. (Philadelphia Veterans In- 
formation and Advisor y _. Centre J 
which is made up of all Government 
and social agencies which deal with 
vets' problems. ; 

Plan is to have returning vets, dis- 
abled or not, appear oh the air with 
their individual problems. Official 
of the agency which can help him 
will be on the show to tell him what 
to do and how. G. I. Bill of Rights 
will also be explained. 

KYW show will be handled by 
Ruth. Welles, staff femme commen- 
tator, and will be under supervision 
of Emma Mae Roberts, head of radio 
division, of United War Chest. - of 
which PVIAC is an agency. 

WCAU show, handled by Norris 
West, station liaison man with Gov- 
ernment, will be aired eacli Thurs- 
day and will stress rehabilitation ot 
disabled men. Will also feature re- 
turnees and Government agency 
reps. 



Time Buyers Vanishing Race, Sez Chi, 
Clerks Doing a Masquerade Routine 



Chicago, June 12. 

Time buyers, in the true sense of 
the word, is a misnomer as applied 
today, if the opinions of scores of 
radio execs who visit ,here during 
the year can be. believed, and the 
situation becomes more and more 
garbled and confused every day. in 
their estimation. The so called time 
buyers today is only a time clerk, in 
nine cases out of 10 a woman, and! 
with the exception "of a handful '.""of." 
women in key spots throughout the | 
country, have little or no authority 
to okay any time. 

Result is that when choice spots 
are offered the time clerk has. to 
submit it to the account executive 
who in turn submits it to the client 
and by the time he makes up his 
mind all good time has usually been 
sold. Ironic part of deals like these, 
is that in many eases^. the_radio di- 
rector of the agency, who is sup- 
posed to know all about radio, "isn't 
even consulted on the matter, while 
the account executive, who submits 
the proposition to the client is a 
black and white specialist, in the 
majority of cases, and knows the 
least about radio of all those in- 
volved. With a view ot remedying 
the situation, a couple of agencies 
have been given "on the spot .au- 
thority.!.' to b.uy any ti me follo wing 



or preceeding any show with a rat- 
ing of 5.0 or over. 

Problem of wining and dining 
these time clerks, with exceptions of 
course, has reached the point, they 
say, where station reps are vieing 
with each other with methods that 
smack of those used in the old days 
by song 



SPOTS 1898 WRECK 



WCOP's Ed Snow Locates 'Portland* 
Hulk Off Cape Cod ■ — .'-.-- 



Boston, June 12. 

Edgar Rowe Snow, spinner of New 
England sea tales over WCOP, is 
responsible for- locating the hulk 
of the "Portland." now the subject 
of diving operations off Province- 
town, Cape Cod. The sidewhecler 
was sunk in a blizzard in 1898. 

WCOPer • flew over a 25-mile 
square area off Race Point, and, from 
photographs, located the underwater 
shape of the "Portland." Divers are. 
seeking the ship's, log with the list 
of the 17C persons aboard, and $18,- 
000 worth of uncut gems carried in 
the ship's safe. 

The Portland Associates, organiza- 
tion of relatives of those who per- 
ished, are sponsoring the diving 
operations, which have already 
yielded the ship's, bell, champagne 
bottles, silverware, etc. 



SELLEVISION 

f AST* FRCSCNT* FUTURE 



CHELSEA WOULD ADD 
ANOTHER AIR STANZA 

Despite the cigar et situation 
which recently found Camel's drop- 
ping the Jimmy Durante-Garry 
Moore show and Chesterfield passing 
up its three-times weekly CBS 15- 
minute program, the manufacturers 
of Chelsea cig,s,are in the market for 
an additional half-hour sri"o!v." '' '" 

Sponsor currently is represented 
by the Guy Lombardo program on 
the Blue and has asked the Warwick 
& Legler agency to look over the 
programming prospects with ail eye 
toward a second stanza. 




Mo tiro* '* 
.„WGAK«o» 
„,„',.« to"*"'"* 
,„,, .11 dtnomlno*"" 

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M « th. houre 

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.hel*. »•«■«••■ ■. 

on d.«.^ «»*•'*•• 
ott , n ,pK»h«<"»»» 

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»»!«'» ' «_ ■• - 



Virgil Reiter Co. Folds, 
He'll Work for WCAU 

. Chicago, June 12. 

Virgil Reiter Co., for the past 13 
years exejusive representatives here 
of WCAU, . Philadelphia, has been 
dissolved with Reiter taking over 
management of the newly established 
WCAU Chicago sales office: Move 
is another development in the trend 
of 50,000-watters breaking away from 
station reps and setting up their own 
sales offices in key cities; . 

Reiter entered radio in 1929. com- 
ing from the Buick Motor Co... where 
he was publicity director. 

Kadie Harris' Pix-Radio 
Chatter West for 2 Mos. 

Radie Harris heads to the Coast 
this weekend for two months and 
will originate her film chatter and ' 
interviews from the Beverly Hills 
hotel at 7:110 PCX. hitting 10:80 in 
the cast, every Wednesday. This is a 
switch from her usual Hotel Pierre 
iCotillion Roomi; N. Y.. origination 
on Saturdays at noon. 

The Coast - hiatus, may produce a 
«ponsor to rtafe .. present :stistainer, 
since the Blue network lias se\ era! • 
Hollywood nibbles. . 

While west Miss-Hands wijl trans- 
plant her N. Y. Runaround column 
into a Hollywood Runaround for 
"Daily Variety," 



IN ONE PACKAGE... 

No fortune teller ol the crystal boll variety it KSTPete. 
With Sellevision— the eye fo the ear* of tomorrow— he 
doesn't have to be. He can confidently predict a greater 
future in the Twin Cities Market for KSTP advertisers. 
Since present-day results are the cumulative effect of 
KSTP's continuous audience. promotion efforts in the past, 
they are proof enough of the soundness of this prediction. 
Sellevision is no empty "inspiration." It is a tested 

station betterment policy based on long-range thinking 
ond far-sighted planning. Proved in four years of actual 
practice, KSTP's station betterment policy still is being 
carried out with unabated effort today and will continue 
to go on in improved form tomorrow. That is Sellevision—- : 
post . . . present.. . future, in one package — your best radio 
buy in the Twin Cities Market today and tomorrow I 



50,000 WATTS — CLEAR CHANNEL 
NORTHWEST'S LEADING RADIO STATION 
EXfJJDSWE NBC AFFIllATE_FOH_IHE IWINJITIES 

KaprmttnltJ Nationally by fdword Ptlry t C*. 




42 



Wednesday, June 13, 1915 



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43 



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To put it in a message as appealingly succinct as this year's bathing 
outfits, you see spread before you an unadorned schedule of WOR's 
programs for next week... and, with the trifling exception of a very 
few, for all Summer long. 

As in past Summers, these WOR programs, benefiting by their 
"continuous performance", will deliver an even larger share of 
listeners in the 4,600,000 radio homes that constitute one of the 
richest all-season markets of the entire Eastern seaboard. 

If we were an advertiser with a product or service to sell. . . for 
Summer or Winter use . . . we would get our reservations in 
immediately for some of the good old Summer time that's still 
available. Our Executive Sales Office will be glad to help you select 
the program that will turn on the most selling heat per penny 
investment. Call PE 6-8600, or write ... . 

1440 Broadway, New York, 18 

WHERE SHOWMANSHIP SELLS ... ALL YEAR ROUND 



Member of the Mutual 
Broadcasting System 



44 



RADIO 



PftRIETY 



Wednesday, Jiidc 13, 1915 



Radio Must Hatch Own Talent 



Continued from paBf 1 



soncd Bonnys and Aliens and. C'ros- ! promising musical talent to Juil- j 
bvs but I've been too long in show ' liard's— for the same' reason.: Then J 
business to blind- mvself to the i why doesn't radio constantly, develop. • 
'fallaciousness of so potent a mass new singers, comics, script shows, 
entertainment medium as radio to 1 anything and everything? That s how 
discourage qonstantl'.' revitalizinz it/'.'; an 'Aldrich Fan'iily' or, a 'Mr. District 
'"I say that radio, with air its', Attorney or a comedy script format, 
wealth, should do what Duponl does 
when it experiments Vitli plastics, 
nylons, cellophane . . . and all by- 
products. Standard Oil probably 



spent millions before anything like 
ethyl- gasoline came out. Big" busi- 
ness, maintains research laboratories 
at staggering expense. If you -don't 
believe it listen to almost any radio 
commercial. Yet the very business 
which projects that credo— broad- 



Re verse Eye-to-Eye 

. That "Variety's" recent editor- 
ial, cm "Bad Radio Showman- 
~ J ~Sli1)5 u - hay '■•at"; least" cued some 
healthy thinking among top 
comedians as to it's come-uppance 
or lack' of maturity in develop- 
■ ing of iiew talent is reflected in 
the comments of two, of the stel- 
lar boys.v as detailed in this",: 
issue! .v •' 
Though unanimous in their 
• Opinion that radio is ignoring 
"tomorrow's talent." here's what 
Eddie Cantor and Fred Allen 
"~~"thiiTlr"about' thc~medivim in gen- - 
. eral: 

"Radio is still in its 
and it is a problem 



| which made Don Quinn put over 
Fibber MrGce & Molly, a 'Can You, 
I Top This'.'' .and the like are born. 
I Instead, even , these new things are 
i almost happensfances of fortunate 
: accidcnt,„ born of. their own struggles. 

Dare to Do Different, 

"I'll talk about myself to prove a 
minor point about something new 
for which I had to battle. That was 
the now accepted serious note in 
comedy. I fought for years with J._ 
Walter Thompson agency to get their. 
OK. and as we all now Know within 
our business— the show -business-.-a 
serious note from a comedian today 
isn't as screwball as the sponsors or 
agencies, or broadcasters at first 
thought. Today every name comic 
has a serious note, whether it's for 
bonds or blood or conservation or 
i'foTerance " or what. Perhaps the 
punch is heightened because of its 
very, contrast. 



MUTUAL CHIEFS SKED 
HUDDLE AT WOL, WASH. 

Washington. June 12. 

Mutual execs huddle here Thurs- 
day U4> as guests of WOL. the 
web's DC. outlet. Mutual officials 
scheduled to show are: Robert D. 
Swe/.ey. v. p. and g.m.: Phillips 
Carlin, v,p. in charge -of program 
operations; John Whilmore. director 
of news broadcasts: Tom Slater, 
director of special events: Harold 
Wagner, asst. program director; 
Charter Hcslep, Mutual D. C. rep; 
and Bill Hillman, Washington news 
head of the net. 

WOL -is -also using the occasion to 
fete some of its new personnel at a 
cocktail party, including; Arthur 
Casey, assistant to Merle Jones: 
Florence Warner. WOL educational 
director; David Harris, program 
chief; Jack Page, publicity chief. 

Station announces that Charles 
Warren has been added to the an- 
nouncing staff. He was formerly 
■ with WBEN. Buffalo: WTAM, Cleve- 
land; and WBNY, Buffalo. 



Alien. 
infancy 
child." 

Canto 
now and can 
tiirc." 



Radio has grown up 
afford to adven- 



casting — does nothing about nurtur- 
ing new talent. 

"What would it cost to subsidize 
tome new writers for 13 or 26 weeks. 
. -They're, bound _to come jjp _with at 
least one good idea which will pay 
. off everything. 

"Why do patrons of the arts send 



WANTED 

Announcers, control room and 
transmitter operators for Rich- 
mond, Virginia, station. Writ* com- 
pletely of your experience. An- 
nouncers please send audition plat- 
ters. . 

TOM TINSLEY 

7 East Lexington Street 
Baltimore, Md. 



"Radio must dare to do different. 
I saw 'Bloomer Girl' the other night 
and I couldn't help think that unless 
somebody dared to try Celeste Holm 
a,s^a comedienne shejJ-sUIl _b€_. doing 
dramatic roles as when I first saw 
her with Eddie Dowling: or take 
Dowling — he was a song-and-dance j 
man fundamentally. 

"If radio hears of a 'Take It or 
Leave It.' a novel comedy formal, a 
new dramatic series, let the net- 
works' program departments do their 
stuff. 

"I'm tired of the comedy stooge 
making fun of his boss. That goes 
for the Mad Russian with me.. 
I Rochester with Benny. Charlie Can- 
lor and Minerva Pious with Allen, 
1 Ed Gardner and points east. Maybe 
j the new writing blood — and that is 
truly the life-blood of radio of the 
future — if encouraged to let itself go 
I would change that format eomplete- 
| ly.. Who knows? We all hope so. 
I and I'm. willing to bet much good 
would come of it. 
' "But no. as you say in . 'Variety.' 
| eomesthe end of the season and the 
sponsors and the agencies look 
I around and decide to pay. S15.000 or 
I $20,000 for an assured 18-point show, 
j Who knows but something that will 
! cost only $4,500. if it has" a new idea, 
i will hit 20 or 25 points'.' It's been 
j clone. For want of enough new 
■things to prove my theory I must 
; recourse to 'Mr. D.A.' and. 'Henry 
j Aldrich.' But you get the idea. 
: Radio .has grpwn up now and can 
j afford to adventure." 



What—No Bobby Soxers 
Jn Staid Old Boston? 

Boston. June 12. 
' Frank Sinatra takes a. back scat 
to Bing Crosby, Perry Como anil 
Dick Haymes. in opinions expressed 
by 50 'teen-age girls attending a 
party given by WNAC-Yankee net 
at— Hotel -Puritanr to determine -the. 
radio likes and dislikes of the Junior 
Misses. 

The group was chosen from 16 
Greater Boston high schools for the 
psychological experiment ,to obtain 
data for a new program station is 
planning for Margaret Ford. "Good 
Sport" editor' of Boston Herald. 
More of these groups will be enter- 
tained later for further ideas- 

They were almost unanimous in 
voting Lowell Thomas as the com- 
mentator they listen to most. 



cherchez la writer — fred alien 

editor, "variety": 

"variety's" recent editorial on "bad radio showmanship" again high- 
lights radio's perennial question "from where are radio's stars of to- 
morrow coming?" 

in my feeble estimation radio is eternally in a state of flux, the net- 
Work is interested only in selling its time, the advertising agency is 
concerned only w ith keeping the client happy, the client, or .sponsor, 
is worried only about selling the product, this leaves the actor to his 
own devices. "- - 

most of the radio comedians have to hire writers, select material that 
is suitable for their purposes and surround themselves with talent that 
will make a good show, each comedian is his own producer, without 
experience gained through years of vaudeville or stage work a come- 
dian can hardly expect to know how best to present himself. or to build 
a program that will show off his talents lo their best advantage. 

a comedian w'hcThas. had only radio know-s only the reactions of 
transient mobs. 'Who float from program to program posing as audi- 
ences, and tends to gear his antics and material down to the mental 
level of this moronic element forgetting the millions of intelligent lis- 
teners in homes, having had no contact with theatre audiences. in 
various parts of the country he has no knowledge of the type of matter 
that might appeal to a nationwide group. 

there is no substitute for experience and in radio's present phase 
comedians who have laid eggs in waterbury and stolen bows in boze- 
mah, montana. are best equipped to survive, the agencies and sponsors 
are justified in employing them, when you are ill you certainly won't 
call in a doctor who still has the price tag dangling on, his stethoscope, 
you look around for a man who has fended oft germ and virus for 
years, big business has to get results, a sponsor isn't interested in ... 
paying for radio time over a period of months until a program becomes 
popular, the sponsor is in business but his business isn't show business. 

i think that radio must look to the writer for its future attractions, 
most radio favorites are only mouths spawning the brain-roe of tired 
little men who create for the medium, today there are many success- 
ful shows in radio employing unknown actors, writers enable these 
programs to -attract listeners and make characters popular, radio con- 
sumes material at a rate unknown in any other medium of entertain- 
ment, writers provide the material, a star cannot make a writer 
- popular- but-many an unknown writer has made a radio. star. . jn^j&jrj. 
opinion radio of tomorrow must look to the writer. 

radio is still in its infancy and it is a problem child, 

fred alien. 



Utilities Co. to Sponsor 
Louisville Philharmonic 

,.-■'■ Louisville. June 12. 

Louisville Philharmonic Orchestra 
has changed sponsors, a new series 
of Friday night half-hour broadcasts 
being contracted for by the Louis- 
ville Gas & Electric Co. Airings 
are to begin October 19 over WAVE, 
and contract calls for 26 weeks. Orch 
was sponsored last season by a lo- 
cal department store for a similar 
period, the orch making 29 local 
broadcasts and two network airings, 
coast to coast over NBC. 
. ,_' Orch air appearances are expected 
to increase attendance at. the Mem- 
orial And concerts next fall and 
winter, according to Harper Fow- 
fley, manager. Winter season will 
| open Oct. 9 with Gladys Swarth- 
out, Met soprano, as guest artist. 



is Biz 



MASSEY, BRUCE HIATUS 
ENTRY FOR ANDREWS 

Hollywood, June 12. 

Summer replacement for the 
Andrew Sisters, costarring Curt 
Masse.v and Carol Bruce with Harry 
Sosnik's orchestra, will originate in 
New York for the eight-week hiatus 
spell beginning July 1. 

Andrews trio, with possibility 
George "Gabby" Hayes, are taking 
an overseas route with USO. 

Massey's cowboy series on Mutual, 
incidentally, does a bowout late this 
month. 



Continued from,. page 31 

trie, which- sponsors the Phil Spi- 
falny "Hour of Charm" NBC Sunday 
night show, the Art Linkletter CBS 
afternoon show and the cross-the- 
board "World "Today? CBS news 
show, is current reconsidering its 
entire radio programming aimed at 
hypoing. the setup and is currently 
talking with Young & Rubicam and 
BBD&O concerning a new show to 
bolster its air position. Westing- 
house is similarly strengthening its 
position, moving Ted Malohe into a 
daytime spot on the Blue but on an 
expanded. cross-the-board basis. 
Allis-Chalmers isn't risking the -loss 
of its Saturday night hour on the 
Blue, .with its sponsorship, of the 
Boston Symphony. 

Bendix, which sought unsuccess- 
fully to gel a War Dept. clearance 
for sponsorship of the Blue's "The 
Fighting AAF," after shopping 
around for a show bought Trans-- 
american'.s "Men of Vision" which 
will preem Sunday (17 i on CBS. 
Show's 'set for 13 weeks with 
Edwin C. Hill! spotted as nar- 
rator. Leading figures in .aircraft 
industry. Glenn- L. Martin teeing off, 
will be presented weekly. 

And it's generally acknowledged 
That the entire crop of radio manu- 
facturers are only waiting for the 
green light on material priorities be- 
fore unloosing, their- purse strings 
for a multi-million dollar: campaign 
via radio. ■■".-' 



Renard Wants to Play 
On 'Collect' Or Collect 

Jacques Renard. orch leader, 
brought charges last Thursday (7) 
before the executive board of Amer- 
ican . Federation of Musicians, N.Y. 
Local 802. against Mildred Fenton. 
radio program package producer.. He 
claimed lie had a verbal contract 
With her for the first 13 weeks of the 
new CBS Wednesday night stanza 
"Detect and Collect" which tees off 
tonight (13». 

Renard told the board that he did 
the audition record through which 
the show was sold to Old Golds, and 
Miss Fenton had verbally promised 
that, it the' show went network 
sponsored, his orch would play it. 
However, when the program goes oil 
the air tonight. Teddy Rapf and his 
orch will be featured. Renard wants 
either to play the series, or receive 
financial redress. 



Calon Rejoins WSTP 

Salisbury, N. C. June 12. 

Earl Caton has rejoined the staff 
of WSTP, Salisbury, as an announcer. 
He formerly served oh the WSTP 
staff for four years, and is rejoining 
the station from WBBB in Burling-' 
ton. N. C. 

He will later be placed in charge 
of - the -Kannapoli^N^C.-Studios. ot_ 
WSTP. 




*W WeSTS CREATEST «*Ot?*.W>tVkS. 



San Antonio. — Heyer's heat pow- 
der has taken over summer spon- 
sorship of the WOAI nightly 10 p.m. 
newscast with Ken McClure. Series 
had been sponsored by Gebhardt 
chili powder. ; 



"My idea of a really big time 
announcer on a 'small station is 
Dale Morgan of WHOM. In de- 
livery, poise and ad-libbing abil- 
ity, lie is better than nine out of 
ten mike men on the networks. 
An outstanding personality." 

BEN GROSS 
Daily News 
May 28, 1945 



*7&oh& tfou Sck - and 6c 4me fo 
Aeon, 'Date Tftonfcuu ' Inquviitty, 



A Cowles Station 

Represented by 

The KaU Agency 




NEW YORK AND JERSEY CITY 





Wednesday, June 13, 1945 



WBBM'S PAUL GIBSON 
IS'RENOED'ANDREWED 

; Chicago, June 12. 

Secret divorce obtained in Superi- 
or Judge A, Sbai'baro's court May 7 
by the wife of Paul E, Gibson, 
WBBM's philosophical commentator 
on "Housewives Protective League," 
was revealed last week, Cruelty 
was the charge on which. Brownie 
Gibson, his ex, won the decree. 

Court records revealed that Gib- 
son, who -was married again on June 
I to Leola Applegate, former radio 
singer known as ''Bonnie Blue Eyes," 
agreed to pay his former wile $400 
a month alimony and $100 a month 
for support of their 7-mOnih-Old 
daughter. Couple were married Jan. 
5, 1944, in Nashville, and separated 
' last Feb. 28. . 



RADIO 



45 



'Steel Horizons' Going 
Back Home This Summer 

''Steel Horizons," Allegheny-Lud- 
lurri Steel bankrolled musical Sun- 
day nightcr oil Mutual, is going back 
home this summer after having orig- 
inated jn New York the past season. 
Effective July 1 the airer will eman- 
ate from Pittsburgh, home of . the 
sponsor, occupying same time slot 
(9 p.m.) as in the past. 

John Baker, Metopera baritone 
stays on in the top male , spot and 
Betty Ellen Morris, who guested on 
an early show, has been made per- 
manent ehirper for the summer 
series. " Also On tap will be a mixed 
vocal ensemble and concert oich. Vic 
Seydel, of Walker & Downing agency 
produces. ' ■■,■•/■.'.;'■':':'■' 



WGN Acquires Chicago 
Philharmonic Orch Title 

Chicago, -June 12. 

Rights have been acquired by 
WGN from Richard Czerwonky to 
the name "Chicago Philharmoni Or- 
chestra." WON symphony orchestra, 
directed by Henry Weber, will be 
known by that name, effective to- 
night (12). Original Chicago Phil- 
harmonic, which was - owned and 
conducted by Czerwonky, was dis- 
banded several years ago. Name will 
be used for the first time on the 
program formerly known as "Sym- 
phony Hall" broadcast Tuesday 
nights over WGN, and show will 
henceforth be -known simply, as the 
Chicago Philharmonic Orchestra. 

Rudolph Ganz, eminent pianist and 
conductor, and head of the Chicago 
Musical College, will give the old 
WGN orchestra its new name bap- 
tismal on tonight s broadcast. 



Philadelphia— G. Bennett Larson, 
manager of .WPEN, Philadelphia, 
owned and operated' by Philly Bul- 
letin, announces- appointment of 
Headley-Reed Co. as national ad- 
vertising reps. : 



Treat's on LaGuardia 

Here's; what's happened .to that 
$1,250 in sponsorship coin that 
accrued to Mayor. LaGuardia for 
his: one-shot emcee .job on the 
Blue's "Road Ahead" show re- ■ 

i' cently. '■■ 

Instead, as first proposed, of 
turning the money over to Army 
and Navy Relief, LaG, gave it to 
the St. Albans hospital in Long.- 
Island (from which point pro- 
gram originated). However, the 
mayor specified that the money 
must be spent within two 
months, with the vets chosen as 
•beneficiaries getting carte, 
blanche on whether they pre- 
ferred to blow it on : niteri.es, 

; theatres, fit al. . S'.'.V 



OPA Seeks Ceiling Data 

Washington, June 12, 
OPA Officials huddle in New York 
tomorrow (13) with accountants of 
the radio parts industry to draw up 
a questionnaire for manufacturers to 
obtain data- which will be used to 
establish reconversion' ceiling prices 
for radio parts. ■', ' 



Amer. Forces Web Nabs Powerhouses 
To Provide Air Blanket for Europe 



The American Forces Radio Net- 
work has taken over two of the most 
powerful radio transmitters in Eu- 
rope, and plans to establish nine 
other rdd'o stations in France, Bel- 
gium and Germany, 

Radio Munich, of 1.00,000' watt 
power, is already in Operation a.s an- 
American Army outlet, and will 
soon be teamed with another 100.000- 
watter. at Stuttgart. When that's 
accomplished, the two stations to- 
gether will be able to blanket every- 
thing within range. 

When V-E Day came, AFN had 
nine radio outlets in operation on 
the European continent, 4f in Great 
Britain Those on the continent in- 
cluded mobile stations attached to 
the First, Seventh and Ninth Armies, 
and stationary transmitters at Paris, 
Marseilles, Cannes, Nice, Nancy and 
Lyons. .•.'i".",.,'.'''; : ]' ■}''' ■ ■:'■'/ 

The mobile stations are being 
transferred to redelpoyed armies of 
occupation, and hew German sta- 



tions will include transmitters at 
Bremen and Frankfurt, in addition 
to those at Munich and Stuttgart. 
In the aggregate, the number of 
AFN stations on the continent will 
be doubled before the summer is 
over, by. comparison with the equip- 
ment on hand when the. Nazis sur- 
rendered... ■' •> i" 

AFN-Munich went on the air as an 
American station on June 10. Lt. 
Ben Hoberman, of Hibbing, Minn., 
who was chief of the. AFN!s mobile 
unit with the First Army, took over 
as station manager, With Hoberman 
is a staff of 13 enlisted men, some 
of whom were top radiomen in civil- 
ian life. -> :■}■:'■■:':■■. 

According tct Hoberman, AFN- 
Munich will be on the air 20 hours 
a day. It will broadcast a total of 
two hours of world and home news 
daily, and will devote the other 18 
hours -to bringing the G Is who must 
remain in Europe the best network 
fare from the U. S. 



Brass vs. WOR 



55j. Continued from pace 33 

made for broadcasting every phase 
of the Eisenhower reception. 

WNYG itself will feed any N. Y. 
indies who want coverage of the big 
event, as well as various Government 
ii'dioageneies like OWI, OIAA and 
BBC. 

Novik outlined his plans for radio's 
coverage at a meeting of all net arid 
indie representatives held yesterday 
(Tues.) afternoon. 



Echoes in Philly 

Philadelphia, June 12. 

Recent blast by WOR'S Dave 
Dnscol over Army's "brusheroo" of 
radio during interviews of returning 
generals had its echoes in Philly 
after last Monday's i4) reception o£ 
Generals Omar Bradley and Carl A. 
(Tooey) Spaatz here. 

Local' radio execs beefed plenty 
about back seat given radio by 
powers-that-be handling the event. 

Publishers of four local dailies 
had seats of honor in cavalcade 
alongside %ue of the returning 
heroes. Only radio rep was Roger 
W. Clipp, WFIL proxy. 

Clipp put up a battle for better 
radio representation arid when the 
smoke cleared, every station got in 
on the deal with each outlet getting 
a piece of ■ the broadcast, special, 
events, interviews, etc, -So the main 
casualty was the hurt pride of Philly 
radio bigshols in not being named to 
Citizens Committee. 

Blame was placed on the Penn- 
sylvania Railroad, which handled 
the arrangements for Mayor Ber- 
nard Samuel. When Clipp de- 
manded equal representation on the 
committee for press and radio, the 
" Pennsy rep declared that it was im- 
possible since there are nine radio 
stations in town and only four 
dailies and nine were too many to 
put on the committee. 

After the initial burn, here's how 
radio finally Shaped up: 

WIP had its sound truck in line: 
KYW had mikes in at press recep- 
tion; WIP > Mutual) WCAU (CBS) 
and KYW <NBC) picked up 
speeches from Independence Hall 
for their respective networks. WFIL 
and WPEN broadcast arrival of 
generals and their party trom rail- 
road station with WHAT doing a re- 
broadcast In addition WFIL did a 
pick up from a dinner to heroes 
tendered by citizens committee feed- 
ing it to WIP and WPEN. 

Besides burns at the officials ar- 
ranging the show for the "slap" at 
radio in preference to dailies, in- 
dividual station ops are blaming 
each other for alleged freezeouts on 
exclusives— but that's normal jn 

Phiiiy. ■■' ;; ^ : ^.vV.;' ; ■.',■.^/ ; ^ 



'Sob Sister' for Sale 

Mary Astor is featured in "The 
Merry, Life of Mary Chns.mas," 
tscript show concerning the adven- 
tures of a newspaper gal, currently 
making: the rounds. 



lew 



Successful^ 



4 



rpHREE words used by H. V. Kaltenborn to describe a 
'J- WMCA program series when he, Norman Corwin and 
Raymond Cram Swing unanimously singled out WMCA to 
receive the Edward L. Bernays one-station award. 

"New World A-Coming," heard on Sunday at 3:03 to 
3:30 p.m., is the program which, in their opinion, did "most 
to further democracy in America during the last year." 

The Bernays award is latest in a long list of laurels that 
have come to WMCA. Laurels of which these are just a few. 

PACE ONE AWARD 
OF THE NEWSPAPER GUILD OF NEW YORK 

"Jiir iiterl mill contlnnlirc (mHn inrnf." 
««■««■<«• 

OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY INSTITUTE 
FOR EDUCATION BY RADIO 

Jijffj succeshirc yon If.lK.'.'l J'ns rti/»ifi'fil finl Iwmy ln] Ihe 
fiubik i/ivi|n.Mi'N anVflory- • 

««•«<-««• 

NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF CHRISTIANS AND JEWS 

• "for cOMliibiiliotis lo im/ion.il imilv.. . . nii,fi.Tst<ii!>(ijr<J rtiuf: 
fjflriifOiij' iliHoiijI ii//v/ii>ii/K 0/ l'ir .Imanim penile,'' • . 

W. m KC 

VARIETY SHOWMAN ACEMENT AWARD 

,' "Jor /t'lifiijiil -irtvjil'l 'good inll-Qtnt .\!>uh : f,Uiu<ling " 
<«■««-««• 

WRITERS WAR BOARD-TOP RATING 



"Tor miiyt'dtuHvg f>t[1>tic «*m.M' 



li'iir ('/fori 



I?: Tfjp* ' 



46 



RADIO 



P^RiETT 



Wcdnesdwy, June IS, 1945 



WLS, Prairie Farmer Real Payoff 
'Daily Double' for Burridge Butler 



Chicago. June 12. 
jVUI^tb ^Wftn i tigi of the ; 1945 Na- 
tional Board o{ Underwriters $500 
Radio Gold Medal; the "Variety" 
showmanship award this year, and 
the many other recognitions received 
by WLS during the war years, Bur- 
ridge D. Butlei^pirhlidiev_j?JLEnxkic. 
Farmer, and president oX the station, 
has seen the fulfillment,' of his pur- 
pose in buying WLS some 17 years 
ago. Butler has always held the 
firm belie! that radio and journalism 
could work well together and be- 
come a> working combination that 
was unbeatable as a means of pub- 
lic service and entertainment. 

In a Prairie Farmer editorial in 
the Sept. 29, 1928, issue, Butler, an- 
nouncing "the purchase of WLS by 
the farm paper said, "I want to talk 
first to the 1,250.000 people who have 
been reading Prairie. .Farmer .every 
week, many of them all their lives. 
I want to talk to the .millions of 
others who -do---not -read — Prairie 
Farmer now. but should, and, for 
. their best interest, will read Prairie 
Farmer after they have heard 
Prairie Farmer folks talk to them 
on the radio." Since that day, mem- 
bers of the editorial staff have ap- 
peared'' regularly on daily and week- 
ly WLS programs. Prairie Farmer's 
masthead includes the names and 
titles of WLS execs along with those 
of the publication and these names 
are as familiar to WLS listeners and 
readers of Prairie Farmer through 



their WLS broadcasts as they arc by 
their ' .a.rJLiclCs_jn the- farm pa per. ■ 
It was through the efforts ot 
Arthur C. Page, WLS farm program 
director, and Prairie Farmer asso- 
ciate editor on the "Dinnerbell" 
program, with simultaneous stories 
and pictures on tire prevention car- 
ried by PF that won the station the 
-^National Boai'd-o: Underwriters $500. 
Radio Gold Medal. Jen of the 31 
pages in the May 20, 1945, issue. of 
Prairie Farmer carry a reference to 
WLS. Two featured articles will be j 
[dramatized on the "DinnerbcU" pro- 
gram and boxed announcements of | 
those special broadcasts: lire included 
■ in each article. 

Butler built a 15-year foundation 
of public service under His paper 
and station before lie struck out to 
sell •them as -a- - team commercially 
two years ago when he adopted the 
| sales slbgan. "Used as a team Prairie 
Farmer - WLS penetrates deeper." 
They are used as a team but sold 
separately at their individual adver- 
tising-rate. When Butler wrote in 
his 1928 editorial, "I have added 
radio to the working tools of Prairie 
Farmer because it will enable us to 
do better work for the farmer and 
his interests and widen the field of 
Prairie Farmer's influence" it looks 
like he meant just that. . 



Louisville.— John Merrifield, for 
several years Agricultural Co- 
ordinator for WHAS, has left the sta- 
tion, as has John Connelly, head of 
the WHAS news room. 




From the Production Centres 

IN NEW YORK CITY ... 

HIGHLIGHTS OF TRADfi TALK: Biug Crosby, it .now appears, has 
ptKsed^-x>rd~xclmg~t-o-4-rimds that he'll be. bad; in Ihe fall for Kraft. . . . 
ln : view of the Eddie Bracken-Standard Brands separation, the boys are 
wondering ichy Fitch. which is shopping Around for a "Bandwagon" re- 
placement, doesn't grab the comedian lor the coi'eted 7:30 Sunday night 
NBC spot. Thai would viake it a Benny-Bracken-Bergen-Allen comedy 
parlay, which would spell 120 minnles of lop raltiios o» anybody's net- 
work. . . . The answer to all t%e speeii/ntiou as to wlictlier Frank Sinatra 
trill be back in the fall for May. Factor can be found in the Voice's con- 
tract 'with' the sponsor, it's a year's pftCI froni'-Jamwryto- January, ■■with a 
IS-weck layoff. . . . There's no guarantee of the. Blue capturing that 00- 
■iimititc Ford Symphony. Sunday vight program, Willy -Mutual also in there 
pitching and the final decish still airaifittp Hairy Sr.'s okay. In view of 
fa;ct that Blue can clear 8 to 9 segment (Ford wants either the 8 to 9 or 
9 to 10 slots), and Mutual may hare difficulty clearing either of the two 
hours, the Bine rales, the edge on snaring the big billing program. 

WOV's cross- the-board "People Know Everything" telephone quiz show- 
now converted into' a 5th avenue "man on the street" live program. .With 
Lewis Charles, staff announcer, emceeing, . . .Next Life mag Issue doing a 
big pictorial-text spread on Der Single, authored by Lincoln Ba.rnett . . . . 
Robert Q, Lewis. World War II vet, working on new show being written, 
directed, produced and cast by discharged servicemen and women.... 
Mercedes McCambridge joins "Stella Dallas" cast.... Elspeth Eric and 

Kenneth Lynch new players on "Valiant Lady" Vinton Hayworth, Alney 

Alba and Ogden Miles added to respective casts of "Second Husband," 
"Lorenzo Jones" and "The Soldier Who Came Home". . . .Peter Capclle 
and Georgia Simmons newcomers to "David Harum". .. ."Blind Date" 
moves to Coast after Monday's (18) broadcast, for at least six weeks. 
Arlene Francis, emcee, drops out of the Broadway comedy, "The Over- 
tons." to carry On with Blue network airer Sgt. Jerry Layton. former 
Al Paid Lofton agency exec, back from overseas and now stationed at 
Boiling Field. Washington. . . .Fritz Blocki and Jack Rubin back from the 
Coast... .NBC building new studio on sixth floor of the RCA bldg. 

Writer George Harmon Coxe going to the Pacific zone for spell. . . . 
Actress Virginia Smith in legit "Chicken Every Sunday". . . .Bert Lytell 
in Boston with a stage tryout ... .Leon Goldstein of WMCA broadcast last 

week from Paris Bob Shayon and Bill Robson. who stayed over in 

Europe, due back next week. . . Mrs. Robert J. Landry back from winter- 
ing at'Palm Springs, Cal.. .. Harriet Hester gone to KOIN, Portland, to 
conduct class in writing for summer radio institute there while Mortimer 
Fraukel,. CBS associate script editor, doing same chore for three weeks 
at KMBC. Kansas City. 

Jerry Mara, producer of the Morion Downey Mutual 'Series for Coca-Cola, 
has resigned and gone back home to California because of illness in his 
family. Successor not yet named.... Lou Meltzer. writer on the CBS Bal- 
lantinc program for past year, resigned with advent of Stu Erwin and 
I Leonard Levinson script crew. .. .Ira Marion, Blue script writer, to give 
six-week radio writing course this summer at Juilliard music school's first 
| venture into radio instruction. . . .Howard St. John from WJZ to Blue net- 
| work sales dept. He'll work under Murray Grabhorn as liaison between 
sales and programs., . .Ray Diaz'elected prez of Broadcasters Bowling 
League at banquet last Friday (8i. Bob Burholt. NBC. is veepee; Paul 
Jonas. MBS, sec-treas. and Blue's Stew MacHarrie, sgt.-at-arms. 

John Reber, radio topper of J. Walter Thompson, left for Coast Monday 
(11) night. . . .Maxine Keith. Mutual a.m. commentator, transcribes a trans- 
Atlantic "Father's Day" show via BBC on Friday (15) with WOR reprising 
it as a special feature Sunday (17) morning. Theme will be tolerance. 
Amzie Strickland tagged for a cast part in NBC's television production 
| of Molierc's "Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme," Sunday (.17), 8 p.m., directed by 
I Dr. Herbert Graf, stage manager of the Mel . . . .Keith Brown, senior mem- 
! ber of the Blue production staff, resigns July 1 to go to Hollywood with 
! Berg-Allenberg, Inc.. talent reps. 

James L. Fly to address American Marketing Assn. at Murray Hill hotel 
meeting Monday (18). 

ITS HOLLYWOOD . . . 

Gordon Hughes flips the cues on "The Saint" until Bill Robson can tear 
himself loose for that military assignmenf in Germany. Only ones cast 
so tar for the Jack Carson summer sub are Brian Aherne in the name role 
and Leith Stevens, music director. . . .Radie Harris' chit chat will be wafted 
eastward from Hollywood for a spell beginning June 27. .. .McCann-Erick- 
son lost the Soiloff account to Ruthrauft' & Ryan. Firm sponsors Truman 
Bradley's newscasts on CBS. .. .Virginia Cooke is writing Elsa Maxwell's 
scripts and may go east with her when she pulls stakes. ...Bob Burns picked 
up for straight 39 by Lever Bros.. . The Morris agency pulled Bob 
Sweeney and Hat March off the Hoag.v Carmichael show, figuring there 
are better spots to show off the comedy team. . . .Cass Daley east with her 
husband. Frank Kinsella, .. .Paul Whiteman will do his Philco show from 
here July 15. Previous night he'll conduct 110-piece orchestra in a Gersh- 
win Memorial concert in Hollywood Bowl. . . 

Bill Lewis east with the missus after washing up' the Eddie Bracken mess 
and wrapping up "County Fair" for Borden. .. .Frances Scully's "Star 
Gazing" now sponsored on KECA by a cosmetic outfit. ,, .Margaret Foss; 
late of CBS and BBD&O. named office manager, of the Ward Wheelock 
agency. . . .J. Walter Thompson negotiating with Mfetro for eight guest shots 
by Margaret O'Brien. Four would be with Charlie- McCarthy and the 
others on' Lux. . . .Commercials to Harry Maizlish at KFWB are just some- 
thing to be brushed asjde when a big event comes .along. Station cleared 
10 full hours to carry every activity of Generals Patton and Doolittle on 
their homecoming day ... .G ilbert Selde in town to case the Coast tele- 
vision scene for CBS Sid Strotz due in alter long stay at NBC home 

off ice. ': •: ..' ' .. • ■ '.;.<£?•■ 

m Chicago . . . 

Don McNeill, long time m.c. of- the Blue "Breakfast Club" who cele- 
brates his 13th 'year on the air June 23, i.s. completing arrangements to 
move the show to New York in the tail. '.. .Helen Malone has been added 
to the cast of "Bachelor's Children", . . .Jane. Elliott, Olan Soule and Frank 
Bchrens added to the cast of "Today's Children;" Move was made by 
Hei'b' Futran, who took over direction of the show last week. .. .Hedda 

Hopper show, aired from the Coast, may move to NBC in the. fall "Two 

Ton" Baker, WGN star,, is currently doing 12 shows a week plus hospitals 
and USO dates, which makes him the busiest actor in town. Baker may 
add another six-a-weck show to his list in the near future: ; . .Hal. Block, 
writer and producer of the Milton Berle and Phil Baker shows, in town to 
visit his parents, . ,.Bea Ferband of the Chi. CBS press department refuses 

to show the Wriglcy building crowd her new engagement ring Jerry 

Campbell, former WLS announcer, received 'a. medical discharge after two 
I years in the Army. He rejoins the Prairie Farmer announcing staff this 
week, . , .Hoosier Hoi Shots are heading back to the Coast next month to 
i make another pic. 

Margery Mayer returns to the "Hymns of All Churches" program next 
wcek.:..Les Gottlieb, Young & Rubicam radio flack chief, in town on his 

way east after spending several weeks on the Coast Glenn Snyder, 

WLS g.m., became a grandfather last week Lt. Col. Paul Clark returned 

to the NBC central division engineering slaft after three years' service in 

the Southwest Pacific Les Weinrotl's 11-year-old son Tony 'played the 

lead in one of his father's shows las. week. Youngster is a veteran per- 
former. .. .Harry Kopf, v.p. in charge of the NBC central division in New 
York this week for the NBC management meeting; , . .Radio Writers' Guild 
expects to start a campaign soon to up salaries of freelance writers. 



FURTRAN, GIBBONS SWAP 
CHORES ON GM SHOWS 

' Chicago. June 12. 
Herb Futran has switched from 
director of "Women in White" to 
"Today's Children" and Gil Gibbons, 
who has been directing the latter, 
has taken over "Women" which Fut- 
ran continues to write. ■'-;.:■ 

Shows are two of the three Irna 
Phillips-General Mills 15-minuters 
heard following each other over NBC 
five-times-weekly and change was 
made by producer Carl Wester 
in order to', familiarize directors 
with— scrip Us- of- each , -show, - wi th _ 
possibility that Joe Ainlcy. director 
of "Guiding Light" other. of the trio., 
will be named- in' the next change- 
over. •" : : ■ ' ••■ • .'.', 



Blue Navy Show Plans 
Remotes From Pacific 

. y ',.'■. : . ; . : Chicago. June .12. 
: Longest "Man ■'- on . the Street" on 
record will bo heard on the "Meet 
Your Navy" show starting June 30, 
when a two-way conversational 
gimmick will be put in use between 
Great Lakes,, ill., where the show 
originates, and spots in .the- Pacific- 
theatre, of war. Listeners: will be 
asked to send in questions regard- 
ing their kin in' the fighting sectors 
and answers will be' made direct. 
1'rom Pacific locations, all subject, to 
Government censorship. 

Show, heard on the Blue net work, 
6:30-7 p.m. Saturdays from Chicago, 
is heard in the Pacific area Sunday 
mornings al 9:30 a.m. " Navy stint is 
being switched to Monday at 8 p.m. 
(CYVTi starling July 16, over the 
Blue. Similar two-way hookup is 
being worked out between the Navy 
and one ot the CBS shows originat- 
ing from WBBM here. 




TIME TO TALK to a city's teeming 
populace, lime for reaching subur- 
ban shoppers, or lime for covering 
rich rural markets . . . such time is 
the full-time concern of Weed & 
Company — spccialiHls in good time* 
on good stations.. 




tjNiTWn unxti.i. nun. co. 

l'lillily— «.'IJ6S— 10 |».m., KWT 



Mgt.: LOU CLAYTON 




Wednesday, June 13, 1915 



Pfi&iETY 



ORCHESTRAS— MUSIC 



47 



GI FANS BUILD BANDS' CIVVY B.O. 



20th-Fox Wins Louis A. Hirsch Trisco* 
Case, a Test on Synchronization Rights 




E 




Last week Judge John W. Clancy, t 
'\x\ N Y. fe deral .Court, handed down I 
a. decision which, for the first "tinieT | 
determines a number of moot ques- 
tions of prime importance to the' cre- 
ators, publishers and users of music. 
The plaintiff was Laurence J. Hirsch. 
individually and as executor of the 



Estate'of Louis A. Hirsch. who sued 
20th Century-Fox Film and M. Wit- 1 
mark & Sons. 

The case involved the song. 
''Hello. Frisco,'' written in 1914 by 
. Louis A.: Hirsch and Gene Buck for 
"the "Ziegfeld Follies?' and "piiorished 
by Witmark. On April 1: .1943, Wit- 
niirk licensed 201h-Fox to make 14 
partial uses of the song in its motion 
picture "Hello, Frisco, Hellot" for 
$5,000. .Plaintiff, asserted, that, under 
the 1914 agreement Witmark only 
acquired the publication and me- 
chanical rights; that las sound motion 
picture rights were then unknown 
such rights were not within the con- 
templation of the agreement; that 
when such rights came into exist- 
ence they were vested in plaintiff 
and not Witmark. so that 20th-Fox 
acquired nothing under the pur- 
ported license from Witmark: and 
that 20th-Fox Film dramatized the 
song in its picture, used the song 
title as the picture title, and made 
substantial changes iii the song, none 
of such uses being authorized under 
the Witmark license, and the value 
of which uses was far in excess of 
the license fee. Plaintiff demanded 
judgment for an injunction against 
the picture* that the Witmark license 
be declared void, and for an account- 
ing of profits for the alleged in- 
fringement. 

All Ducked the Issue 
Writers, publishers and motion 
' 'picture producers have all avoided a 
prior determination of the questions 
involved in this case. They have all 
been satisfied to leave the issue in 
doubt, as a mutual trading point. 
None of these interests would take 
the fjmrjble of an adverse decision — 



Kansas City Symphony, . 
Recovers Financial Face 

Kansas City, June 12. 
Kansas City Philharmonic Orches- 
tra now is "out of the red'' for the 
first time in many seasons, according 
a report compiled by Dale M. 
Thompson, chairman of the board 
of trustees. . •'• 

Earned income from Ahe 1944-1945 
season was $118,870, an increase of 
$54,9JUL_o.v_er_ Aha t „:0{ ., the' .last. . pre- 
ceding season. '•.'..' 



ASCAFs Greater 
Heed to So. Amer. 





Many bandleaders in service for 
prolonged periods don't anticipate 
much trouble establishing them- 
selves in eivilian life postwar. They 
figure they will by then have tailor- 
made b.o. names for a reason that 
possibly has never oceured to many 
of those promoting name bands. . 

Because a sizeable number of 
these maestros have been widely 
circulated with their bands in their 
respective services and have played 
hundreds of morale performances 
before many - thousahdsrof meiv they 
believe their names have become 
important to a lot of band-followers. 
And with 10,000,000 men in uniform, 
the majority of whom are in the age 
brackets that make up -the greater 
portion of a band's public, it's fig- 
ured they may not be far wrong. 
' This despite the fact that. the general 
j public might never have heard of 
•American Society of Composers, them or have by now forgotten them. 
Authors and Publishers i"s turning One angle on which the service 
increasing attention to the South I leaders are depending has a psycho- 
American music rights picture.. One j logical basis and a little thought en 
of its first moves in this direction 



Int-Music Dealers Service in Pact 
With Immerman-Gale on Music Rack 
Competish, Ending Awaited Battle 



A Plug— Or Else 

, . Philadelphia. June 12. : 
A new music publishing firm 
has been launched in Philly, 

It's called Lock-O'Malley Pub- 
lications, Inc. President of the 
firm is Chief Magistrate John 
J, O'Malley. Vice-president is 
..Josepii_iQck,_._ O'Malley s con-^ 
stable. 



was the signing last week, through 
Wallace Downey, U. S: talent agent, 
of a deai with the Brazilian Com- 
posers Union, which, after next I 



hanccs its possibilities. They say 
that when a man to whom extensive 
travel is. unusual sees something 
while on the opposite side . of the 
world, that reminds him of home, he 



Jan. 1; will be merged with 
Assn. of Brazilian Composers, 
Auth6rs. 

ASCAP's deal with BCU is for 
three years. It takes effect next Jan. 
1. It was signed last week by 
ASCAP with Downey, who had been 
in South America recently and made 
the arrangement whereby he rep- 
resented the organization in its deal- 
ings with (he Society. 

ASCAP recently made 'another at- 
tempt to garner S. A. material. Its 
foreign committee was empowered 
by the Society's board of directors to 
deal with Ralph S. Peer, head of 
the American Performing Rights So- 
ciety, relative to making a deal to 
take over . performance rights" rep- 
resentation on all of material in 



dj e I never forgets, it. Because of this. 



and ' service leaders who have played for 



the stakes were too high. So at the 
end of a most complicated trial, all 
parties in the Hirsch action expected 
the Court to ask for a summary of 
the testimony, additional briefs and 
oral argument, as is customary in 
such actions, To the surprise of all. 
Judge Clancy rendered an imme- 
diate decision from the bench. 

He held that as defendants had es- 
tablished that the, Edison method of 
synchronizing sound with pictures' 
was being utilized in theatres.at the 
time of the 1914 agreement, that the 
wording "mechanical rights" in the 
agreement comprehended sound mo- 
tion pictures as well as commercial 
phonograph records and music rolls: 
that the song "Hello Frisco" could 
not be dramatized, as a popular song 
of this nature told no story which 
would lend itself to dramatization; 
that there was no such thing as 
"grand rights" in a popular song: 
that as the license permitted -20th- 
Fox to use the song in its motion 
picture. "Hello. Frisco. Hello," no 
express authorization was essential 
to use the song title as the picture 
title^hat the license to use the song 
in the picture authorized 20th to 
make changes in order to adapt it 
■ for such use, and where, the song 
was of such old vintage to modern- 
ize the music and lyrics: and that as 
Witmark was the sole copyright pro- 
prietor of record, any reservations 
Hirsch made in his agreement with 
Witmark and not entered of record, 
were not binding on 20th Century- 
Fox Film, so that regardless of 
whether Witmark was possessed of 
the sound motion picture rights, 
plaintiff was stopped 1 from assert- 
ing that 20th did not acquire, such 
rights from it. ..... 

Judge Hep on Music Sales 
While the Second Circuit Court of 
•Appeals had said in L. C. Page & Co. 
v. Fox Film Corp. f 1936) that ' talk- 
ies were not commercially known in 
1923," Judge Clancy said that the 
evidence in the Hirsch case estab- 
lished that, motion pictures syn- 
chronized through a mechanical con- 
tinuance were commercially known 
in 1914. During a heated argument 
between counsel as to whether the 
135.000-copy sale of "Frisco" con- 
Milued it a hit, the Judge settled the 
(Continued on page 50) 



APRS plus other stuff. It's claimed 
that a substantial guarantee was of- 
fered Peer, which he rejected with- 
out giving the offer much thought. 



JESS STACY PUTS OWN 
BAND INTO REHEARSAL 

Jess .Stacy, pianist who left 
Tommy Dorsey's orchestra a few 
weeks ago rather than go to the 
Coast with it. has revived ideas for 
his own band. He put a combination 
into rehearsal in'N. Y. Monday ill) 
which features, beside himself, Lee 
Wiley i Mrs. Stacy ) on vocals and 
Buddy DeFfauco on clarinet 

Band will be handled by General 
Am us. Corp.. which held a manage- 
ment contract on the leader since 
his last attempt at batoning. Last 
year, Stacy built an outfit of his own 
and auctioned it for certain N. Y. 
jobs before relegating the whole idea 
and joining Dorsey. 



| soldiers and sailors in all parts of the 
world figure that when they are back 
in civvies and leading their own com- 
mercial bands, the kids they played 
for in uniform will pay dividends. 
On almost every theatre, location, 
etc.. date they'll play there will be 
some b.o. reaction from those who 
saw their bands in action overseas. 
That'll be true. of course, mostly in 
key . cities, from which the draft 
drew heaviest. And in key cities is 
where most bands spend the ma-, 
jority of their lime. 

Another angle that has helped 
service leaders to become Widely 
[known within the .services is the 
| Government V.-Discs. which of course 
are also being used by civilian bands 
| to keep GI's aware of them. 
| . . Whether the ideas of these leaders 
are solid enough remains to be seen, j 
Some of those who feel this way I 
j were never important names -to the 
] public before donning uniform: ! 
i others were on their way upward 
I when war came, and still others 
were good b.o. and have by now 
faded in the public memory. At any 
rate, some of the leaders involved 
are already making postwar plans. 
In some cases they have had repre- 
sentatives contact civilian band buy- 
ers who-operate some" of the coun- 
try's outstanding buildup spots. The 
subject, of course, is a commitment 
now ion bands that won't be built 
until the leaders get out of service. 



Irving Mills Back 
Into Record Biz 



Among the latest recording con- 
tenders is Irving Mills .who is going 
back into the disc business -inten- 
sively. The music publisher (he's 
v.p, of Mills Music. Inc.) is no 
stranger to recording, having had his 
I Variety and Master labels on Colum- 
| bia which were later sold to that 
company. However,: he Still has 
proprietary rights in certain masters 
when Cab Calloway. Duke Ellington 
and others were under Mills' man- 
agement. ' "'. 

Right now,, following a quickie 
trip to New York, Mills win devote | 
the next two months to recording in j 
Hollywood, especially focused around 
the Abbott & : Costello radio pro- 
gram's warbler. Bob Matthews. Mills 
went back to Hollywood Monday 
(11) and is headquartering at a 
hotel, having leased his Beverly 
Hills house for two years to Joe 
Schenck. The idea is that Mills will 
be foqtloose for the next two years, 
with an eye to making a trip to Eu- 
rope, as he expects to do in Septem- 
ber. . . ■ 

He plans to revive the Variety 
disc label and also feature the Pal- 
ladium as another recording tag. 



Vaughn Monroe Cracks 
Kennywood Park Mark j 

Pittsburgh. June 12. j 

Playing one-night stand oil Deco- I 
ration Day! Vaughn Monroe's band j 
broke all-time attendance record at j Booking Corp 
Kennywood Park, playing to more 
than 4,000 paid admissions. Previous 
mark of 3.600 was set several years 
ago by Tommy Tucker. 

Kennywood plans to use name 
bands for one-nighteVs throughout 
the summer whenever they're avail- I 
able. For steady runs, it'll stick to j 
local and lesser-known travelling 
outfits. Same applies to rival West j 
View Park. First name attraction 
there will be Stan Kenton, coming 
in June 25 for one-nighter. 



Sacks Recuping 

Manie Sacks, Columbia Record- 
ing Corp. v.p. and director of Art- 
ists and Repertoire, is recovering 
from a throat operation in Philadel- 
phia last week 15). He sat up Mon- 
day ill) for the first time since the 
cutting, but has not yet been allowed 
to talk. 

He has had few visitors and will 
not be allowed more until later this 
week, .'..'■: '. : 



Harry Moss Leaving 
MCA, Joins Glaser 
In Expansion Move 

Harry Moss, head of Music Corp. 
of America's one-night department 
for the pasl seven years, leaves that 
organization the end of this month. 
He shifts to Joe Glaser's Assocaited 
as a vice-president 
of that outfit on July 1. This is 
Glaser's first move in bujlding a staff 
that will aid in the expansion' of the 
agency, according to recent plans 
laid down by him, Other personnel 
moves will follow. '.. ' '- - >'■'■' 

Iii shifting from MCA to ABC. 
Moss is not actually severing con- 
nections with the former. MCA owns 
50% of Glaser's outfit by virtue of a. 
deal between Glaser and Jules Stein, 
its- president. This agreement was 
made two years ago and it included 
an option by which Stein - could, 
within two years, buy the remaining 
half. -It was not exercised. 

Moss' spot as head of MCA's one- 
nighters will be taken by Jack WhrU 
temore. who has been concerned for 
some time with the job of booking 
Coca-Cola broadcasts, plus location 
and one-night bookings, particularly 
in the South. This area he knows 
thoroughly, due to having been 
MCA's Atlanta rep for several years. 



VAN HEUSEN-BURKE 
TUNING 'NELLIE BLY' 

Songwriting team of Jimmy .Vail 
Heusen and Johnny Burke have been 
signed to do the music for next fall's 
production of "Nell'ie Bly," by Sig 
Herzig and Morrie Ryskind. pro- 
duced by Nat Karson with the fi- 
nancial/backing of Edc'ie Cantor ! 
Marilyn Maxwell has been signed | 
for the show. 

"Bly" will be the second Broad- 
way show done by Burke and Van 
Heusen. They turned in the score | 
for "Swingin' the .Dream", several 
years ago. Pair start work on the 
"Bly" score in a couple weeks on 
the Coast. Both writers have been in 
the .east the past few weeks. Burke 
having gone back two weeks ago and 
Van Heusen last week. He was de- 
layed by hospitalization for a throat 
and car infection. 



Marion Hutton, Brooks 
To Be Teamed By Decea 

Decca Records, which has long 
practiced the idea of coupling on 
records artists it wishes to build 
with established names, or fading 
names with high-riding ones, is tak- 
ing' a new tack in the case of Marion 
Hutton and Randy Brooks' band. 

Company will record both, togeth- 
er, soon. Miss Hutton is far from an 
uncstablished name, having been on 
her own since the breakup of Glenn 
Miller's orchestra, with which she 
was widely known, but she has made 
no solo recordings. This despite 
radio, film, nitery and theatre work 
since going on her own. Brooks 
band is new, now at the Roseland 
Ballroom, N. Y. • This is the ; first 
band Decca has signed since I he 
start of the vvSr and the company 
plans concentrating on it. Brooks 
will make two sides with Miss 
Hutton. ... 



Ted Weems'band opens June 22 at 
Bill Green's. Pittsburgh, for two 
weeks. 



Expected battle between Interna- 
tional Circulating Co. and Music 
Dealers Service, operators of a music 
rack system that has been in opera- 
lion for years and a hew rack outfit 
headed by Saul Immerman and Moe 
Gale, faded last week under, an 
agreement between the two factions. 
While the amicable settling of the 
situation- has given the Immerriiap- 
Gale combination the green light, it 
has run into one snag which seems 
a minor one but might prove other- 
wise.. ;■' 

Following a meeting at which Int. 
MDS and Immerman ironed things 
out, there was considerable talk 
among individual publishers that 
they would not service the new out- 
fit, titled Song Distributors, Inc., 
with sheet music until they were 
given proof that SDI was financially 
solvent. Number of publishers as- 
serted they didn't like the idea of 
giving the hew firm $10,000 worth 
of music without some assurance 
they would be paid for it when pay- 
off time came. However, only one 
publisher has stood steadfast behind 
its initial assertion not to ship music 
to SDI without a financial statement. 
That's Shapiro-Bernstein, which re- 
fused to fill an order for 50,000 cop- 
ies of "Just a Prayer Away." 

Immerman, Gale and American 
News Co. officials, which will dis- 
tribute music for SDI, got together 
with International people and Larry 
Richmond of MDS last week to iron 
out the rivalry. ..It's asserted that 
American News andlmmerman-Gule 
told International and Richmond that 
a series of legal action* had been 
prepared against everyone concerned 
with the- operating of the Int racks, 
and that any further attempts to 
block the new organization would 
result in their being filed. 

The Terms 

It's claimed that the threatened 
court action did not bring about the 
Int-MDS capitulation so much. as the 
agreement by operators of SDI to 
exchange information with Int on the 
position of its racks, to obey all rules 
that Int operates under in assuring 
that its racks do not provide compe- 
tition for retail music dealers, etc. 
This the SDI people agreed to do, 
and American News went so far, it's 
said, to agree that certain news- 
stand locations they service exclu- 
sively won't get racks unless they 
are cleared of all competition. 

On the basis of this arrangement, 
Int-MDS withdrew all opposition to 
a new rack siring and served music 
publishers Monday (14) with notices' 
cancelling all previously i made ex- 
clusive contracts for all music going 
into racks. These deals prohibited 
publishers- from doing business with 
any other rack outfit, , 

Immediately after the meeting, 
SDI began placing orders for 5(1.000 
copies of each of 10 hit songs itheir 
racks are built for 12. but for a start 
two pockets are being left open). So 
far, its claimed, the new outfit has 
approximately 8.i)00 racks placed, 
with the others to be located by the 
end of this week; 10.000 in all will 
be put out for a starter, five of each 
song in a rack. . - 

With the addition of SDI's rack 
orders, music publishers with songs 
that prove rack candidates will be 
in an enviable position. Irtt's initial 
order is now 165,000, copies. Add 
SDI's 50.000. the 7,500 to Chesbro and 
5.000 to the Carl Fischer dispensers, 
and it all soars to $45,000. This sum 
assures a publisher of a profit on a 
song that manages to draw orders 
from each rack even it the song nev- 
er sells another copy. 

The 10 songs ordered by SDI for 
its new racks include. "Ev'rytime" 
'ABC), "Dream" i Capitol). "I Should 
Care" (Dorsey Bros!), "More I See 
You" (Triangle), "There I Said It 
Again" (Valiant), "Laura" (Rob- 
bins). "Good, Good/ Good" (Berlin), 
"There Must Be a Way" (Stevens i, 
"Bell Bottom Trousers" (Saiitly), 
and "Sentimental Journey" (Mollis). 



48 



ORCHESTRAS— MUSIC 



VARIETY 



Wednesday; .lime 13. 1915 



Almost 100 Recording Cos. 

Hurry Fox. of the Music' Publishers Protective Assn., now has 0 
roster of some 100 recording companies, which is- ii staggering total, 
but perhaps not as impressiw considering the ninny small out lit s which 
ask for limited licenses to wax 2.000 'flutters .'or 5.000 platters or similar, 
small outnut. .-' > • - •■:'<■■-'■ 

Despite the current trade hoopla about the booming disk business, 
it is expert trade opinion that' when priorities ease it- will, become once 
-again the question of the artist. That's always been the element, much 
as the' movie star on the marquee. Today, of course, with limited 
production, and restricted- material, 'the .public asks lor a .certain tunc 
rather than the artist, and- has no choice when shopping. ':-(-■■ 



Buddy Morris to Publish All Songs 
By Cahn-Styne Except for Sinatra Pix 



Songwriters Sammy Cahn and* 
Julie Styne. now among the top writ- | 
ina learns in the business, have ; 



i agreed upon, a ^deal wjth Edwin H. 
(Buddy i Morris whereby the latter 
will publish all of the team s songs 

.with the exception of material writ- 
ten by them for Frank Sinatra's pic- 
tures'. Arrangement was completed 



Goodman's Theatre Dates 

Benny Goodman, being booked, di- 
"rect by his personal' manager. Mark 
Hahria.' has been set for string of 
theatre dales starting at the RKO 
Boston the week of June 21, Good- 
mail closed at the 400 Club. N.. Y., 



Swish to Swing 

Proposed segue- from swish to i 
swing would reopen the shuttered '. 
Howdy club in Greenwich Village, ' 
N. Y„ as the Club Condon with 
Eddie Condon, jazz, guitarist and ■ 
maestro of jazz concerts the past , 
few seasons at Town- Hall, Carne- | 
Rte '-Hall. Symphony Hall. Boston, 
etc.. bringing a hot combo in as 
the principal attraction. :' : . ' "■• '.' 

Condon, lor' years was a standby 
at Nick's in the Village, where .jazz 
music has been the ' ehtcrlainmenl 
piece' de resistance for about 10. 1 
year*.. Miff Mole. Dixieland group, 
is t : h(>-cuL'r.eiji_;ittracti(m at Nick's. 

Makeup of Condon's band . is as 
yet undecided but it's understood 
iie'll use topflight swingsters; in-, 
eluding many heard on the recently 
concluded Blue network jazz con- 
ceit sustalner headed up by Condon. 

F'.nne Anderson, former ad agency 
.exec who's Condon's partner in 
recording'..' concert and other deals, 
will be associated with the guijarist 
in the proposed Cllib Condon op- 
eration. -'.'■ 



Bands at Hotel B.O.'s 

(.Presented herewith, as a weekly tabulation, is the estimated cover 
charge btiieiiicss being , done .by name bands in -various New York hotels. 
Dinner business (7-10 p,in.) not rated. -Figure* after name ot hotel give 
room capacity and cover charge. Larger amount designates weekend and 
holiday -price. .Compilation is based on period front Monday to Saturday. ) 

" Co ven 'I'tt I ii I 
Week* Vnst Cm-cr* 

KiiimI Hotel I'hljtfd Wr,-U Oil !>>•!• 

Hal Alonia*. . Lexington (300; 75c-$1.50> 34 1,925 60.525 

Sonny Dunham. . New Yorker (400, $1-$1,50L . , . , . . , . 5 2.000 20,350 

George Paxton. . .Pennsylvania (500; $1-$1.50). 1 2,700 . 2.700 

Nat Brandwynne, Waldorf (550; $2). . . 5 '•': 3.375 13.650 

Erskine Hawkins. Lincoln (275; $1 -$1.50). . . , .. ... 5 1,050 5.300 

Eddie Stone Roosevelt (400; $r-$1.50>. 5 2,175 13.150 

Sammy kayq,... Astor (750; $1-$1.50> .:......'.....,'. . 4 5.400 18.325 



* Asterisks indicate a Supporting Poor shaxc. New Yorker lias ice sliowi 
Le'xptgton, an Hawaiian jloor show. 



weeks but has not yet been put on 
paper. 

Details of the arrangement will not 
be disclosed until the whole thing 
is wrapped up, but it's understood 
it calls for an option by Morris on 
a plan whereby he would at some 
future time set up an active publish- 
ing house in the name of the writers. 
This sort of deal is now in effect 
between Morris and writers Johnny 
Burke and Jimmy Van Hcusetr, 



FBI GRABS MUSICIAN 
FOR DRAFT EVASION 

San Antonio. June 12. j 
Raymond Edward Crider, 34. of j 
N. Y.. piano player with a local or- 
chestra, has been arrested in Laredo | 
by an FBI agent on a charge of | 
failing to register for the draft. . 
:';, Crider was playing with an or- 
chestra on a West Indies cruise at 
the time of draft registration and 
did not register upon his 
Later he found a selective service 



been playing' one-nighters and doing 
recordings. 

Following Boston. Goodman plays 
the Earle. Philadelphia. June 29: 
Michigan. Detroit. July 13: Chicago. 
Chicago, two weeks, July 20: Palace. 
Cleveland, Aug. 3. and Toledo and 
Columbus isplit week i. Aug. 10. 

His deal with Music Corp. ol 
America, by w'hich he severed con- 
nections' with that agency a few 
weeks ago. calls for MCA to get 
commissions on- all work the band 
does though the agency does not 
book him. This arrangement holds 
until the expiration of the leader's 
MCA contract later this year. 



McAlpin, N. Y., Due 

For Name Reopening 



McAlpin Hotel Roof. N. Y.. once 
one of the major name band jobs 
in the city, is planning to reopen and 
is now on the prowl for a name 
outfit with sufficient stature to 
launch the room with a bang. As 
return. ' soon as such a combination can be 
j bought, the refurbished room will 
I get going. 

card in Central Park. N. Y., and sub- j McAlpin was recently purchased 
slituted his name for that of the | by Jules Levy, head of the Craw- 
rightful owner. He also wore a serv- j fol ' d Clothes chain, 
ice.embi.cm in his coat lapel. Cal shrum anThSTRhythm Ran- 

■ Crider failed to make a '$2,500 | ge rs' booked' for five weeks .ol dales 
bond in Laredo. Lin the Pacific Northwest. 



Florida High Court 
Upholds Decision In 
ASCAP Rights Battle 

Florida's circuit ■ com I of the sec- 
ond judicial district last week con- 
firmed a previous decision by Special 
Master James Master. Jr.. which 
cleared the way for. the American 
Society of Composers. Authors and 
Publishers to resume doing business 
in that slate.' .Judge W. May Walk- 
er, presiding oyer the high court, 
found that "ASCAP is not a price-., 
fixins combination and is not pro- 
hibited from doljig business in 
Florida." .' ' 

Society was defendant in a suit 
brought by Florida Attorney Gen- 
eral J. Tom Walson. who sought to 
prevent it from licensing users of 
music represented by ASCAP in 
lhar state. Suit was a long,, drawn- 
out affair that was finally settled 
only two months ae.o. 



New Disc Co. Formed 

Holly wood. June 12. 
New series . of. platters, labeled 
Continental Records, will be issued 
| by Associated Enterprises. Inc.. With 
Harry Revel as talent chief and 
Ferde Grofe and Nancy Kelly the 
first artists to be signed. 
. . New company lists Leonard Kap- 
lan. August M. Nardoni and Paul 
Kinaldi as associates. 



Chicago 

Les Brown (Panther Room. Sherman hotel; 950: $1.50-$2.50 min.V Brown 
opened Friday (8 >. splitting good 6.000 with preceding Jimmy Dorsey ag- 
gregation. Dinning Sisters and Bob Crum h.o. 

Wayne Kin* I Marine Room. Edgewater Beach hotel: 850: $3-$3.50 inin.l. 
Cool w-eather- (fas delayed opening of Beachwalk, but payees packed the 
Marine Room 9.000-strong. 

Dick La Salle (Mayfair Room. Blackstone hotel: 465: $i.50-$2.50 rhjn'.X. 
Trend in tabs is upward, now that Carl Brisson holds sway. Nice 2.400 this 
time. .,.''..'.-'.■ ■•' ' ■'. ■' .'■"' •" '•■ "••. ',' V . ' 7 •' 

George Olsen ( Empire. Room, Palmer House; 700: $3 -'$3.50 min.1. Olsen, 
Henny Youngman, Lath'rop & Lee, et al, drew 8,300— biggest the room has 
ever done outside of Hildeijarde; - . •'.-.;:■'•; • - ~- - .. , -'. .;'-- 

Emit Petti (New Walnut Room. Bismarck hotel: 465; $t.50-$2;50 mh);>, 
Pelti followed Buddy Franklin Friday ^(8). lo pull it up to 2.900. 

Ted Weems (Boulevard Room. Stevens hotel: 650: $3-$<).50 min.i. Weems 
and big vaude bill" got the biggest crowds in the room's history last week: 
8,800. 



Los Angeles 



Freddy Martin (Ambassador; 900: $1-$1.50>. Same old pull and same 
old figure of 4,000 covers. , 

Joe Jteiehman (Biltmorc; 900: $1-$1.50>. Doing excellent biz with jump 
to 4.200 tabs. . ■ '.. . . .'. 

Location Jobs, Not in Hotels 

(Chicago) 

Gay Claridge (Chez Paree: 650: $3-$3.50 min.1. Last pC'the 'Red. Hot 
Mammas and Claridge packed in 5.700. . 

Del Courtney (Blackhawk: 500: $2-$2.50 mili.l. Biz big here, too, with 
3.800 oil hand for Courtney. Imaginators. Mar.jorio Lane. .'.'•'.-. 

Ted Lewis (Latin Quarter: 700: $3-S3.50 mill,). Everybody's happy. Lewis 
pulled in 6.000. 

(Los Angeles') '■'.-..• 
Tony Pastor (Palladium. B. Hollywood. 6th week'. Pastor moved his 
band out with 24.000 admishes and is replaced this Week by Tommy 
! Tucker. 

Charlie Burnet (Trianon, B. South Gate. 3rd week). Hitting a solid high 
level at 9.200 payees. '•..'/ 
Leiglilon Noble (Slapsy Maxie's, N, Los Angeles. 26th week). Hit usual 
I 3.200. 

Carlos Molina, King Cole Trio, Trocadero. N. Hollywood. 12th week). 
Plenty of coin around witli the curfew oil' and sock at 2.600 tabs. 

Carmen Cavallaro (Giro's. N, Hollywood. 3rd week).' Still they come to 
the tune of 2,650 and there's no more room. .• - 



... 




;bor* 



Lyric by Sammy Cahn • Music by Jule Styne 





By Freddie Slack, Floyd Victor, ft. N. Herman 




■ ' ■ - ' .-.-- : : ■ ::' :. : 



I 





Lyric by Haroid Adamjon • Music by Jimmy MeHugh 




fiON 1619 BROADWAY N. Y. 19 



ION MOONBY, 
G*n. Prof. Mgr. 



Wednesday, Jane 13, 19-15 

NBC €BS, Blue, Mutual Plugs 

► Following is list o1 tht most played popular tunes on the networks for the 
week beomniiig Monday and through Sunday, June 4-10, jrom 5 p.m. 
to 1 a.m. List represents the first approximately 25 leaders in alphabetical 
order tin some cases there are ties, accounting for a longer list). The 
compilations embrace the NBC, CBS, Blue and Mutual Networles, as repre- 
sented by WEAF, W 'ABC, WJZ and WOR, N. Y„ and are based on data 
provided by Accurate Reporting Seruice, regular checking source of the 
music publishing industry. 

TITLE ' PUBLISHER 

A Friend of Yours— f"Great John L." Burke 

All Of My Life . . .. .Berlin 

Baia— 1"3 Caballeros" Southern 

Bell Bottom Trousers Santly 

Candy ... .......... ..Feist 

"Can't YoiTHead Between the LinesTr— . tt .. ■ .. .. .-:-.-.-r. Shapiro—— 
Close As Pages In a Book— ♦"Central Park". .. .. .. .. . .Williamson ... 

Dream . . ; r , . ... . . . . . .-. Capitol 

Ev'rytime ..." ABC 

Good Good Good ................. Berlin 

Growin Pains— '"Memphis Bound" .Crawford 

If I Loved You— ""Carousel" .T. B. Harms 

I Hope to Die If I Told a Lie. .. . .. ...Advanced 

I'll Always Be With You. . .. .. . — Broadway 

I Miss Your Kiss .... .. ...... .... ....... . .Republic 

1 Should Care— t'Thrill of a Romance" Dorsey 

1 Wish I Knew— J'TOamond Horseshoe" . . '•, '. r. . .. . . . . BVC 

Junels Bustin Out All Over— ^Carousel" . ; ;:.";7".T;~TrBr'Harms- T 

Laura— t"Laura" ... ... Robbins 

Sentimental Journey .., ..... , . .. ... . . .Morris 

Someday Somewhere .... ..... ... .... . ... .. Chelsea ■ ; 

Sweetheart of My Dreams— 1"30 Seconds Over Tokyo" ...... Shapiro 

The More I See Yow— t"Diampnd Horseshoe" .y... . . . . . .BVC 

There I've Said It Again ......... ... .'. . . '. :': ■ ■ IValiant i.T 

There Must Be a Way ■ iStevens 

What Makes the Sunset. . . . . .Miller 

You Belong to My Heart— 1"3 Caballeros" . .-. . {Harris 

You Came Along— f'You Came Along".,. v. ......Famous 



10 Best Sheet Sellers 

(Week Ending June 9) 
Bell Bottom Trousers. . . . .Santly 
Sentimental Journey ....Morris 

Dream .Capitol 

Just A Prayer "Hway. . . .Shapiro 
There 1 Said It Again. . . .Valiant 
You Belong to My Heart ; . Harris 

I Should Care .Dorsey 

More I See You BVC 

There Must Be a Way.. Stevens 



ORCHESTRAL-MUSIC 



49 



tFihnusical. * Legit Musical, i B.M.I. Affiliate. 

10 Best Sellers on Coin-Machines 



1. Sentimental Journey (12) (Morris).... 

2. There I Said It Again (7) (Valiant)... 
S. Bell Bottom Trousers (4) (Santly) 



4. Laura (7) (Robbins) ......... .... 

5. Dream (9) (Capitol) 

6. You. Belong to My Heart (2) (Harris). 

7. I Wish I Knew (2) (Triangle) 



8. My Dreams Getting Better (16) (Santly) 

9. I Should Care (1) (Dorsey)............ 

10. Caldonia (1) (Morris) ..: 



( Les Brown ...... .Columbia 

{ Hal Mclntyre ,'. . . . . .Victor 

Vaughn Monroe Victor 

I Jesters . ... ... ... ... .Decca 

( Tony Pastor. . Victor 

\ Freddy Martin .Victor 

\ Dick Haymes. . . . . . . . .Decca 

J Freddie Martin . . . ... Victor 

\ Pied Pipers. ......... .Capitol 

Bing Crosby .Decca 

Dick Haymes ...... . . Decca 

(Les Brown Columbia 

| Louis Prima ...Hit 

\ Tommy Dorsey ...... .Victor 

'{ Martha Tilton... Capitol 

\ Louis- Jordan Decca 

( Woody Herman... .Columbia 



Harry James' Month 
Of One - Nighters In 
East at 4G Guarantees 

' Harry James' orchestra will play 
a full month of one-nighters in the 
eastern area beginning around July 
14. This period will be between the 
close of James' four-week run on 
the Astor Hotel Roof, N. Y., and his 
August 14 opening at Frank Dailey's 
Meadowbrooki Cedar Grove, N. J. 
It is probably the longest string of 
one-nighters the leader has played 
in the east since he-became a-top b;0. 
name. Heretofore he has devoted 
only a week or so at a time to one- 
nighters. He is aking $4,000 guaran- 
tees against the usual percentage 
privileges. 

James will reserve only Friday 
nights out of each week. On this 
evening, he does his commercial 
broadcast. It will emanate from 
service hospitals, a practice he will 
adhere to even during his current 
Astor run. He will not appear on 
the Roof those nights, a* sub band 
replacing. 

James and the Astor still had not 
settled by yesterday (Tues.) the 
question of who was going to under- 
study for the leader's band each Fri- 
day night, however. 

On the way into the Astor, where 
he opened Monday (11), James 
played two one-nighters, at River- 
side Park, Springfield, Mass., Satur- 
day (9) and Pleasure Beach Park, 
Bridgeport, Conn., Sunday. He 
drew just under 5,000 people, on both 
dates, at $2.40 per on the first and 
$1.80 per on the second. Both were 
said to be record-breaking dates 
despite being played in poor 
weather. 



Peter De Rose, composer of "Au- 
tumn Serenade," is currently writ- 
ing three piano solos, "Spring Ser- 
enade," "Summer Serenade" and 
"Winter Serenade," all published in 
folio form by Robbins Music. 



Band Agency Executives Meet On 
Methods of Aiding AFM in Biz Snags 



Kirby to Augment 

6-Piecer to Full Setup 

John Kirby, for years leader of 
what's rated one of better small jazz 
combos, is planning a. big band. He 
wants an outfit of 12 or 14 pieces. 

Kirby has not yet reached the 
stage, where men are being hired to 
augment the current six-piece -group; 
but that's to come in the immediate 
future. 



TERRACE ROOM, NWK., 
CLOSES PERMANENTLY 

Frank Dailey will close his Ter- 
race room, Newark, N. J., June 24, 
and_ wiU__iiot reopen as he had in- 
tended later in the sumtrieiv" Unable" 
to get together with the owners of 
the Mosque theatre building, in 
which the room is situated, on terms 
of operation, Dailey's lease on the 
spot will not be continued after 
that date. Johnny Morris' or- 
chestra will be the last band to play 
it, replacing the current Gene 
Kri;pa. 

Mosque building Is owned by 
Radio Center, Inc., owners of radio 
station WAAT. Personalities run- 
ning this organization have ideas 
about continuing the band policy of 
the room themselves. In the past 
week or two they have approached 
Music Corp. of America on the pos- 
sibility of obtaining musical talent 
for the room. They would like to 
open the spot the day alter Dailey 
moves out. 

Dailey reopens his Meadowbrook, 
Cedar Grove, N. J., Aug. 14, with 
Harry James' orchestra. He had 
intended operating both rooms, re- 
suming at the Terrace around 
September. 



Representatives of the various or- 
chestra agencies met in N. Y: Hotel 
Waldorf-Astoria yesterday (Tues.) 
on various problems of the band 
business. Getting together for the, 
first time in a long while on mutual 
problems, the group of top ranking 
executives f om Music Corp. of 
America, General Araus. Corp., Wil- 
liam Morris and Frederick Bros, 
huddled to devise ways and means 
of aiding the American Federation 
of Musicians in the latter's contin- 
uing efforts to prevent or alleviate 
the type of location dates on which 
many bandleaders lose considerable 
amounts of money. So far, the 
bandsmen have arrived at nothing 
very concrete. • 

For some time now the AFM has 
been deeply interested in the "loss" 
date problem. Last fall the union 
came up with a new ruling that, au- 
tomatically released bandleaders, 
from fulfilling optional contracts in 
situations where they were bound 
to lose money, if they filed formal 
complaint with the AFM. 

This regulation .probably con- 
tributed to Harry James' recent 
stand against the Astor Roof. About 
six weeks ago he informed his 
agency, MCA, that he wouldn't come 
east for the Astor unless his contract 
for the spot was increased $1,300 
weekly from a flaf $3,500. Astor re- 
fused and threatened court action. 
MCA settled the dispute and took 
itself out of the middle between the ' 
leader and hotel by agreeing to waive 
a" commissions earned by James 
while in the east. This covered one- 
nighters. played by him plus the 
Astor. Saving to James is said to 
run about $1,200 weekly. 



ROCKWELL TO COAST 

Thomas G. Rockwell, president of 
General Ainus. Corp., leaves New 
York for the Coast next week (17). 
It's one of his periodical trips west. 
He has a ranch near Hollywood. 

Rockwell will stay about six 
weeks. 



ASCAP Drops Suit 

American Society of Composers, 
Authors and Publishers last, week 
discontinued infringement action vs. ' 
Colar Restaurant Corp., operators of 
Bradley's eatery in N. Y. Spot took 
out a ASCAP license, hence the 
withdrawal of the suit 

Eatery had been accused of in- 
fringing on Irving Berlin's "Always" 
and Harms' "One Alone," by allow- 
ing them to be performed without 
proper permit 




50 



ORCHESTRAS-MUSIC 



Wednesday, June 1 3, 1915 



Corn on Cob Will Get Canned Plugs 
As Wired Music Invades Groceterias 



XJ}s Angeles, June 12, 
Mrs. Joe Shopper walks; into a 
food market, undecided whether to 

. buy a can of salmon or a can of 
spamdla for Joe's dinner. A dulcet 
voice in the offing warbles "The 
Fisherman's Song" and winds up 
With a commercial extolling the 

— vitamins-and-ealories lurking Jjx. the 
gizzards of the denizens of the deep. 
So Mrs. Joe buys a can of salmon. 
' This and other economic possibili- 
ties are latent in the surge of tele- 
phoned music which is exciting the 
moguls of mechanical melody in 
these parts. The idea is to pipe mu- 
sical entertainment/ judiciously 
mixed with commercial plugs, into 
markets, department stores/factories 
and other places Where potential 

— customers are wont to gather. . En- 
tertainment service, accompanied by 
plugs, is furnished free of charge, 
with the advertising sponsors footing 
the bills, as in radio. . 

Survey is under way in the Los 
Angeles area to feel out local mer- 
chants and manufacturers. As an 
.example, the surveyors point with 
pride to the results in the Oakland, 
Calif., district, where approximately 
50 chow markets are wired for en- 
tertainment combined with economic 
suggestions to • housewives who are 
Wavering between pickles and salad 
, dressing. 

Riveters' Rhapsody 

Several mechanical music units 
have been set up in defense plants, 
where the workers are given iujee- 



I 

lions of melody . every couple of 
hours to avert factory fatigue. 
SWank dress shops in Beverly Hills 
have adopted tuneful suasion, via 
platters, to attune the buyer to a 
$250. symphony : in blue or mauve. 
Doctors' offices are being probed 
with the idea of installing wired 
music to fortify the patient against 
the rigors of the medico's drill or 
bill. Home installations are imprac- 
ticable at present and will be for 
some time to come, with the tele- 
phone company controlling the 
wires.. : ,. ':/-:■;.■;•.".. 

Top company at the moment in 
this field is Musak, with others 
breaking in. World Broadcasting 
and Transcriptions, parent company 
toi Deccs, and several other outfits 
are reported contemplating commer- 
cial as well as entertainment ac- 
counts, via wire. .' 



'Frisco' 

continued from page 47 




Bob Chester in N. Y. To 
Iron Out AFM Snarl 

Bob Chester, maestro recently sus- 
pended from membership Ui -IB*' 
American Federation of Musicians, is 
in N. Y. currently to straighten Out 
the situation. As soon as his work- 
ins permit is returned, Chester in- 
tends building a new orchestra. 

Leader has spent the majority of 
his time lately on the Coast, His 
troubles with the AFM grew out of 
financial difficulties. 



Buddy Morris Again ^— 

Talking Metro Deal, 
Pic Co. Seeking 51% 

Edwin. H, (Buddy V Morris has 
been talking a deal again with Metro, 
Film firm would like to buy in on 
his various publishing company hold- 
ings and is said to have 'expressed 
t he desire .to take over 51 % in them. 

Metro now is affiliated with jack 
Bobbins 'in the letter's combine of 
Bobbins, Feist, Miller publishing 
companies. , , ' , :.• 



f uss with the surprise statement that 
about 1915 a hit song sold between 
500,000 and 1,000,000 copies, Like? 
w ise when plaintiff offered evidence 
of -more substantial license fees hav- 
ing been paid for similar uses of 
other songs, Judge Clancy refused 
the evidence upon the ground that 
what was received for one song was 
no. criterion of What another "song 
was worth — that it was solely a 
question of trading each individual 
song. . -, ' ■' 

Plaintiff's counsel were insistent 
that the Judge should see the picture 
in ordei to determine that the song 
was dramatized, but attorney Julian 
T. Abeles. who successfully defended 
20th-Fox Films, was adamant in his 
position that the song could.noi.be. 
dramatized no matter what was 
done, so there was no reason to see 
the picture. Abeles told the Court 
that in every motion picture infringe- 
ment suit the plaintiff's attorney 
wanted to see the picture, so that it 
was obvious such suits were started 
for the sole purpose of obtaining 
Annie Oakleys— and that when a' 
Dorothy Lambur or Hedy Lamarr 
picture was . advertised they, had to 
put on an extra legal staff to handle 
the litigation rush. [The Judge, hav- 
ing inquired who was the star of the 
"Frisco" picture, was told it was 
Alice Faye — without Don Ameche. 
The Judge did not see the picture, so 
that Alice Faye was apparently not 
his type.] •' . ' 

Plaintiff was represented by Koe- 
nig & Bachher and A. J. Brock; de- 
fendant 20th -Fox by J. T. Abeles, 
and defendant Witmark by Joseph D. 
Karp and Stanley P. Friedman. 



STOKY TOPS 'MUSIC FOR 
WOUNDED' TRUSTEES BD. 

Hollywood, June 12. 
Incorporation papers/ were drawn 
Up for "Music For Wounded" at a 
meeting of musicians, businessmen 
and philanthropic, labor and mili- 
tary leaders, with Leopold Stokow- 
ski as chairman of the board of 
trustees. Aim of the group is to 
supply musical entertainment for 
hospitalized veterans, now and after 

the war. '. 

Hollywood Bowl concert, slated 
for Sept. 22, will form the- basis of 
a revolving fund, to be increased 
later by a radio program of top mu- 
sic names, backed by a commercial 
sponsor. Idea for the post-war pro- 
gram was generated by Stokowski 
"and John te Groen. veepee of the 
local musicians' . Union, and Sam 
Steifel, at whose home the meeting 
was held. In addition to these three, 
the board of trustees consists of Mrs. 
Ida Koverman, Mrs. Edward G, Rob- 
inson, Carey Wilson, Al Yharra, 
Charles Costos, J. C. Stein, Major 
Newcomb, Kay Kyser. Bette Davis, 
Harry Maizlish, J. K. Wallace, Law- 
rence Morton, Ann Warner, J. Paul 
Houston. Mort Briskin and Mayor 
BoWron of Los Augeles. 



AFM Warns of Penalties If Bands 
Don't File Contracts on Travel Dates 



Minneapolis Maestro Gets 
6 Yrs. on White Slave Rap 

Minneapolis, June 12, 
Honk Ganz, prominent colored 
dance band leader here, convicted in 
federal court of white slave traffick- 
ing, received a sentence of six years 

TtTEeSveri wor ttr federa 1-p r iso tt. 

Ganz was, found ■ guilty on Jour 
counts of transporting' a 19-year-old 
Minneapolis girl to a house of ill 
fame at Dead wood, S. D There had 
been a number of other similar cases 
in the same court recently. 

MCA-Krupa,N Y Astor 
At Odds on Booking 

There is friction between Music 
Corp. of America and Gene Krupa 
on one hand and the A stor Roof, 
N.Y., over the fact that despite a 
commitment held b.V the hotel on 
the band, the latter will not be able 
to play the Job. Krupa- was due into 
the Astor following the current 
Harry James; sometime in July, but 
a deferred date at the Capitol the- 
atre, N. Y„ which now is set to start 
July 5, will prevent its fulfillment. 

Following the Capitol. Krupa prob- 
ably will go overseas tor the USO 
for three months. Meanwhile his 
spot, at the Astor has not been filled. 



Leigh's Flash 

, Continued from page I SSS 



Slim Bryant and his Wildcats, 
hillbilly outfit on KDKA, Pittsburgh, 
alerted for a USO Camp-Shows tour 

overseas.;.'' -. : 



May Call It Metro Record 

: Loew-Met.ro may label its new 
disc the • Metro Record. 

This is being favored now among 
home office execs over the Lion tag, 
■based on the w.k. Leo-the-Lion 
trademark. 



SCHUSTER TO HOLLYWOOD 

Wally Schuster, currently With 
Chelsea Music, N, Y., has resigned 
that position. He will go to Holly, 
wood to set Up an office for Redd 
Evans' Jefferson and Valiant Music 
Cos... 'K 



picked up again right in the b.o. 
groove. Biz was terrif. 

Intertwined with plugs for the 
suds is an animated cartoon, "Hi, 
Neighbor," geared to inter-American 
unity and same theme carries over 
for Rosario & Antonio's lively flam- 
enco transmitted electronically to get 
visual reaction via the blinking 
mazdas. Although - the sign is lo- 
cated on the I. Miller bldg., no 
credits for footgear are forthcoming, 
Ditto on costumes. Likewise no 
music, although whether or not 
Petrillo's responsible for this hasn't 
been publicized. 

Part of the regular bill; too. is a 
short version of the "Iwo Jima" 
documentary film. No sooner does 
Old Glory close "that pic. when the 
customers—Who at the preem made 
life tough for the cops in Duffy Sq. — 
were urged to buy Sehaefer. ; 

For the preem. Leigh put on a real 
show. First time ever a spec used 
live talent. These were flashed onto 
the bull 1 area from the hot attic 
atop the Miller Bldg., and included; 
Bill IJotomson, Joan McCracken, 
Bambi Linn, Jimmy Savo, June 
Havoc and Rosario & Antonio. : 

The live talent went back to their 
regular Shows, and the spec carried 
oh electronically. Sehaefer show 
looks set for a long run. 



American Federation of Musicians 
notified all agencies last week that 
the union regulation requiring the 
filing of contracts prior to the ful- 
fillment of dates of traveling; bands 
must be adhered to or full . penalties 
will result. These orders were re- ■ 
quired to be transmitted to leaders 
under contract to respective agen- 
cies. ■ - 
" Union's letter is the result of the 
determination that . the rule is not 
being obeyed, -and it's inferred that 
as a result of it, many leaders and 
buyers of bands are not turning over 
to. the union the proper, taxes due as 
a result of such dates. Many small; 
locals throughout the country subsist 
largely on these tax collections from 
traveling bands. Since the start of 
the war a majority of them have 
been on the, verge of bankruptcy 
because wartime travel conditions 
have prevented or hindered such 
bookings. 

Several months ago, each agency 
received letters from' the traveling 
delegate of the, AFM's eastern ter- 
ritory advising them that locals were 
not being properly advised oi dates 
played within their jurisdiction. 
Each agency was asked for a list of 
past and future bookings arranged 
by them so checks could be made 
on the payment of taxes. 



* 'Mickey Scrlma, drummer formerly 
with Harry James, and Gabe 
D'Amico, saxman recently released 
from the Army,: have joined the new 
Pee Wee Lewis band in Pittsburgh. 




BOURNE, 




Inf armaria* Maa*a 

And Moil Impart*** 

Radio Programs 

CTs* thl» SxS VISUAL record 
of turns hlia of over 180 pub- 
lishers, plua old favorilea". Iii- 
cludea lead sheet ii and lyrlca 
of ohonia. SAMPLES B'RMK. 



• 101> 
Broadway 
New York IS 



TUNE-DEX 



.Weduesday, June 13, 1945 



ORCHESTRAS-MUSIC 



SI 



Inside Orchestras-Music 

Out of deference to the fact that Tommy Dorsey gambled with the 
owners of the 40Q Club, N. Y., in opening the spot as a name band room 
last February, it's claimed that no other band 1 is getting the financial deal 
he dreW and will draw again next fall. Dorsey was given a $3,500 weekly 
guarantee plus the first, $3,000 in covers, plus 50 '; ; of all covers thereafter. 
Under this arrangement he took out well over $6,000 each week on his first 
date there. . . 7 '7 ' ''- ;• ■ 

Owners of the 400 are now setting its fall lineup. Woody Herman, who 
opens at the Pennsylvania hotel, N. Y., July 16, was booked by the spot 
last week to open Nov. 29, the length of his stay to be governed by the 
demands of the N. Y. Paramount theatre, which he plays thereafter. Her- 
man is drawing $3,000 guarantee, plus the first $3,000 in covers, plus 50% 
thereafter. 



7 In the Freddy Martin-King Sisters recording^)f_ '•Yah-Ta-Da-Yah-Ta-ba" 
there is a spot where the quartet's vocal speeds up Into gibbensh~~BsT>eHts 
the title. Someone with a curiosity as to what is said in the speeded-up 
portion slowed it down. Luckily, all the Kings had to say was "Did 1 you 
know the King Sisters have a dress shop in San Fernando Valley." "Yeah, 
they have the finest things . . ." However, not always is the language in 
these cases so presentable. To achieve the gibberish effect on a recording 
in (his manner, the lines are first cut at 33 1/3, dubbed later at 78 r.p.m. 
To slow it down enough to be .understood it must be played at the original 
speed. ■■■■';'>: .' ... ' 



Frank Dailey has completed his band schedule for his Meadowbrook, 
X; J., spot, beyond the first of the year except for a brief fall period. Harry 
James reopens the roadside room Aug, H^.fo) lowed on Aug. 26 by Johnny 
Long, then Louis Prima, Sept. 11; Sammy Kaye, Nov. 28; then Frankie 
Garle, Tommy Dorsey and Woody Herman, though hot necessarily in that 
order. Between Prima and Kaye there is an open period to be filled by- 
Tony Pastor, for which no contract is signed, and then either one of twV 
new bands, the Randy Brooks combo being pushed by General Amus. Corp. 
or the Ray Bauduc band for which Music Corp. ot America has been en- 
deavoring'to .'find, an eastern location. 



Jazz Sells in Philly 

Philadelphia, June 12. 

Second jazz concert in a couple 
of months at the Academy of Music 
last Tuesday (.5) was a sellout with 
$5,246 totalled at the b.o. 

Concert was promoted by a couple 
of Jocal jazz devotees, Bob Horn, 
WIP announcer, and Nat Segal,, for- 
mer sideman, who operates the 
Downbeat Cafe, hangout for musi- 
cians. 

Tuesday's show featured jazz out- 
fit including "Slam" Stewart. "Dizzy" 
Gillespie, Sid Catlett, Buddy De- 
Franco, and others. Elliott Law- 
rence's orchestra, WCAU house band, 
also on bill. Portion of show was 
aired via WIP. ' - : '■ ' 



John G. Paine and Herman Fihklestein. general manager and attorney, 
respectively, of the American Society of Composers, "Authors and 1 Pub- 
lishers, are still having trouble getting back to N. Y. from England, They 
had their sixth plane or boat reservation cancelled on them Monday .(11). , 
They were to have left England yesterday <Tues. ) aboard a clipper. Pair 
have been overseas almost two months during which time they completed 
new reciprocal pereformance royalty deals with the British Performing 
Rights Society and SACHEM, the French group. .'..'. 



KUHL ASSUMES COAST 
DISC JOB FOR VICTOR 

Hollywood, June 12. 

Cal Kuhl was appointed west 
coast director' of recording for 
RCA- Victor, succeeding Harry 
Meyerson who resigned a few .weeks 
ago to join Decca. It will be a 
part-time job for Kuhl, who will 
continue his radio production. 

Kuhl worked for RCA- Victor in 
Camden and_ New York back in 
1929-30, before joining the .1. Walter 
Thompsoii radio department. He 
produced' for JWT for 13 years and 
spent the last two years directing 
for the Biow agency. 



Biegman, Vocco & Conn, publisher of "Five Sailed Peanuts," which has 
been getting a lot of attention since Tony Pastor's Victor recording of it 
was released, came across the number in an unusual maimer. It was 
written move than 20 years ago by Charley Abbott, oldtime vaude and 
burlesque performer and used by him in his act. Lately he had been 
delivering it for : servicemen at the weekly Lambs Club, N. Y, canteen. 
Adam Carroll, pianist and composer, heard it done so often by Abbott at 
these affairs that he took Abbott and the tune 1o Jack Bregman. 

Music Corp. of America's motion for dismissal of Larry Finley's $3.- 
000,000 anti-trust suit, in Hollywood, was taken under advisement yester- 
day (111 by U. S. District Court Judge Paul . McCormick after a verbal 
battle in court between Finley and' MCA attorneys. Case was originally 
slated for Judge J. F. T. O'Connor's court, but the latter disqualified him- 
self. '" 



Jersey Seashore Slow 
- In Hiring Name Music 

Apparently the promise of in- 
creased gasoline rations is not 
quickening activity in any of the 
New Jersey seaside spots this sum- 
mer. Not one of the many that have 
used name bands in years before the 
war has so far indicated interest in 
name music. Last year the only 
band booked in any of the beach 
clubs was Boyd Raeburn, who 
worked the West End Casino, Deal, 
N. J. After his" run, the club went 
back to non-name music. - 

Networks are just as happy about 
the situation. They haven't remote 
wiies'enough to supply the demands 
in metropolitan centers and the few- 
suburban danceries in operation. 



London Music Publisher Thinks 



Wartime Boom Will Be Permanent 



By REG CONNELLY 

London, June 1. 

Well, the great day has come and 
gone. Everyone saluted the occasion 
in cheerful fashion, and having 
heaved a sigh or two of grateful re- 
lief, most' of us are experiencing that 
"little man, what now" mood. 

The White Cliffs of Dover are 
none the worse, but so far those 
promised bluebirds haven't put in 
an appearance. The -reaction of-the- 
average Britisher is best shown by 
the wholehearted way in which "My 
Dreams Are Getting Better All the 
Time"- has caught on, and by the 
same reasoning "I'm Beginning To 
See The Light" should shortly prove 
a smash hit here, quite apart, from 
the. excellence of its writing. It illus- 
trates admirably how great suc- 
cesses of pur day reflect universal 
feelings, trends ot thought, events, 
etc., which popular songs often deftly 
summarize in a neat, catchy pattern. 
When they strike the formula then 
writers strike oil.. 

Continuing in the same vein of 
thought "We're in the money" would 
seem to apply to writers and pub- 
lishers equally, both sides of the 
Altantic, the totals of the big pop Ur 
lar hits reaching to higher peaks 
than they have done for many years. 
Often one is asked "Will it con- 
tinue?" I see no reason why not, for 
supplies of paper will presumably 
increase in due course, and here in 
Gt. Britain we have yet to experi- 
ence the full impact of the record — 
jukebox, transcriptions — develop-: 
ments which have affected ■ the 
American scene but so far have here 
prayed' a negligible part in our op- 
erations. 

Filmusical Upbeat Seen 

Vastly improved conditions for 
film-making on a .big scale will pre- 
sent further opportunities for music 
makers ready and equipped to seize 
them. These factors should prove 
the much needed stimulant for lo- 
cal writing talent, and there already 
is every indication other countries 
»re eager to accept our big successes 
as indeed they always have been. 



with America In the lead. Britain as 
a battlefront was hardly the spot 
to inspire worldbeaters, although 
several of the big popular bits like 
"AH Our Tomorrows," "An Hour 
Never Passes," "We'll Meet Again": 
appear to possess standard qualities. 

Among our newer composers, sev- 
eral show great'' promise. Writing 
instrumentals, piano solos etc., in the 
American idiom are Eric W instone . 
Stanley Black_ and Billy x Penrose 
(whose "boogie woogie" piano con- 
ceptions are of very high standard). 
All have made names for themselves. 

The, one great lost opportunity to 
my miiTd lias been in the production 
field. With this country cut off from 
the outside world, one would have 
thought a new crop of show writers 
would develop, but for tne lnost part 
the 'creative work in this direction 
has lacked quality. Certainly the 
producers as .a whole have not 
helped much. Now the competition 
will be tougher, there being numbers 
of excellent American musical shows 
in store which London will be eager 
to see. . ■ 7/.V 7-7'' ■.'•• '- 

Interest in Latin-American music 
has been quite definite, though devel- 
opment has been slow, Which is un- 
derstandable. Edmundo Ros is first 
favorite, with several newer com- 
binations also gaining popularity. 

Hawaiian rhythms, presented at- 
tractively by Felix Mendelssohn, 
have also proved to the public taste. 
The Hawaiian Serenaders are equal- 
ly successful over the air and on the 
stage, and such oldies as "Sweet Lei- 
lani," "The One Rose" etc., are en- 
enjoying a fresh vogue- as is the 
newer "Hawaiian War Chant." 

All in all, no matter which type of 
popular music, wartime has brought 
a great expansion of interest, and 
peacetime prospects must accordr 
ingly be even brighter. Music^ be- 
coming a necessary background to 
the majority of every-day activities 
on the battlefront, in the home, in 
the factory, the dancehall, in the 
plane, train, liner, and what have 
you— '.'He (and she) shall have music 
wherever they go!" 



★ * * •* ★ 



* * * ★ 



★ * * * * ★ 



* * 



MUSIC CORPORATION OF AMERICA 



V 



+ 

* 

■¥ 
■¥ 
■¥ 

* . 
+ 

* 

+ 7 
* 

+ :f 



PRESENTS 




The Nation's NEWEST Band Sensation! 



M00NEY 



AND HIS ORCHESTRA 
7. Featuring 

FRAN WARREN • RUSS GRANT * DICK WEISS • TERRT PARKER 

THE MOONET CHOIR 

/ '.' "■' . -.' ■' • ."' 777' *.'•■• . 

CURRENTLY AT NEW YORK'S SPECTACULAR CLUB 

■ • '-■.:'■...'..' . v. . ■ ....•■•'• ■'•.■>•.•, '•' 

THE CARNIVAL 

HOTEL CAPITOL, NEW YORK 
Broadcasting WOR-MUTUAL 





4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 



Thanks — 
EMIL RON AY and FRANK LAW 
For Return Engagement 

4 4. 4 4 4 4 * 4, 4 f * * * ' * *, * . * * * * * * * * * * ¥ 



* 

*- 
. * 

* 

* ■ 
* : 

;V * ; ' 
'* \ 

■■■rf.;.' 
'■ V. 

7 : * ; 

'"*.; 

' 

"''*..' 
''.''*" 
* 

7*7 
* 

; ' :* 



WB Probes John Scott Trotter 'Illness' 
In His Attempt to Cancel N. Y. Booking 



John Scott Trotter's attempt to 
cancel a contract at the Strand thea- 
tre, N. Y.. for next month is develop- 
ing into a major dispute, with the 
American Federation or Musicians 
now being called into the matter. 

Trotter is due into the Strand July 
13 or 20 with a unit consisting of 
personalities from Bing Crosby's ra-. 
dio show, for which Trotter is draw- 
ing 313,000 weekly. Early last week, 
Trotter notified General Amus. Corp. 
in N. Y. that he would be unable to 
fulfill the date, that a heart attack 
had left him so ill that his doctor 
ordered him to stay home and rest. 

Warner Bros., suspicious of the ex- 
cuse, sought Trotter's Coast doctor 
ior a final report on his . condition, 




but couldn't get a definite diagnosis 
On Monday (11) the leader was sup- 
posed to have been examined on 
the Coast by a WB-appointed medico. 

According to those close to the 
situation, Trotter is reluctant to ful- 
fill the commitment (contract still 
isn't signed, but has been confirmed 
verbally) because he discovered that 
the cost or presenting the unit would 
have left him with a comparatively 
small profit. He assertcdly was to 
come into N. Y. with four or five 
men from his radio band who are 
members of N. Y. Local 802 of the 
AFM, and in N. Y. he would have 
complemented the group with local 
musicians. . . . 

The outfit the leader wanted to 
bring from the Coast wouldn't budge 
without . substantial salaries plus 
transportation both ways. Due to 
this the band would have cost Trot- 
ter around $6,000. Add another $3,500 
for the Charioteers, and another 
$2,000 or more for singer Eugenie 
Baird (on Crosby's show as a soloist) 
and a comedy act, and so only $1,500 
or so would have be*ri left for 
Trotter. : 



TOMMY 
LYMAN 

Appearing Klrbtly at 

JIMMY RYAN'S EASTSIDE 

G5 Knot 54th fit.. Sew York 

* (.\eftv Park Ave.) . , 
Sperlnl Material by ■ r 

Mii/r fbaxcis 



Buys Nitery Contract To 
Do Vaude With Rochester 

Kitty Murray, sepia songstress, is 
paying $500 to buy back a previous 
commitment to appear at Harlem 
club, Atlantic City, so. that she may 
tour in Eddie (Rochester) Ander 
son's vaude unit. • . 

Singer is reported having booked 
the A. C. date when the curfew was 
in effect and at what she terms 
"curfew salary." While her agent 
was cinching this deal, she contract 
ed for the Anderson unit. Clifton 
Williams, operator of the nitery, no- 
tified American Guild of Variety 
Artists that she'd have to play the 
date. The above settlement was 
thereafter arranged. 

Nitery date called for $250 weekly 
on a four-week stanza while vaude 
date pays double that amount. Con 
sequently she'll open with the lat- 
ter at the Earle, Philly, June 22, 



THE "LID'S" ON! 
IT'S HATS AND IT HITS !! 



Billy Gould, Old Timer Of 
Vaude, Doing Life Story 

Billy Gould, veteran vauder and 
former partner of Valeska Suratt, is 
sufficiently on the mend after a 
series of operations to put the fin- 
ishing touches on his autobiography, 
tentatively titled "Those Were the 
Good Old Days." 

Gould says he has a publisher 
lined up and also several nibbles for 
screen rights, with Leo McCarcy, 
author*director- of Bing Crosby's 
smash, "Going My Way." among 
those reportedly interested. . 

Suratt and Gould had been top- 
liners in vaude for a double decade, 
played all the leading vaude circuits 
here and abroad as well as having 
been featured in musicals by the 
Shuberts and other producers. 

L.Q.,n7y, Job in Offing, 
Noel Toy Seeks Lift 
Of AGYA Suspension 

Noel Toy. Chinese stripteuse, who 
had been suspended from member- 
ship of American Guild of Variety 
Artists six weeks ago for allegedly 
making derogatory remarks about 
Max West, head of the San Francis- 
co local of AGVA. has asked for re- 
instatement. Stripper has tentative- 
ly been set for Lou Walters' new 
revue at the Latin Quarter, N. Y.. 
the reason for her request to be put 
back on the "all-clear" list. 

Controversy leading up to her sus- 
pension involved the actress' attempt 
to run out on an exclusive agent's 
contract held by Hershey Martin of 
San Francisco. West sent the dispute 
into arbitration and Martin's con- 
tract upheld. According to West, the 
actress then claimed she wasn't given 
a fair deal, etc. West demanded that 
Miss Toy retract her remarks and 
apolize. When she didn't, she was 
suspended for "conduct unbecoming 
a member," with suspension ratified 
by AGVA national headquarters. 

Miss Toy agreed to say she was 
sorry last week and when she does 
the SLiepension will be lifted. 



4 Acts Suspended By 
AGVA for Violations 

Three acts and eight gals working 
as the Gloria Lee Dancers have been 
suspended and placed on the unfair 
list by American Guild of Variety 
Artists for "conduct unbecoming 
a member." Acts, are the Juvclys, 
RulolT Trio and Barry Parks. 

Acts were booked into Jimmy 
Brink's Lookout House, Covington, 
Ky., after spot had been declared un- 
fair for having previously cancelled 
out Herman Hyde and failing to pay 
oft" as ordered by AGVA on pay or 

play cAitract.. . .. . . 

. Frank Serines Agency, Cleveland, 
booked in the new show prior to 
levelling of the unfair action. Matt 
Shelvey, national administrator of 
AGVA, gave agency and acts leave 
to finish out contract but it later 
developed that show remained an 
additional week after AGVA's dead- 
line. This precipitated the unfair ac- 
tion and may result in hefty fiiies 
for the acts involved. 



PRESENTED 



FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 
ANY THEATRE BY 




Currently 

LOEWS STATE 

NEW YORK 

(WEEK JUNE 7TH) * 

Jesse Kaye says Happy Felton's "hat bit" is the great- 
est audience participation gag seen in many seasons, 
S-O-O-O-O-O. I'll do it again next week in Washington, 
beginning June 14th at LOEWS CAPITOL. 



MILES INGALLS 
Is my man 



VAL IRVING WILL DROP 
ACTING TO BE AGENT 

Val Irving, the nitery comic, was 
all set to desert his acting career 
Friday (8) in favor of becoming an 
agent with the cafe department of 
General Amus. Corp. 

However, an old commitment 
caught up with him, So he dropped 
the black book and entrained- to De- 
troit, where lie started a date at Lee 
'n Eddies Friday (8). He swears it's 
his last booking. 



SaranacLake 

By Happy Benway 

; Saranac, N. -Y.. June 12. 

Birthday greetings to Tootie Em- 
erson. Mathea Merryiield. Leni Okun, 
Betty Hoffman, Sig Mealy. Kathcrine 
Wolf, Joe Anderson. Ivy Richie and 
Joan Elton, all Rpgersites. 

Arthur Slattery back doing the 
routine after a two-week furlough in 
the Big Town. 

Dr.: George E. Wilson, medical su- 
perintendent of the' Will Rogers, off 
on a two-week vacash. 

Marie Gallagher given 10-day fur- 
lough and left for her Philadelphia 
home. 

Mathea Merryfield, who recently 
suffered a setback, now doing OK. 

Helen O'Reilly, former NVA-ite 
who manages the Hollywood dress 
shop, doubling as hostess at Melody 
Grill. 

Esther Morrisette shot in for a 
weekend vacash to visit with Victor 
Gamba, IATSE, who is flashing good 
reports. 

Kathlyn Bernard, former vaude 
performer, checked in at the Rogers. 

Eddie Rehberg upped for meals 
and mild exercise. 

Irving Brabstein .given his first 
out-of-the-san downtown pass to 
show his folks around the town. 

Inez Liverpool. Alice Farley. Abe 
Seligman. Eddie Stevens and Muriel 
Sheedel have mastered recent op- 
erations and on the muchlv improved 
side. 

Write to those who are ill. 



You No Longer Need 
A License to Bend 
Your Elbow in Boston 

Boston, June, 12. 

Liquor drinkers will not be re- 
quired to pay a $2 fee for annual 
"drinking licenses" since the. legis- 
lative committee on legal affairs re- 
jectcd the bill 24 hours after hold- 
ing a public hearing. 

One of the proposals would have 
required an applicant for a license 
to supply affidavit that he had not 
been "drunk" for three months be- 
fore the date of the application, • 



Ethel Waters' Vauder 

Ethel Waters, recently in the legit- 
vauder "Blue Holiday" is signed for 
Loew's State, N. Y., week of July 12 
at $2,500. 

. Miss Waters now doing a revival 
of "Mamba's Daughters" on the N. Y. 
subway .circuit. Will drop her legit 
vehicle for this date. 



GAGS! JOKES! GAGS! 

PATTER! WISE.CRAX! STORIES! 

For vauaVnite clubs, radii) M.C.'i. siniles. 
doubles, anneuncers. iredueers, disc lackeys, 
director,, band leaders, speakers, cemies, 
steeps, maaieiani. ventriles. rommentaters. 
writer,, earteenists. etc. 

Fun-Mentor Gatj Filtt Net. 1 Thru 10 
$1.05 Per Script, Postage Prepaid 

Each Filt Contains Over 100 Sock 
Gags • ! 

' Make Checks fumble) ta> 
I'.HI.A SMITH 
Mall lo "Fun-Muster" 
300 W. 84th St., New York City IB. N.Y. 



Anything Can Happen 

Will. 

HANLON 

Ami 

CLARK 

"TWO CRAZY PEOPLE" 
Overseus for VSO 

Dir. I IIAHltY GRF.1IF.N 
rrecs: DICK RICHARDS 



Kirk, King Cole Unit 
Selling at $9,000 Wkly. 

Hollywood, June 12. 

A package deal calling for $9,000 
weekly will combine- the King Cole 
Trio. Andy Kirk's orch, June Rich- 
mond and the Gentlemen of Rhythm. 
Troupe begins a six-month theatre 
tour in a fortnight at the San Fran- 
cisco Golden Gate theatre and will 
work east. 

Carlos Gaslel arranged the sepia 
package. 



Cynda Glenn Unit Almost 
Gets Detoured to Orient 

The Cynda Glenn unit, slated for 
USO-Camp Shows entertainment in 
Europe, especially with accent on 
France because of her background 
as a "Folies Bergeres" star in Paris, 
almost got detoured to the Pacific 
war theatre because of Navy request. 
In fact baggage had gone off to the 
west coast for transmission to the 
Orient until USO realized the, unit 
was purposely priined for the Con- 
tinent. 

With Miss Glenn are The Blanch- 
ards, ballroomologists: Harry Noble 
and Frances •.King, piano-song act; 
and Audrey Allen, acro-dancer, 



AL TRACE 

And His 
SILLY SYMPHONISTS 
CURRENTLY 

SURF CLUI 

VIRGINIA REACH. VA. 

Dir.: STAN ZDCKJER 



^^^^ 

v Jtlwicus 
LOEW 

BOOKING 
AGE IM C Y 

oiNfMt ixfcurivi orncts 
LOEW BUILDING ANNEX 



fa 



i w. 



. St., N.Y. C. • IKyont •-7IW 



****** ,v 




t . America 's foremost restaurant 
presents America's foremost attractions; 



CARMEN CAVALLARO 
EMIL COLEMAN 
XAVIER CUGAT 
DUKE ELLINGTON 
PHIL OHMAN 
TED STRAETER 



DE MARCOS 
TITO GUIZAR 
DANNY KAYE 
JOE E. LEWIS 
CARLOS RAMIREZ 
VELOZ and YOLANDA 



LIRRY HOLMAN and JOSH WHITE 
H. D. Hover-8433 Sunset Blvd.-Hollywood 46, Calif. 



Wednesday, June 13, 1915 



P^RiETY 



VAUDEVILLE 



53 



Bill Miller Files Dispossess Action 
Against New Luna Park, NX Lessees 



Prudence Bond Go's leasing of 
Luna Park. Coney Island, N. Y., to 
Phi! Pate and Abe Seskin for cur- 
rent season is bringing- legal reper- 
cussions from Bill Miller, operator 
of the park for the last three sea- 
tons. Miller maintains that he re- 
tains a lease on the place as head of 
Luna Amusement Corp. and that 
Prudence illegally rented to new 
lessees for $8,500 for season while 
ignoring his bid of $20,000, for same 
lenui'e*. '' 

Miller, through- his attorney, has 
■ instituted dispossess proceedings 
against the new lessees set for hear- 
ing today ( Wed.) in the Bay Ridge. 
Brooklyn, municipal court. Miller 
slates this action will be a prelude 
id $500,000 damage suit he will later 
in-.tilute against Prudence, 

Miller, in association with Dan- 
. zihger Bros., had operated/tuna on 
year to year basis. Miiler says he 
learned last year that the park was 
on- the market and when consulting 
'. the security company not only got 
corroboration but was apprised that 
•when' a .new owner took over his 
. corp would be out. . 

Miller claims -'hie subsequently set 
a deal, to 'buy the park, with outside 
financial aid, for $275,000. Suin of 
$00,000 was laid on line to bind deal 
last year, which represented. $25,000 
from' Miller's corp and $35,000 from 
Jacob SchilY, of Standard Factors. 
Latter, according to Miller, was sup- 
posed to put up another $90,000 and 
Prudence was to carry $125,000 
mortgage to be paid off in yearly 
installments. A separate cOrp was 
formed ' with Miller and Luna corp 
partnered with Sen iff. 

Fire Stymied Deal 
.When area was razed by tire last 
season. . Miller, and Schiff either 
■wanted Hie $150,000 insurance money 
held by Prudence to rebuild dam- 
aged area or else have Prudence do 
it. Latter, according to Miller, col- 
lected the insurance, but would not 
underwrite the. damages. . However., 
they were .still obdurate on original 
•purchase price. Schjff claimed price 
included buildings and other equip- 
ment that had been destroyed and 
bowed out of deal. However, he stil! 
held rights in park through new 
eoip arrangement. Miller, who had 
been occupied with nitery operation 
in Florida last winter, was apprised 
that SehifT was going to auction his 
half interest in the contract last 
March. When he arrived in N.' Y. 
lor the sale. Miller says that auc- 
tioneer refused to function when 
apprised the Internal Revenue Dept. 
had a lien for $48,000 allegedly due 
for taxes on rides and shows, 

However, Miller claims an auction 



was held without his being notified 
and contract sold for $23,000 which 
later was sold to Joel Turner for 
$45,000: Miiler claims that Turner 
was acting for the Danzingers and 
Schiff to freeze him out. He also 
explained tax deficiency by stating 
it involved combination tickets at 
the park. Luna operated with free 
gate and coinbo ticket, aarmtting . to 
15 rides and shows, sold at blanket 
price of 50c. plus the. then tax- of 
lQ'/<. According to Miller, reve- 
nuers wanted a three-cent tax on 
each individual ride, which would 
have cost park 45c on each ticket. 



Paul Winchell Set 

FOr N. Y. Roxy at 2G 

Roxy theatre, N. Y., ' has signed 
Paul Winchell, ventriloquist, for a 
minimum of two weeks at $2,000 
per. He will play the house some- 
time between July and the end of 
the year. 

Ventro is now playing hotels; he's 
currently at the Staller. Buffalo. 



MARION GARNER JOINS 
CHI MORRIS BRANCH 

; . — -Chicago.- June- 12. 

Head -of new club dept. at William 
Morris office here is Marion Garner, 
indie booking agent, who is bringing 
her accounts over, tp -WM July 1, 
' Miss Garner, who's had -her .own 
agency here for the past six years, 
will take complete charge of dates 
for special events, which heretofore 
have been handled by whoever had 
such personal calls or phone, requests 
routed to him. 



Milton Berle Kicks In 
$900 to Avoid Suit 
By Philly B'nai Brith 

Threatened suit by the Philadel- 
phia chapter of (he Bnai Brith, Jew- 
ish, fraternal organization, against 
Milton Berle over a benefit date has 
been averted by. Berle's $900 con- 
tribution to the society as payment 
for expenses incurred by them for 
an affair at which Bcrlc was unable 
to appear. April 2. -..'', 

Berle was forced to cancel out of 
the Ph.illy date when he was ground- 
ed at Jacksonville. Fla.. after playing" 
a gratis d.ateat the Avon Park (Fla.) 
Army Air Base. Organization was 
peeved inasmuch as this was the sec- 
ond straight stand-up by Berle.' He 
begged out. of a Feb. 25 date fn Phil- 
adelphia, to aHow him to prepare" for 
his Roxy theatre, N. Y.. appearance, 
and hired talent (Frank Fay. Belle 
Baker) to appear in his stead. 

Berle also promised to do a per- 
sonal for them at a time convenient 
to both. The April 2 date was it.. 



European Peace Already Affecting 
Act Prices; Agents Conditioning 
Talent to Lower Peace-Time Levels 



Talent prices are just beginning 
to reflect the European victory, Ac- 
cording to bookers, there's less hag- 
gling over act-salaries now than at 
any time since the start of the war. 
Agents for the most part are now 
content to book an act. at the same 
price; received for a previous date at 
a theatre. Bookers feel that the 
standstill is the prelude to the' long- 
awaited genera) reduction of war- 
time prices. 

Chief reason for the downward 
price trend is the fact that agents 
are now looking ahead to post-war 
business. The percenters are per- 
suading acts to cooperate and un- 
derstand the plight of the bookers, 
as "a 'means- of conditioning - them to- 
peace-time price " levels. '" There's 
many a $200 a week act - that has. 
b,een drawing $750 for so long that 
the drop to natural levels will be a 
shock hard to take. Due' to this, 
agents are looking forward to the 
day when acts will be shopping for 
new handlers because - their salary 
levels can't be maintained. If they 
can straighten them out n^w, there 
will be so much less trouble later. 

Bookers also figure that the heavy 



discharge of servicemen, along with 
cutbacks in production are bound to 
have consequences at the b.o. Until 
industrial reconversion is completed, 
a drop in theatre grosses is likely to 
result in many areas, therefore pres- 
ent cooperation with bookers is 
rapidly becoming a matter of neces- 
sity. • . v .'•■ ■ .:;'- ' •■ 



PHIL SILVERS SET AT 
ROXY, NY, AFTER USO 

Phil Silvers, now on an overseas 
tour lor USO-Camp Shows witii the 
Frank Sinatra unit, has been signed 
for the Roxy theatre.- N. Y., starting 
AugL. 8l on-- the -first. .CarL Ravazza 
show. Negotiations for Silvers have 
been on for some time. 

Carl Ravazza will start a six- 
month stay there on that date. He'll 
conduct a pit band, building of which 
is soon scheduled to start; • . 



Center theatre, Norfolk, and the 
National theatre, Richmond, Va.. are 
set to reopen for the season Sept. 13 
with a production policy. Both 
houses, closed May 30. ■ , 



the ingenious 



■LUBEIWCE 



Uber-AH-chee 



THE AMAZING 

LADY ETHEL 



AND 



DR. JESTER 

Marvels of Magical 
Perception 
MENTAUST ; 

SUAVE 
MYSTIFYING 
HILARIOUS 




HhIIIIiik Ili'ni'KS ill (he lull it linli'l 

munifi nil over IIiIm iiinlliii'iit Im ii hIihiH* 
trai fur Uils iiinu/.iliK <'im|ili\ lleinoli- 
•IrnliiiK I heir unlif llevulilc ffiils ■>■ 
niciiinl iticllily. lOmiriliillv Imiirrmird ami 
•'iillilisinsll.' IIiiihI' «lii> ■•«• Mlieplinil 

lii'fiirc |.lii»y vlmlli'.iifci> Miem 4 lirHlilinl iiu-iir 

(llllcli. Truly «f Ilic SEASON'S 

Ol"JST.\Nl»IN<; ,\ | -| K.\< TIOS.S. 

Vurrvtiify ■ 
KIM; KDlVAUK uomr, 
TOItoNIO 

M.C.A.. NEW YORK 




;pss 
111 



'A 
% 



wmmmmm &*;■•« w0Mmm 

.' .11 ill: .- .-'.-■.: ■ ■! i'i ii iii- ■ W'» '''^MP-^iKA 
' './/.I, ,'.\ 




AT ihi * in ■ **■» j 

WASHINGTON, D.C. J 




HOTEL PLAZA 



NEW YORK 



i 

1 

s 



Personal Manager— W. PATRICK BURKHARDT 
Oirection-MCA ARTISTS LT&. 



STIINWAY PIANO 



51 



VAUDEVILLE 



PfttRIETY 



Wednesday, Jurtfi IS, 1945 



Acts Waned by AGVA Not to Open 
At Copa, N. Y„ Unless Basic Pact Set 



Hollyw'd Hotel, West End, Jersey Resorts Resuming 



' Dispute between American Guild 
oi Variety .Artists and Copacabana 
niiery. .N. Y„ anent. patting basic 
minimum contract with talent union 
remained status quo when "Variety" 
veil t to press yesterday <12>. How- 
ever, there were indications thai, 
both parties would get together 
either last night or today to iron on! 
union's unfair listing of the spot, ef- 
fective tomorrow (14). 

Over the weekend AGVA notified 
Mitzi Green and other acts sched- 
uled lo open in the Copa's new show 
tomorrow night (Thurs.1 of the un- 
fair listing and admonished them 
not to play the date or lace, suspen- 



N. J„ Bought by Trotzky | Seasonal Floor Shows 

Hollvwood hotel. West Knd, N. .!.. I Result niterios are beginning to 
One of the largest summer resorts open again with' the approach of 
on the New Jersey shore, has been summer. Openings already an- 
purchased by Nathan Trofzky, w.U. nouttccd include the Ross Fenton 
! caterer of New York and Hollywood. Farms. Asbury Park, N. J., and the 
sion .arid , fines for '•conduct unbe-. no-is making extensive alterations, Bath and Turf club, Atlantic City, 
coming a member." installing a niiery and ballroom and Ross Fenton Farms -wiH.be opcral- 

Matt Shelvey. head of AGVA. said w jn opcn it June 29. Purchase price ed this year by Irving Bressler and 
he would confer with Jack EnlriUta... j -s „ 0 t disclosed. , : | will open late this month, with the 

general .manager for Monte Proser, | Nilery wi n jj lav „ amc bands \'' Jo *° rurbello _rhumba orch, Mnrga 

throughout the. summer, with Harold 
Stern and his orch set as the open 



on terms of contract today (131 but 
would not lift the unfair aclion until 
contract was actually inked. 



l and Charlotte Stuckle. 

Bath and Turf proems June 



29, 



N Y. Hotels 



Colltilllied f rum patfe 1 s 
to deployment to 



the 



The 

Drunkenest 
Drunk You 
Ever Saw. 
The ' ' 
Laughingest 
Laughter 
You Ever 
Heard. 
Put 

Together 
It'* 




STEVE 
EVANS 

JUNE 14 TO 21 
EARLE, WASHINGTON. D. C. 



*h;t.— math kohkk 



war prior 
Pacific. 

This condition is expected to con- 
tinue despite the fact that Washing- 
ton is urging relatives to stay at 
home as normal Army furlough pro- 
cedure will speed their GI to his 
r home -hearth-- even -before- they -can 
meet him at the gates of the reas- 
signment center. However, most 
families want to spend a few days 
in Manhattan before leaving pol- 



ing attraction in addition to a lavish ] ^ith ■Yvolto, headlining. 
1 floorshow now being . liiieJ up. 
| Hotel, built in 1900 at reported cost 
i of $2,500,000, has accommodations for 
j 1,000 guests. Its landscaped grounds 
cover eight city blocks and include 
golf course, tennis courts, swimming 
pool, beach club and cabanas. 




DIKING 
THE KNTIKK 
SKVKNTH 
WAR LOAN IIKIVK 

ARTHUR 

*l(Oll\\ 

MASTliK OF CKBKMONY Of TUH 

UNITED STATES 
TREASURY tONDMOIILE 

Tmirliijf the 5 lftorourti« of Sew l'urfc 
• 

Kr4*Hilca*l i«|f Hi* Comic liii|**?rr 
ttoimlftniii* on (lie Ku«liu for 

GIIBONS ALE 

Dir.: Nat'l Concert Artists brat 



Visitor* Hypo Cafes 

Broadway niteries seem to be 
the major beneficiaries, outside 
Of hotels, of the unprecedented 
influx of visitors to N. Y. Nitery 
grosses on the Stem have 
boomed an average 10"; over 
last year. Takes are bigger de- 
spite the run of bad weather 
which would normally have 
dented the b.o. 

June is generally regarded as 
a good month for the bistros be- 
cause of the influx of buyers. 
The fact that the June business 
is greater thin that of last year, 
generally a record-breaking an- 
num for most spots, provides an- 
other indication of the enormity 
of the visitor influx. 



• • . gam pmBHi uptcDi y. 

Mont real Itaily ftinr 

THE MACK TRIPLETS 

On Taur Willi Phil Sailalnv 

En Malarial Personal Mai. 

HARRY COHEN PHIL FARRELl 

tm BraaaVay its* I 



ACTS WANTED AT ONCE 

Contact Louis Samwy'i Museum of 
Crime, S24 South Main Street. Los 
Angeles. Best Location on Main 
Street. 



home, consequently it's likely that 
this situation will continue. * 

With the acute hotel shortage, 
this is causing an additional strain 
upon the transportation situation. 
Col. J. Monroe Johnson. Office of 
Defense Transportation director, last 
week urged that the public volun 
tartly restrict travel to even a great-, 
er degree if travel -rationing is to be 
averted. It was hinted that the ban 
on conventions may be extended to 
local meetings and movement in 
connection with entertainment and 
sports may have to be curtailed-. In 
his statement Johnson said, "As yet 
no formal restrictions have been 
imposed, but they will be if the need 
is indicated." , 

Johnson noted that with an aver 
age of 300,000 troops arriving each 
month until April, 1946. and more 
than that number on furlough at all 
times, seats on all types of public: 
vehicles will be at a premium. 

At the same time he warned that 
the. vacation season will come when 
movement of troops and material 
will be at its height and likely to 
cause further complications. 



Coin Squabble Follows 
Death of Soph Tucker's 
Brother, Phil Abuza 

Chicago. June 12. 
Injunction preventing National 
City Bank of N. Y. from transfer- 
ring securities placed there by her 
late brother and business manager. 
Phil Abuza. ..was secured last week 
by Sophie Tucker, appearing 'here' at 
the Chez Paree, through her attor- 
ney. A. J. Halprin. Move, it was 
learned from Miss Tucker, was I 
aimed, at her widowed sister-in-law. 
Mrs. Leah Abuza, and the . latter 's 
son Henry. 

Securities, including stocks, bonds, 
mortgage certificates, etc.. valued at 
anywhere between $200,000 and 
$300,000. were removed by Mrs, 
Abuza. Miss Tucker charged, the 
morning after her brother died on. 
May 9. Petition seeking restraining 
injunctions against the bank and 
against anyone else seeking to re- 
move the holdings, representing a 
"sizable portion of her life earn- 
ings." was okayed by N. Y. Supreme 
Court, entertainer said. 

Miss Tucker charged that the eon- 
tents of the vault were illegally emp- 
tied by Mrs. Abuza and her son 
while she was on her way to attend 
the funeral. Miss Tucker's jewelry 
was not involved as it was kept in a 
separate box. 



Chi EMA Elects Goss . 
Headman; Defers Action 
On AGVA Pact Problems 

Chicago, June 12. 
Thai Entertainment Managers 
Assn. election, for which American 
Guild of Variety Artists and EMA 
cx -cs here were waiting before going 
4iahead_with ..final confabs on entrap - 
chisement by AGVA of the agents 
here, look- place Friday 18 >; with 
Lyman Goss, of Riley" & Goss 
agency^ succeeding Mort Infield of 
the David P. O'Mallcy agency, as 

president. . .. 

Also elected were Freddie Wil- 
liamson, Central Booking Office; and 
Paul Man. Marr agency, veepecs; 
Lcn Fisher. Fisher agency, secre- 
tary. Following were appointed to 
board of directors: Dave O'Malley. 
Sam Levy, Barnes-Carruthers Fair 
Booking Assn.: Joe Cody, Cody At- 
tractions: ., Sid Page. Page agency: 
and James A. Roberts, Roberts 
agency. 

Members agreed to discuss the 
AGVA deal after a meeting of the 
board "sometime soon." None of 
Chi's talent agents, it seems, care to 
insist on nitery or theatre operators 
being tied to them by a written 
agreement, as set forth in the pact, 
which, it was acknowledged, is the 
main reason EMA execs and Matt 
Shelvey, national administrator of 
AGVA. hadn't reached an agreement 
for agents to sign AGVA's ten -per- 
center contract when Shelvey left 
here last week. 



Miami's Clover Gob 
Tripped by OPA On 
Upped Price Ceilings 

Miami, June 12. 

Clover Club, one of Miami's best 
known night spots, was fined $15,040 
by the OPA for overcharges on bev- 
erages during the period from Octo- 
ber, 1944. E'.rving Moss, owner of the 
dub since that time, claims he con- 
tinued to serve drinks at the prices 
set by the previous owner, and that 
he was unaware of any violation of 
ceiling prices. 

OPA ruled that scotch and bour- 
bon, drinks were priced at 8%, 
over the ceiling prices and that 
mixed drinks a'. 30'<' above. Penalty 
is largest ever assessed by the OPA. 
against any Miami business. 

OPA order requires the club to 
refund in the amount of $15,040. In 
cases when it cannot be determined 
to whom refunds should be made 
the- money - is— to be - turned- ovpi--to- 
the United States Treasury. 



Shirley Brown, recording secre- 
tary of Artists Representatives Ass'n. 
has resigned**and will leave as soon 
as a .replacement is found. 



LENNY GALE 

BROADWAY'S NEW YOUNG COMEDIAN 

HELD OVER 3rd WEEK 

STRAND 

NEW YORK 



My Kindest Appreciation to 
HARRY MAYER 
And MESSRS. EPSTEIN and MORGAN 



Personal Mgt.: HARRY GJtEBEN. 203 North Wabash Aveme. Chicot* 
Eastern Rap.: MATTY ROSEN. 1501 troedwev. New Yerh 



MIDNIGHT CURFEW LAW 
TAKES EFFECT IN CAL 

Sacramento. June 12. 

Midnight liquor curfew went into 
effect in California with th.e signing 
of the Sawallisch bill by Governor 
Warren. Measure had been passed 
in the Assembly by a vote of 68 (o 1. 
and in the Senate by 37 to Jy 

New law permits taverns to sell 
drinks between 8 a. m. and midnight. 
Package sales are allowed from 10 
a. m. to 8 p. m. except on Saturdays 
when the closing hour is extended 
to midnight. Meanwhile the senate 
governmental efficiency committee 
recommended a constitution amend- 
ment to take control of iiquor mat- 
ters away from the state ■ board of 
equalization and turn it over to a 
single administrator appointed by 
the Governor. 



Miller Dickering to Sell 
Interest in Copa, Miami 

Deal is under way for Bill Miller 
lo sell his interest in the Copacabana. 
Miami Beach. Fl a., in order to con- 
centrate on the Mocambo. N. Y.. 
new nitery operation located on the 
site of the defunct Riobamba. which 
j Miller will open in September on a 
name act" and name band policy. 

Miller's slice is being sold to Mur- 
ray Weingert. partner with Miller 
in the Florida boife. Weingert. who 
jalso operates the Atlantis and 
Melody Bar. Coney Island, was orig- 
inally to have gone in with Miller 
on the Mocambo operation,: but, 
backed out of the proposition.. 

Miller is currently negotiating for 
another Miami Beach nitery and 
plans to shuttle talent between the 
N. Y. and Florida spots. 



PERFORMERS NOW IN 
ARMED FORCES 

If von Hrr In ^jiee'ttl Herviei** or mil — 
for iimnrdiwtr like or iMwI-.MHr return 
It* htlift%v btiMfuef*!». 

Mtr« It o Sot-vie* You'll Always 
Wont 

FUN-MASTER GAG FILES 

t'lilllllfcl Mmlrrjl t .'oineil v Miilrriul for 

All Txpa IVrfornirm 
Kuril #<'ri|»! t'onliliiik Oirr IOO 
Mlirr-I'ire Omrh— $1.05 Kuril 

Nos. 1 Thru 10 Now Ready 

Make C'lMTk* rtt>'uM« Iw 
I'll I.A SMITH 
Mail <« **f'iia-MKHlrr" 
KM H Mill Kt.. New Vwrk « ily l». N.* 



James Smith to Manage 
Chi's Congress Hotel 

Chicago, June 12. 
New manager of Congress hotel, 
skedded to open July 1 or there- 
abouts, manpower and material per- 
mitting, is James L. Smith, now 
manager of Mayflower hotel, Akron, 
and formerly manager of Chi's La- 
Salle hotel. Smith, who has been 
in the business 22 years, will also 
run the hotel's Casino, Glass Hat 
aiid Pompeiian Rooms. 



THE ENCORE KID 

ANNIE LAURIE 
SLOAN 



r'lve-yewr-olij ttiiift-iitK tM'iiMtliwn of tlie 
eenltirv. I>»r.« reeenl rl<* urtjtlunl MAOff 
Mini iIhim*** routine*. ( onstdewl U*|K* 
for |»lrtur«*H hihI mIhkp. Hhk M|»|>«irMl 
at >'.<'.('. S. New York rrcenlly. 
Kfroinnielule.l Illicitly hy Mrk Kenny, 
Aimer Sliver. Jerry I.Wttrr, .llminv 
UurHlit** unit *hiuni> 4.I«*hh4»ii Ffivoritr 
of nil I SO from here t<» (here. 

Roporroiro of 200 lonqi and doac*s 

Pictures and rocordinqs availabla 
to proper offers 

Management S. D. SLOAN 

IS* 12th Ave., Seattle. Wash. 

-j>i. Kiiini :*'■•■> 



WANTED 

TAP TEACHER 

Male or I'Vmnle — Kxperlen<'e<1 Atlnllx. 
< III Id re «i. KeKlnnert*. \il»»i>ml. >l«l«* 
mill qimlillriilloHH. 

■UO MURRAY STUDIOS 

$:H iSwulh Jiktllrea A»riinr 
lit** AitKt»le*N I'Mlif. 



BERT FROHMAN 

Broadway's Gem of Entertainers 
Now Appearing CONGA, New York 



(SI st Street and Iroadway) 



Featuring SAMMY STEWS Sensational Sang 

"AS IF YOU DIDN'T KNOW" 

Special Material by MILT FRANCIS 



PROF. BACKWARDS 

"PROFESSOR OF LAU&HOLOGY" 



JUST CONCLUDED SUCCESSFUL ENGAGEMENT 
HOTEL NICOLLET. MINNEAPOLIS 

OPENING RETURN ENGAGEMENT 
FOR 4 WEEKS STARTING JUNE HTH 

PANTHER ROOM - HOTEL SHERMAN - CHICAGO 



fersonel Mgr.: HARRY GREREN. 203 North Wabash Avenue. Chicago 
Easter* Rep.: MATTY ROSEN. 1501 RreaeVav. New Yerh 



Wednesday, June 13, 1945 



55 



Night Club Reviews 



Cafe tt«u**« V. 

(PENNSYLVANIA HOTEL) 

George Paxton Orch <17) trilh 
Allan Dale, Betty Jo Davee; no min- 
imum, cover $1 weekdays, $1.50 
weekends. 

George Paxton's orchestra, play- 
ing its first date at the Pennsylvania 
hotel. N. Y.. made a resounding im- 
pression last week on an opening- 
night audience consisting largely ot 
the more important personalities in 
the band and music trades. No one 
gave this band much of a chance 
when it first set up shop about a 
year ago, but after its opening at 
this spot, perhaps the best prestige 
date in the country, talk about the 
band's future was tuned a bit differ- 
ently. 

Paxton leads a combo of four 
trumpets, three trombones, five sax 
and four rhythm, playing trombone 
and tenor sax himself. On Opening 
night the group was really on fire, 
pounding out excellently arranged 
pops and originals in a manner that 
left' no "doubt -as-:to--the..outflfs. big- 
time. status. Constant rehearsals have 
welded the men into a solid unit, an 
achievement for which Paxton rates 
a nod. since he has no outstanding 
individual musicians; 

Betty Jo Davee and Allan Dale 
handle vocals. She's new to the 
band and proves a ' fair enough 
singer, but her spot calls for' more 
animation. Dale is being heard 
here for perhaps the first time; poor 
p.a. system in the Lincoln hotel, 
where Paxton spent three months 
last winter, kept him hidden. He 
sings unusually well in a style all 
his own.* Wood. 



Same tempo is maintained by her 
husband, Charles Carrer, whose 
gusto rejuvenates standard juggling 
tricks with cocktail glasses. 

Classiest package of bill is Sylvia 
Opert. who makes a Javanese dance 
and a torso-tossing "Beal Street" 
impersonation seem torrid without 
being too suggestive. Both numbers 
are doubly fortified by her nifty fig- 
ure- and eyebrow-lifting costumes, 
which draw plenty of wolf-whistles. 

Bert Stanley, a perennial visitor 
here, registers heavily as usual with 
his lusty-tenored renditions of pops I 
tfom "Great Day" to an operetta I 
medley. Good production value is- L- 
added to revue by six Clara Ray 
dancers, all refreshingly youthful 
babes with plenty of exposed curves. 
They put a fresh twist into flashy 
Hawaiian and Indian ballets. ■ 

' Pullen. 



ting Better," "Dinner for One," 
"Lily Ma rlene." 

pulls 



and 



Brisson pulls all the stops out of 
the organ with his chauge of pace, 
showmanship and .variety of tunes 
but the thing that appeals to the 
payees most is his flair for strolling 
among the diners with his portable 
mike to inject informality, to make 
them feel they are part of the show. 

It's all borT stuff and registers him 
solidly, as usual. 

Dick LaSalle orch does a nifty 
job on background music for Bris- 
son. Made up of 3 fiddles, 3 saxes, 
piano. . bass fiddle and drums, it's 
pretty close (o tops as a dance band 
as well. Hunt. 



l*aluinbo'M, IMiillv 

Philadelphia, June 7. 
Joey Faye, Mandy Kay, Crosby 
Sis, . (2h, KilttWeen Dennis, Clark 
Dei ' Rio Orch < ft) ;" iw cover or ;minr 



Vmmthrr Room, CM 

(HOTEL SHERMAN) 

. '- Chicago, June 8. 
Les Brotvn Orch 1 17) with Biltcft 
Slone and Ted Nash; Dinning Sis- 
ters (3). Bob Cram. Manhattan Debs 
<2); $1.50-$2.50 minimum. 



Les Brown's band and the acts put 
plenty' of moxie into the roof-raising 
antics on tap this time, to maintain 
the steady boogie beat that marks 
the Panther Room as Chi's jive 
mecca deluxe. It all adds up to a 
fast session, but some new titles in 
the Brown library would make it 
even better. He's running "Take 
A Train." "Mexican Hat Dance," etc., 
into the ground. 

Thumping version of "Hat Dance" 
gets things rolling, with K-reed. 8- 
brass. 3-rhythm outfit in the groove 
all the way. Manhattan Debs, sepia 
terp duo, hold up their end nicely. 

Band comes through with a 
melodic medley, in which Ted Nash's 
boffo wailing sax is soloed on 
"Memories of You," to win. "Soli- 
tude" and "A Train" are the other 
two. latter in particular putting 
payees in a rockin'-in-rhythm mood. 
Dinning Sisters, holdovers, have 
some ragged' moments but coax fair 
palming for "Celito Lindo." "Senti- 
mental Journey." "Put on Your Old 
Gray Bonnett" and "No Can Do." 

Warmest welcome of the evening 
goes to Butch Stone, sax player, who 
has to beg off alter fast, rasping 
vocals of "Good Man Is Hard to 
Find" and "Slender, Tender and 
Tall." Guy really slams 'em home. 
Bob Crum's two-ring circus, also 
h.o. — with audience contused on 
whether they should watch the over- 
head mirrors that reflect his bands 
or the grimaces that have become 
part-and-pareel of his keyboard an- 
tics — closes big with a brace of 
boogies and variations on "Bodv and 
Soul." .- Alike. 



Alpine Village. <I*»v<*. 

Cleveland, June 5. 
Angela Vil.ale Orch cy>. Dell 
O'Dell. Charles Carrer., Bert. Stanley. 
Sylvia Open. Clara Ray Line <6>: 
Lee Allen's trio in Eldorado Club 
upntairs; no cover. $2 mill. ... . 



Another lode-stone was unearthed 
by shrewd operators of Alpine Vil- 
lage when they picked Angelo Vi- 
tale's new dance orch to replace 
Mickey Katz's crew. Half-pint-sized 
Vitale hasn't played in a nitery' for 
years, but he built up a terrif repu- 
tation by conducting theatre orches- 
tras for local Loew chain for 13 
years. Since war began, he also 
built up a new following by having 
the music franchise on most-of the 
big war-plant dances, and this the- 
atre-restaurant is now getting the 
benefit of his spadework in that 
field. 

Majority of Vitale's nine men arc 
radio and vaude vets, who demon- 
strate their experience by doing a 
swell job of show-cueing. Not much 
originality in their dance rhythms, 
which follow the reliable Lombardo- 
Wayne King-Sammy Kaye pattern 
of swoet-and-easy swing, but it's 
keyed just right for this family in- 
stitution. As a mixer with a phe- 
nomenal memory, Angelo's trick of 
giving w.k. gadabouts a warm per- 
sonalized greeting.as they dance by. 
is another definite asset. 

Dell O'Dell makes herself the 
sparkplug of show with her tremen- 
dously robust magic gags that spear 
laughs. Gal pitches her knockabout 
legerdemain at such a breezy pace 
that even her hokiest stunts get by. 



Joey Faye, quondam burly comic 
and more recently of musical com- 
edy and USO shows, is trying some- 
thing new. He's working . niteries 
with a stooge (Mandy Kay),' using; 
the technique of the bump-aiid- 
grind palaces. Faye's mannerisms 
and adroitness at ad libbing . goes 
over well with audiences like those 
which frequent a family-tyrJe spot 
like Palumbo's. It's corn but it's 
commercial. Joey also does a pro- 
fessional job of m.c.ing the balance 
of the bill, interspering his own acts 
in between. 

First time in Philly for the Crosby 
Sisters and they're" clicko. Gals 
have a comedy song turn with one 
of the sisters doing a femmc Danny 
Kaye. Impressions of Joan Davis. 
Ink Spots, et . al, net them lots of 
guffaws. 

Clark Bros., sepia hoofers, arc 
getting to be fixtures at this South 
Philly spaghetti and steak emporium. 
The guys really knock themselves 
out trying to please and they do. ; 

Kathleen; Dennis, petite canary, 
fills her slot in the bill nicely. 

Dance routines of the house line 
iPalumboettes) could stand some 
freshening up. however. Music is 
purveyed by Del Rio's band. Room 
was jammed when reviewed (Thurs. 
supper). Sh«l. 



— Angel -Lopez has ^arranged -show, 
with result that it's faster moving 
and more spirited than: that which 
opened at his Havana-Madrid, N. Y., 
a few weeks ago. Additions of Hal 
Winters, tenor, and Elise Jayne <New 
Acts), control dancer, give the show 
the necessary stepup, but the most 
important change is the inclusion of 
the Cataiino ihum'ca band with an 
instrumentation of three sax, trum- 
pet, piano, bass anil drum. 

Cataiino. Xavier Cugat alumnus, 
forgets" neither melody nor rhythm 
when knocking off the Latin music. 
Crew is highly mobile because of 
the comparatively small makeup and 
has sufficient body to project itself. 
Cataiino takes over the vocals and 
does a fine job on them between 
shaking the maracas. Band is also 
capable in- the showbacking depart- 
ment. Outfit is still too young to 
have developed a distinctive style of 
its own. but it does have the mak- 
ings of a versatile combo. 
. Winters accents tunes on the sen- 
timental side for good effect. His 
"If You Were But a Dream" and 
"Strange Music" get excellent re- 
sponse. 

Rest of the bill, with ■ the Guy 
Martin line. Flores DcCordoba and 
Maria , Luisa Lopez, do their cus- 
tomarily good job. Jose. 



I Nitery Follow-ups 



Stanley Melba has one of the Hotel 
Pierre's better shows at the Cotillion 
Room (N. Y.) with Jayne Di Gatano 
& Adam, the tiptop terpers, and 
Wally Boag, who makes with the 
rubber balloons. "The dancers now 
use the billing which spotlights 
"Jayne Di Gatano with Adam," a 
Smart move because she should 
progress in pix and musicals al- 
though Adam Di Gatano is funda- 
mentally the bulwark of the team 
with his sensational holds and spins 
as he whirls her aloft. Combo is 
prime for truly important bookings, 
although long standard in the class 
clubs and hotels. They should break 
through how for a truly big league 
engagement as she's a very person- 
able vis-a-vis. Their "Dancing 
Tambourine" and "Beguine" openers 
give wav to foxtrot, "Jeanie with the 
Light Brown Hair" waltz and a You- 
mans fast finale to solid returns. 

Maestro Meiba, who is the artistic 
director of the hotel also, has 
brought back Boag. who fashions 
amazing toys, animals, etc.. out of 
a sequence of trick balloons. He 
is a fave with USO-Camp Shows, it 
being the kind of act that can play 
anywhere. He has added a couple 
of new wrinkles such as that floor 
competition between two couples, 
and his own acrobatic tao routine 
which is a nice fillip although he 
doesn't really need it excepting in a 
spot like here, where it's feasible to 
extend the routines a bit. Other- 
wise the Cotilliom has been attrac- 
tively done over, and Melba con- 
tinues with his standard dansaoation. 
Alan Ritchie is vocally featured now. 
Biz terrif. Room is identical with 
Ernie Byfield's decor at the famed 
Pump Room of the Ambassador East, 
Chi. ' A, >e'- 



New Acts 



RODDY M«DOWALL 

Momilog, with- song 
10 Mills. 

Rosy,. N. Y. 

Youn^ 20th-Fox screen player, in 
his first p.a., makes a nice impression 
in an act that is a .miscellany of talk, 
song and poetry. Looking very 
grownup in his long pants, the 16- 
year-old acts easy, engaging and 
natural at the mike, with a similarly 
unstudied act. Lad makes capita) 
of his personal appearance by dis- 
cussing how he went about readying 
it, asking advice from Bob Hope. 
Bing Crosby and George Jessel, 
ringing in anecdotes of those stars 
in support. Roddy sings "You Be- 
long to My Heart" in a fresh, un- 
trained voice »nd gets by. Recites a 
humorous poem that pleases. 

Fiiiishi however, is maudlin, the 
kid reciting an American prayer lor 
GLs with just his face lighted on an 
otherwise black stage, the whole 
business being in rather poor taste. 

Bron. 

ELISE JAYNE 

Dance 

8 Mins. 

Havana-Madrid, X. Y. 

Elise' Jayne. nicely built, good- 
looking control dancer, has a neat 
assortment of routines that compel 
audience attention and applause. 
Tricks interspersed with dance move- 
ments show off to advantage 'nor 
high degree of body control. In ad- 
dition she projects lots of personal- 
ity. 

Miss Jayne hits the applause jack- 
pot with a new wrinkle in cig smok- 
ing. Body is in a backbond position 
with toes used to manipulate the 
cigiiict. Gets her off' to a big hand. 

Jose. 



Variety Bills 



WEEK OF JUNE 15 



Nnmr.rnls la connection uflli bills uelow linliuittV opening day of show, 
whether full or tnlit mk 



Loew 



skiv vokk a 

Capitol ( i i) 

Guy- Lonihimlo ' 
.1 un« YlttVob 
Tm*y ~"A»!it~fnH " . 
Murk flam. 
I'a ul Reirios 

State (14) 
•Jauiier '.■ 



XI' 



V & J:i«-kson 
frcn.) Bunion 1 
Barney Grant : ■ 
Raye N*.l«li 
—WASIMNtiTON 

« noRol <M> 
-Ionian X*. F*.ii*rl» 
Mary Bern, Hughes 
Tjm Herbert. ... 
Happy K*«lttiii.- 



Paramount 



NKH VORK CITY 
^ IVranioiint^ (lit) . 
Jerry \Vaf.T Bd 
Allan Jones 
till Lamb 

Klh'-en Hurl on 43 
Lyn Shirley 
Boh o.nYy 

f IIJCACO 
f ttM (IK«i < I'D 



.Sammy Kuyft Hi I 

J^Jj i, - , L£.'J t <~**iL. ir ?_ 
Cy Reeves . 
MIAMI 
OI>m|>M i>:t> 
Tile r.ra.\si»ns 
.VeO UaVerly 
.lot* May-. 
-Satan Rrn.-k 
E T;ill»»l. : .\lartin 



RKO 



IM>SI'ON 



Stan Kenton ■* ' Vf« - 
rivuo Ma-tiniiiK 
fjij-w f f ire ^ s; anl.-y 



Cabaret Bil 



NEW I0BK CITY 



Biirn fin? 

Elhel Gilbert . , 

Heinle •? rawer — 

llarolil Willard 
lat:l( ttyan 
(diaries StHrMand 
limmy Burna 
Bill KelFcy 
'Jay 'Mt's Unaitett* 

Itlne Attgvi 
MlldreiV Bailey 
l»clia Rh.vflim Boys 
I re lie Bortloni 
Hurron's Birds 
KoMiy. .Short ■:■-'■; 
ChJr.li«ob Trio 
tiifo S«ele( y 

(Ulittmn) 
..f l.mmy Savo ■ - 
.io«Ti White " 
Dofoiys Martin 
Hif»a Kraft 
Gene IflehJ (3) . 
I'hil Mooi-e.Oi'c 
\. ftiffl Wot Irf » 
ll)«>\vii(own> . 
A niHilnrhaway 
Mary Lou Wins • 
,tCUv6o«i"StnU-h.v . 
KjJlall Orq,: 

Oirhivul 
W !Iov..|.m- -1>ev9. 
\ .Mort*oi?ans 
The t;ibsoH3 
lUaitle Malloy 
K'ay K: fC'aroI •'. 
W'liii-twln.ljt 
Dnn ',\Ii:»;imiip Ore 
Art Moone-y Ore 



Wally Boa* 

Hotel IMaza 

Bob Grant Oro-— — 
HildosaKtle- 

II«if«t RittMe'veU 
BUtHe Stone Ore 
Horet riaim 
Kay Kimber 
.Roy b'ox Bd 
Oiirit'e.CIemente Ore 
\arita - . 

Hotel Tart 
Vincent hoitvz Or* 

Hotel UuIilni-f-A 
Ilorm'os AVil llama 9 
t'aiuu _i 
Victoria Cordova' 
-V Brandwynne Ore 

Maxell os' ' 
Boyd Heathen 
f.ou Martin Oro 
.luliet. MaHtery 
OfQuinoey A Gtvene 
FCHJy-'H Stables - 
TapH Xttlter, Ore 
V'H'fan Garry Trio 
Ai»ttl. " 

Jimmy Kelly'* 
l.a Rubio. . 
Jean Colvfna 
RUdya ' L.\ nn 
Jo Ann Collyer 
A ioina 
Itenee- 
Ftostta. , 
Diane Pas* 
Carter & Rom 
loir i Ho Or« 



BOOKING THE NATION'S LEADING INDEPENDENT 
VAUDEVILLE THEATRES 

EDWARD SHERMAN AGENCY 



NEW YORK 

PARAMOUNT BU1LOINS 



BEVERLY HILLS. CAL 

CALIFORNIA BANK *LB( 



.1 liiiOitirdH Ore 
-Nil tl Wynm; 
Khty Muriny 
Tominy Trout 
< III IMttl M 
Pahice <l»-!l> 


SAX FRA.\TIS<0 
Golden <iat« (13). 
Krnnkie t'arle Oro 
Winnik K- Mho 
Jerry Alttiin ■ 


Warner 


NKW VOKK f'lTV 
StrMNd (».»> 

r«oulN Prima Ore . 
( *arr Bros 
Dane nark 
Bun Ice H^alv ■ 
rim .lit i I'tii \ 
Karle ( fli) 


•Iciii Kriifw Oft: 
Bob Dupont. 
WASHINGTON* 
Karle <IK) 

Rosycites 
Helen l y nrr\#U 
Itenakl Kndy 
.Sit've Evan^ " ' 



Independent 



NKW VIIKK » ITV 
MliNiit Hull (I I) 

jCflfh in ill;!* 

Wm i>oll!ir 
K4«tar>l ):<-iv:ll<4t 
Hfriianl tii'ifftii 
VVnr .lliilil. 
Tony CUkam 



t'rt 



I tl 



Rcluih of Caii Brisson . to the 
swank ' Mayfair room of the Black- 
stone hotel. ChicaiJo. pretty, muefl 
proves that (he Danish star is by all 
odds a sock attraction for its smart 
clientele. Singer opens his hoin-loni; 
show in familiar costume of lop hat,, 
tails and cane to prolonged ap- 
plause. 

Tees off with "Song of" Norway." i 
thereafter iru'nning the gamut fion 1 I 
hillbilly to ballads to swing. Second 
tune. "Thinking of My Darlin" 
While the Sun Goes Down," is done 
with a hand mike while Brisson 
strolls around asking femmc cus- 
tomers to chime in with a chorus 
that adds up a big hit. Other songs 
include "All of a Sudden Mv Heart 
Sings." "Gay Old Vienna," "There's 
a Nice. Girl Laving Around the Cor- 
ner." "I'm a Son of a Viking." "Don't 



JULIET MASTERY 
Songs 
8 Mins. 
Iceland, X. Y. 

Although Juliet Mastery's voice 
has a full-bodied quality, she's not 
up to par either jji stage deportment 
or projection for a place the size of 
the Iceland i . It's probable she would 
register better in a smaller room. : 

Selections are in the semi-classic 
vein for the most part, although she 
concedes to popular taste with "Be- 
gin the Beguine." "Lover Come 
Back to Me" and "If You Are But 
a Dream" complete her repertoire, 

Jose. 



Fence Me In," "My Dreams Are Get- | skirl. 



\III.\ 

i Dance 
ft Mins. 

Kelly's Stable, N. Y. 

Well-built, gal gives a gi\nd recital 
with Heavy accent on sex. The rolls 
are smoothly done, but unfortun- 
ately there's little call for this type 
talent since Commissioner Moss 
wiped out the burlesque time, How- 
ever.. she fits' .-into nitery production 
numbers. 

■ Costuming is In keeping with this 
iyp« of dance. She wears a bra and 
G-strlnj? surrounded by a high split 



Jose. 



Sid Clilmluile 

koxy (»:t> 
T x- s iifiiiar'-o 
.lull n i :«►!»•,* 
TUp l k ii*-iiiii,-n 
.lu.'*ku* iIli'KNiin 
Itu.l'lv M.'Pmmll 

\|M>II.I (l.l) 

i< >i Ii,.ib tn rill) 

i.iim; isi.ank 
. ,l»niul<*ii < 14- 1.*»> 

Kl^iiiior Uqwi'l's 
Muil.lv Rnyitlamtt- 
iTwii in (ill) 
' 114-15) 
Mn.-Ji Ti-iplnis 
A I tc I! (tli-nar.]» 



HOlM) ICICOOK 
Hi-nub Ull-l.) 

Klniinor liimnn 
liu.l.ly rta>i;mriit 
r.i-« I'lM-rin 
I In I 'llnnini- 
inno to lilt) 

I'AMBKS 
Tott-fr* ( liS-IT) 
Riiiiii ltf>,| 
.i ulen • Al: 'I'M it 
.(IJcuKun .sniitiitn 
■Ui" M.-ivlln 
Tlie Jliu-lln* 
ClfM'A«i« 
Oriruliil frS). 
Tn'i Woomfl i Ire. 
.WaHlern X- llnlffiia 
Mn'ry 

(Olio In 'ill! 

iivKTWinn 

SiHlr (IT.-IT) 

i'tr<» nulla,' I'n 
"r'nililiiv tlJK 
Tc?il Lniiv 

Jnan I'ark^r 



America's leading ImiepeiHl*** 



EDDIE SMITH 

1501 Broadway 
New York 



i *arous<*l 

Na« IJlalirtlOHf; 

Cm fiimt n<»K«t 
01«a Bacl.mova 
AUla U'uvtnetzoff 
Simeon Karza«tr 
Coilnlban Ore 

I'opueiibuitii 
Kni;!*.* M.niriguera 
Mitsc! <',i-Rr>n 
Ku-ntm Siv;inn 
Marin tk. Ifloria 
Don Dennis 
Joel lierrnn 

Von n««n»> 
h win folk Oro 
IFiiiiiinHit IIiii-M'iiht»» 

:;.ib l fall 

l<<l>nny iturKe 
Ktnma l<*i*aners 
tTsuel >lanf?ean i 
.tlanid L):ife 
I'ei'll Lewfn . 
fltoyia t.efXoy 
Hilly ManUti 
rtiM <Juent.meyer 
Mliohell firm her 
Michael Kti rtis 
AlOi'l UoTfl Ore . . 
VVm'emi 'ivmvpib Or* 

4iMi ( lab 
T!**nnv <;on(l;ymn Ore 
M.irhifo (M 

- llitViiiui-Muali-lil 

ritM'ffl & r>^t;oi'ioba 

ll.il Winters 

liHwe .layne 

.MAjia l-tiuiva t.ope/. 

i *ct latino *}rc 

i "ai-loa Va r»»la Ore 

ll«lll -llulUIHMldHI 

Lotus tSe\ an^ourr O 
/u(o<t Uanile Oro 
lltilvl .tftfer 

lfarr.v ,lfl,m^*i Ore 
KJtify Kallen • 
Itu.hly lieVito 
1'ork.y »*or'*Mi-an 

,iut<» Tiw»i 

llofel li.!imml 



,lav 



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Xurma 

t)i>oif>'-5i AV"»v. r 
»i l>t>i*.'«n' , f 

Air.A.vTu rrrv 

S)«'fl I'lep ( ID-17) 

l»i< K Miu kl.-.v ' 

It Kul ler' «' S<jivjj Sl'-- 

it KiHi-r.'fl ,t BVjoim 

Mi|ipiiflr«iiii<- (15) 
lU-av l-'nViiily 
Don 'A'-Ui'. :) 
L»*ouoi*(i, -Uit.lii'ris 
Put Hrniiititf *'*)• 

H»y»t (13* 
Uiivti .v- l'"-lm 
Mow. -If Hous.-r 
.: Hofj'.ctM 
Tiny itra*r»hHW 
\\ntuu*n K- .l'-.j.n 

Slu4e (I4-1B) 
Kh*lti« X- tU'OVti\r> 
HJllwi'v I'm* lill) 

U«*t(> A'a'w* Moore 
'1*1(1* S;i inuelft 
(Two Hi OlM 



INIH VNAt'fM IS 
< ir* le ( 

V'n Aroiiroc; <jrc ' 
tiny K Vtibee 
4 \Vor1 on Sin ^' . ' 
'AiK^y 'i*;il*>nr 
•f^itnive . lilshjnr'li** . 

UII.HAI 'KKK 

I . HiT(i) |iloh '.On: . 
1! ^*'i«hj VH/ 
'Uri'o Kiisiiu- 

farimtii f I ~»i 

The ' *la-ii-»' S k 
u Minings 
tj#*'ri'e •Hurry 
\\ illow l*n»»e Turk 

( ITIli only ) 
Kif*lilK ft *;»-off,'ie 
lOlli'M-N In rill) 

* otirl S«|iiMfr 
U4-r.) 

s«»t«hrfKr I>ale 
»I«y Xiii'-i i«*K - 
( Kour to (ill i 



inn KuKfW'H ■ 

Kaihryn \m(ty Ders 
Nino MoralcH QPO 
|*a.v«in (te Ore 
Il4»(et Kllfrtiore 

l r.*nry B unite Ore 
Unrryn 

Hotel Oi'onHiiloi'r 

MIvIiH .irorner Oi'c 

Hotel Dlxfe 
Don Halter Ore, 
Hot *f» IC<|i«n* 

Jose Vort*^ Ore 
KsM-v HMtne 
fitah KVllcr Oro 
Uu'l'h Cl^ary i' 
Motel l.exi»K(o» 

Monti K»i 

Tapu Kaua 
Taliina ■ 
Mai to 
,\loKlharta 
Ilorold .Vloma Ore 

Hotel MiM'oin 
Rrskino iTKinj) Ore 
l|*»lel N**o Vortiei 
loan FryMoft 
T'HTy . lirent 
V\\\\ Itoniaine 
Ki'H l-'oiiciino 
M-nohl sl)o*Ia 
"s.inny Dunhnm Ore 
lltitfl IVnnm Ivttwi*- 
r;.'-ortf'» f*a.\ron Oro 
\l;»n DpI" 
H»'f (v J.o Pazey 

Hotel I'ierre 
Di i\\fax\an 
fSihnlfy v Mf»rha <>r* 



l.a CenK* 

Ber* -Kcohmait 
:l Wile* 
.Servanrfos J 
Baron & it". may 
Alan Stone 
Maehtlo lid 

La .HiMkTiiMu* 
Harry Richman 
1'rankie Hyer» 
Lillian Afoore 
IFarris Trio 
Danny Daniels 
So» -asses Oro 
Dletc Rhddea Ore 

l.»#l» OtiitTfeff 
TAmmy Dix 
Ma /.zono- Abbott D 
Gloria OUbcrt 
Sht'a A: lUymond 
Don Saxon 
Hrimhl l.ola 
Mud .s«n Won«1er» 
Ben Dova 
VVInl Walsh 
Marly Beelt Ore 

I.* Rnnuii Itleo 
.lane Dillon 
Thelrna r'arpenter 
.Monica Boyar ' 
Jo.se M'*'llia 
Cedrtc VVallare t 
Leon A EatfleV 
RUdie Davis 
Hrjth A tf *Dwyer 
franrine WhMe 
Stanley FiKchor J 
.lean Moile 
Bob Karl 
Art Waner Or« 
Mnnte C»rli* 
Disl* Onsparr* Ore 
Jean V Murray 
Lady Anne 
Alberto Oro 

Old rt»>'iiMnHla« 
Olea Woytova 
Sadie Banks 
Mimi Cartler 

I^tl'orle Ore 

• Heicrrft Cflrncr 
Harrv Lofrburi Ore 
Clark's- ITawalians 
Harold Green' 
Frecsliinen 

Mara .Trio 
tCorn (Cobbler* 
Sig ^rhatss Ore , 

Siilvy's Roof 
Rnlvy 

**at ter A Bowie 
Ja.vne Manqer* 

Warfc CI«*» 

Morales Oro 
Krnie tlnlst Ore 
Stan Keller Ore 
VerMOto 

Jane Pi«:kc*ns ■ ■. 
'"ofi.sey & Ayers 
Bob Hopkins 
Bob Douslae 
Marian Nflea 
M . Bereere Ore \ 

VHIare Harn 
Al lloblnfion 
Alkali Ike 
Ml la Roa«Hiano 
Moore si« 
Tiny Olai'k 
Kdille Ashman Ore 

. /*«/lt»ar 
t"!ab '''allnwiiy Ore 

• 'ouht T-e Roy 
Day. Dawn & Dusk 
IVarl Bailey 

Bill t;ail*»y 
Peotvee Marquette 
«"ook Xe Brown 
Dorothy Hauliers 
Clnudff Unpkins Or« 



RENARD'S HUB RETURN < 

Jacques Renard returns to his 
hometown. Boston, tomorrow night 
1 14 ) for his fiyrst . date in several 
years. He opens with his band on 
the Bradford hotel roof, playing (or 
a show starring Jackie Miles. 

In for six weeks. 



56 



LEGITIMATE 



VRriety 



Wednesday. Jum* 13, 1945 



B'way Perks; 'Park' 47G Shades 
'Carousel' i 1 /^ for Leadership, 
Tinafore' 33V 2 G, 'Memphis' 22V 2 G 

Business on Broadway was dls- , trig s me money: around $8,0011 last 
tinctly uppish last week until Satiir- week 



day, when agencies reported busi 
ne'ss was sluggish.. From, now on 
weekends are expected to be weak: 
ish Record cool weather for June 
again favored theatre attendance, 
and there was an influx of buyers. 
That was -reflected in the grosses, 
several musicals recovering from the 
violent drop of the previous week. 
Hotels getting jammed with re- 
turnees' kin. ■ • , . , 

Three attractions moved into thea- 
tres with cooling systems, the timing 
being perfect as seasonable tempera- 
tures started the current week. "Up 
in Central Park." "Memphis Bound 
_ and_;;Kjss and .Tell/' yete, the switch 
shows." •■ " ~" ,~* 

"Park" and "Carousel" are nee"R 
and. neck for top gross -honors, for- 
mer having recovered its boxoffice 
form. "Hollywood- Pinafore" is more 
• definitely a winner., getting far bet- 
ter business than the other "Pina- 
fore'.' version. .-. 

Estimates for Last Week 
Keys: C (Comedy) . D (DramaY, 
CD iComedv-Drama). R (Rcx-uel , 
B( (Musical), O (Operetta^. 

"A Bell la ,-idano," Cort (27th 
week) (D-1.064: $4.20), Reflecting 
upward trend standees at all night 
performances last week; over $22,000. 

"Anna Lucasta." Mansfield (41st 
week) iD-1,041: $3.60 i. Colored cast 



Sons <>f Norway/' Imperial (32d 
I week i (0-1.427: $6). Went over $41.- 
|000. has not been far from that 
level since opening. 
—"Ten— Little Indians."- - -Plymouth 
(4911V week) (D-1.075: $3.60). About 
held Us own. wifrri takings around 
$9,500; may move: house being ear- 
marked for- "Marinka." .a musical. 

"The Glass Menagerie." Play- 
house (10th week) (CD-865: $4.20). 
.Smash drama sold out far in ad- 
vance and making plenty: over 
$18,500 every week. 

"The Hastv Heart." Hudson (23d 
week i i D- 1.094: $3.60). Picked up 
around $1,000 and is rated at. $10,000: 
not— among leaders -but --good -thing: 
indefinite until warm weather.. 

"The Overtoils." Forrest (18th 
week) : (CD-1.060: $4.60 >.. Cast re- 
placements. With intention to play 
well into summer: rated over $8,500: 
may move to National: June Knight 
and Judith Evelyn replacing Arlcne 
Francis and Glenda Farrell. 

"The Voice of the Turtle." Morosco 
iTOlii week) (C-939:; $4.20), -Went 
to nearly $21,003.; great for long-run- 
ning, three-person olay: will lay off 
Ji ne 30 but. resumes later. 

"tip in Centra] park," Broadway 
(18th week I (0-1.903: $6). Came 
back strongly, registering takings of 
around $47,000: moved here from 
Century: takings first night in new 



'Jones' Hits 44G in L. A.; 
'Indians' Crabs IVAG 

I,os Angeles. June. 12. 
Sock gross was rung up by the 
Civic Light Opera at the Philhar- 
monic this week with the opening 
of "Carmen Jones." New York show 
; pulled' $44,000 on its first stanza and 
I looms as all-lime, record smasher for 
the seasonal productions. "Ten Lit- 
I tic Indians" bowed into the Biltniore 
I to a so-so press but the ticket buyers 
seem to like it. with road production 
going for $11,500 cm. its Hi st st retell. 

Ken Murray^ "Blackouts Of 1945" 
raked in the usual capacity $14,800 
at the El Capitan for the 154th frame. 
"Honev in ilie Hay" did $3:000 in the 
23d week, at the Musart. 



'Jake Fine $21,500 in Chi, 'Turtle' 
Sock $18,700, 'Father' 13G, 'Ruth' 20y 2 G 



DETROIT STRONG; BIG 
17G FOR 'CARR0LLS' 

Detroit. June 12. 

Windup of. the season here — at 
least 'temporarily— finds grosses along 
the rialto still running , strong. . ' 

Bettering its first : week's .figure.- 
"The Two Mrs. Carrolls" drew $17.- 
000 in the second week at the Cass 
at a $3 top. Total for the two weeks 
was nearly $34,000, House goes 
dark to close out the regular run of 
production's. : , . .'. 

However, the Lafayette, 'which re- 
lit a . week ago with a? policy of 
vaudeville-musicals, grossed, close to 
$18,000 on the first week of Jack 
Lester's assemblage called "Red Hot 
and Blue." Policy followed is daily 
matinees at $1 with evenings at $1.50. 
A 15th performance is added with 
midnight show, on Saturdays. Plan 
is io use a change of acts, every two 
weeks. 



'MARINKA' $18,000 
IN D C; WAYNE OUT 

Washington, June 12.. 
"Marinka," which opened Tuesday 
night (5), grossed an estimated $18.- 
000 in eight performances at the Na- 
tional- theatre, Show played - Wednes- 
day and. Thursday matinees to get 
in "eight performances. Jerry Wayne, 
unhappy in the role of the Crown 
Prince' will be replaced by Harry 
Slockwcll when the show plays Bos- 
ton. • 

Because of inability to get consecu- 
tive bookings, the JE. street play- 
house . will shut down -for three 
weeks after ''Marinka" completes its 
bookings. There is a. possibility 
that the National will have an air- 
coplilig ;_svstem : jnslalle<l_befo|;e_ the' 
summer is well under way. 



drama one. of season's sock successes [berth quoted at $7,688." 



and up around $20,500 again 

"Bloomer Girl." Shubert (36th 
week) (M-1,352: $5.40), Like other 
musical standouts capacity business 
does. not vary and the pace is over 
S33.000. 

"Carousel," Majestic (8th week) 
(M-1.681: $6"). Moved into number 
one gross position two weeks ago. 
though "Park" nosed in . front last 
week: variation reflected by parties 
only': $46,500. 

"Common Ground," Golden (7th 
week) (C-789; $3.60). Slated well 
into summer with players on sum- 
mer salary basis: some improvement 
last week: around $7,500. •profitable. 

"Park of the Moon," 46th Street 
(12th. week) (D-1.319: $4.20). Unless 
forced to move may play through 
summer; some variation last week 
but profitable $18,000. 

"Dear Ruth." Miller (26th week) 
(C-940: $4.20). Giggle-rouser riding 
to capacity pace, which- has been 
true since opening: over $18,500. 

'•Follow the Girls," Broadhurs! 
(61st week) (M-1,179; $4.80). Claimed 
to be as good here as at 44th Street: 
last week .up, with gross around 
$29,000. 

"Foxhole in the Parlor," Booth (3d 
week) (D-712; $3.60). Bit better: 
around $3,500: must move or close 
as "The Wind Is 90" conies here 
next week. 

"Harvey," 48th Street (32d week). 
(C-925: $4.20). Cbmedy smash sells 
all tickets by mail order 'or direct 
sale every five weeks, as do some 
other hits ("Oklahoma!", "Mama." 
etc.): $19,000; capacity. 

"Hats Off to Ice," Center (50th 
week) (R-2.944; $1.98). Much better 
as indicated, skating revue topping 
$27,000: slated through summer. 

"Hollywood Pinafore," Alvin (2d 
week) (M-1,357; $6). First full week 
indicates newest musical is in for 
run, with gross approaching $33,500 
for first full week. 

"I Remember Mama," Music Box 
(34th week) (C-940: $4.20). Visitors 
flock to this smash as they do to 
tome others; around $22,000 every 
week. 

"Kiss 



VAUDE-REVUE 
"Conceit Varieties," Ziegfeld (1st 
week) (1.626: $4.2'). Needs $20,000 
to break even between show and 
house: reported under, that figure 
first full week. 

NEIGHBORHOOD 
"Manilla's Daughters," FlalbUsh, 
Brooklyn. ■ 
"Rebecca." Windsor. Bronx. 
"Chicken Every Sunday." Queens- 
boio. Queens. -.'■-.. \ 



'Jubilee' 3C Opening 

St. Louis, June 12. 
Cole Porter's musical. • "Jubilee." 
teed off the 27th consecutive season 
Of-al fresco entertainment in the 
Forest Park playhouse, sponsored by 
the Municipal Theatre Assn.. Thurs- 
day ill, and despite topcoat weather 
and threats of rain, a mob of 7.500 
that laid an estimated $3,000 on the 
line; turned out for the first local 
presentation of the piece. 



Inside Stuff — Legit 



John Moses and Mark Hanna produced "Kiss Them For Me," which j 
recently moved from the Bclasco, N. Y., to the Fulton, but bowed out alter 
eight weeks, during which the show operated in the red. Frederic -Wake- 
man, who wrote "Shore Leave,'' from which the play was adapted by Capt. 
Luther Davis, organized a coterie of backers, who now own the show. 
Business picked up. and last week takings were around $10,000. top money 
for "Kiss Them" so far, cut rates helping. '"■■•/•'' 

-Moses and Hanna are said to have a percentage of the picture rights 
if sold, but only the- backers will participate if the play earns a profit. 
Kermit Bloomgardeii, former general manager for Herman Stiumliil, is 
still in charge. He has taken offices and will produce on hjs^own. 



Recent trip to Richmond. Va , by the "La (Ting Room Only"' (Winter 
Garden. N.V.) company, which gave a .Seventh War Loan performance, 
was eventful lor the players. Show was given on a Monday, usually the 
layoff night, as "Laffing" gives Sunday performances. Each member of 
the company was sent a Virginia ham and before boarding the train back 
neat press books with clippings from the Richmond press were presented. 

Cordial treatment by the committee for the event, headed by R. C. 
Cordon, vice-president of the Larus Tobacco Co., was appreciated. It had 
been, arranged for- the "Laffing" people to play golf and be entertained at 
a country club; but at Ole Olsen's suggestion, they visited five hospitals 
instead and entertained wounded men. 



'OKLAHOMA!' CAPACITY 
$37,500 IN PHILLY 

■Philadelphia. June 12. 
No Change in the local legit sit- 
uation and it's unlikely there will 
be until mid-August, when several 
tryouts are forecast. "Oklahoma:" 
got another capacity $37,500 (or a 
trifle oven in its sixth local week 
sit the Forrest, benefitting once 
again by^ the cool, unseasonable I schools lettin 
weather. Arrival of real summer | 
heat yesterday (11) might have 
made some .difference this session 
(7th) if house hadn't been a sellout 
in. advance. Seats are now on sale 
to July 28. inclusive, with August 
crop set to go out before the first 
of next month. Only seats which 
haven't been going as soon . as ad- 
vance sales start have been Wed- 
nesday matinees, but they've been 
sellouts finally, too, lacking only 
number of standees'. July 4 holiday 
also displays some hesitancy this 
far ahead, .but that's not surprising 
as this city goes to the shore, en 
masse, if weather is okay and 
transportation is obtainable. It's, a 
virtually sure thing, however, that 
this performance will wind up also 
a sellout. 

Hedgerow theatre, which opened 
its 23rd season in its Moyian-Rose 
Valley playhouse last Friday, is set 
to be the only strawhat show enter- 
tainment Philly will have this sum- 
mer. Policy will be. for this and 
next month anyway, performances 
Wednesday. Thursday. Friday and 
Saturday nights, with August setup 
still uncertain. No new plays are 
being considered right now. with 
"Girls in Uniform." . "Emperor 
Jones." "Thunder on the Left" and 
others of the old favorites to be 
repeated. Company's present direc- 
tion is in the hands of a "steering" 
committee of veterans consisting of 
Jasper Deeter. Miriam Phillips and 
Rose Schulman. First-named is, of 
course, chairman. 



Chicago. June 12. 
Grosses were belter all the way 
down the line last week, with one 
exception. "Countess Maritza." which 
got $16,500 at the Opera House, to 
cue a termination Sunday (10) of 
Shnbert-Opera House Corp.'s pro- 
jected operetta scries for this sum- 
mer. It Wxis only the second of the 
season. ' ' : 

Three Theatre Guild subscription 
weeks being over. "Jacobowsky and 
the Colonel" hit $21,500. and it could 
stay, but it's folding Saturday (16), 
with nothing in view to relight the 
Blackstone. "Dear Ruth" is still do- 
ing capacity $20,500, and "Life With 
Father" and "Voice of the Turtle" 
are creeping up there with $13,000 
and $18,700. respectively. 

Estimates for Last Week 
"Countess Maritza," Opera House 
(2d week) (3.600; $3.60). Summer 
operetta season fizzled weakly, with 
$16,500 for this one. 

"Dear Ruth," Harris (8th-wee'k-V 
(1.000; $3.60). Slill capacity $20,500. 

"Jacobowsky and the Colonel," 
Blackstone (4th week) (1.200; $3.60). 
Guild's announcement, in" 'view of 
fuic $21,500 in fourth stanza, that 
it'll terminate its tour here Satur- 
day (16) is cueing a last-niinuic rush 
to the b.o. - ' ' 

"Life With Father." ErTanger (2d 
week) (1,500: $3). Upward is the 
trend here: $13,000 was fine. 

"Vcice of the Turtle," Selwyn (36th 
week) (1.000: $3.60). Matinees 
stronger here, as elsewhere, with 
out. Got $18,700. 



Solly Pernick. a former business agent of the stagehands' New York local, 
who surprisingly became company manager of the USO-Camp Shows 
"Oklahoma," is now reported still with that outfit in the Pacific Theatre of 
Operations. Delay in selecting a replacement for the job is the reason 
given. William T. Blair, who was named to replace Pernick. got as far as 
Cleveland, where his family resides, then returned to New York. 

Erwin Corey, who was the show's comic, in" the Joseph Bulolf part, has 
returned, no explanation. being given for him leaving the far-flung "Okla- 

Starr, who un- 



,' Elizabeth McCabe. young legit actress, known overseas as the "one- 
girl replacement bureau." is back in.N.Y. after two years abroad. Actress, 
who spent a year in Iceland in the first legit unit sent there, then went to 
England and played with, a "CSO-Cainp Shows repertory company, for six 
months. About to return home she was asked to fill .in in another legitcr 
when an actress took sick. This happened three times, Mjss McCabe step- 
ping into the breach each time. Actress thus appeared in "Throe-Cornered 
Moon.? '"Ten Little Indians." "Junior Miss" and "Blithe Spirit" (Annabclla 
co.i . doing tour roles in nine months. Played France, Belgium and Holland 
in addition to-England. '.. ■ '.' "..''.'. '"' : 



week) (CV»2o' e &) BiU MoCed'wck' Soma!" Another actor may be chosen but meantime Jacl- 
here. where original run was scored: I ^.'-studied, is. playing the part. 
Improved-'last week to nearly $8,500. 

"Kiss Them for Me," Fulton (12th 
week) (C-946; $4.20). Also picked 
up: gross approached $10,000, okay 
for house and show. 

"Laffing Room Only," Winter 
Garden (24th week) (R-1.522: $6). 
Picked up smartly, recouping more 
. (ban the gross dropped- the previous 
veek: $33,500. - 

"Late George Aplev." Lyceum 
(29th week) (C-993: $4.20'. Picked 
up. neatly and still selling out On 
lower floor,' with . taking's quoted 
over $15,000. 

"Life With Father." Empire (288th 
week) (C-1.082; $3.60 1. Run leader 
..improved too, last week and was 
credited with better than $9,000. 

"Memphis Bound," Belasco (3d 
week) (M-1.077: $4.80). Moved here 
from larger ' Broadway: business 
/airly goo,d. with colored musical 
rated around $22,500: 

"Oklahoma!," St. James (115th 
week) (M-1.505; $4.80). Other musi- 
cals getting more because of higher 
prices and larger lower floors, but 
this smash getting all house will 
hold; $31,000; Bob Kennedy replaced 
Han- ■ Stoc.kwcll. 

"On the Town." 44th Street (24lh 
week.) (M-1,362; $5.40). M 
down from Adelphi last week, an- 
other leading musical that improved: 
$34:000 in new spot. 

"School for Brides." Ambossadoi 
(45th week) (C-1,117; $3.01). Al- 
though takings are moderate, mak- 



'Desert Song' Wham 

$31,400 in Frisco 

San~Fra7Siscd~ J7The~127~ 
Second week of "Desert Song" 
continued a house-jammer al 1.776- 
seat Curran theatre ($3.90 top), the 
San Francisco Civic Opera Co. gross- 
ing $31,400. 

Next door. Geary theatre's Gladys 
George-Victor Kilian revival, of 
"Rain." with $3 top in 1.550-seat 
house, did tepid $11,500. 



'WIND 90' NSG $7,000, 
'BROTHER' 11G, BOSTON 

Boston, June 12. 
Tinkering* with third act of "The 
Wind Is 90." Capt. Ralph Nelson's 
new play of an air force hero re- 
turned home alter death, have tight- 
ened loose ends for Broadway open- 
ing round June 21. Play not doing 
so well at Colonial ' ' because of 
macabre theme. Two-week run here 
sure because of faith, of producers 
and plavwright. On the other hand, 
Hub can'! get rid of "Good Night, 
Ladies" and doesn't waril to. Sexy 
opus, which still has sellout nights 
after 10 weeks, will move into Ply- 
mouth from Shubert. June 18. mak- 
ing room for opening of "Marinka." 

"Soldier's Wife" closed Saturday 
(9) after three weeks not because ot 
lack of biz but because cast is weary 
and contracts expired June 1. Will 
reopen in ■ August for trans-conti- 
nental tour. "Oil. Brother" going 
fairly well at Plymouth with Hugh 
Herbert and Arlecn Whelan as 
draws. "Snafu" opens at Colonial 
June 18. 

estimates for Last Week 
"The Wind Is 90," Colonial (1,500; 
$3). Somewhat disappointing $7,000, 
first week. 

"Good Nig-ht, Ladies," Shubert 
(1.500: $2,501. Sizzling $16,000. Last 
week. $16,000. 

"Soldier's Wife," Wilbur (1.241; 
$3). Satisfactory $15,000 for third 
and last week, against $19,000 week 
before. 

"Oh. Brother," Plymouth (1.400; 
$3). Not bad $11,000 in first week. 



A B-29 superfortress, landed at its base in Guam, after bombing Osaka, 
Japan, last Thursday (7) with only one of its four engines whirling/Skill 
of. the pilot. L. M. Pattisptl of Tucson, is credited with bringing in the 
plane.. There were four New Yorkers im the crew', including Lieut. Edgar 
G. Speclor. nagivator,. whose father is treasurer of the 48th Street ("Har- 
! vcy"). Two engines were knocked out by enemy lire, the third not oper- 
I .a tin's because of a gas leak. 

It is the second' narrow; escape for Spector, whose younger brother is an 
Officer in the crew of a B-17 fortress-. ■",.'■ . 



Charles Wiley. 



of the USO-Camp Shows "Night of January 16" com- 
pany, now in France, has returned home because of illness. He was re- 
placed by Oscar Sterling, who stayed overseas for the part when his own 
show. '.'Blithe Spirit," finished its run and closed. Edna Peckham, Ster- 
ling's wife, also stayed, so-. "January 16" .company manager wrote back .'into 
the play for her a small part that had previously been cut out. Erin 
Moved I O'Brien Moore heads the company. 



Pepsi-Cola adorns some of the olios in "Memphis Bound" which com- 
mercial is explained by (lie fact that Francis S. Levien, attorney for the 
eola drink, is also legal adviser to and partner in all of John Wilclbcrg's 
theatrical enterprises. 



Current Road Shows 

.(Period Covering Jtnie 11-23) 

"Blackouts of 1945"— El Capitan. 
Hollywood (11-23). 

"Carmen Jones" — Phil. Aud., L. A. 
(11-23). - 

"Dear Ruth"— Harris. Chi (11-23). 

"Desert Song"— Curran, Frisco (11- 

1.6). : ,. . 

"Good N i I e Ladies" — Shubert, 
Boston (1.1-16): Plymouth, Bust. 
(18-23). 

"Jacobowsky and the Colonel'' — : 
Blackstone. Chi. (11-16). 

"Life With Father" (2d Co.) ~ 
Eiiangcr. Chi. (11-23). ' 

"Marinka"— Natl. Wash, (li-16); 
Shubert. Boston (18-23). 

"Oh Brother"— Plymouth, Bost.-- 
(11-16), .... 

"Oklahoma!" (2d Co.) — Forrest. 
Philly (11-23). / 

"Rain"— GOary, Frisco (11-23). 

"Red. Hot and Blue" (1st Co/>— 
Shubert-Latayette. Detroit (11-16). 

"Red, Hot and Blue" (2nd Co.) — 
Gr. Northern. Chi. (11-23). 

"Snafu"— Colonial. Bost. (18-231. 

"Ten Little Indians" (2d Co.). — 
Biltniore, L. A. (11-23). 

"Vcice of Turtle" (2d Co.) — Sel- 
wyn; Chi. (11-23). ' ■ 

"Wind Is 90" — Colonial. Bost: 
(11-16). 



Gala Reopening Due 
For Chi's Old Majestic 

Chicago. June 12. 

"Sometime in September— if we're 
lucky." was the verdict last week of 
local Shubert reps on when Chi's 
new Shubert Theatre; (formerly the 
Majestic) will open. Plasterers, as 
an example, should have been 
through with their end of the job 
three weeks ago. 

Occasion of reopening of the old 
"Home of Vaudeville in' the West" 
is expected to be quite a gala oc- 
casion, inasmuch as the new lessees 
are completely redecorating it, and 
plan bringing in a top N, Y. musical 
for the big bow." Despite shortage 
of material, renovations will extend 
from the sidewalk line to the back 
wall, and the 2.000-seatei . it's prom- 
ised, "will match in every way the 
Shubert in N. Y." 

Majcstjc was first 'opened Id vaude 
July 4, la04, and for 30 years -was 
the leading home in the west for 
two-a-day under Kohl & Castle, 
continuing the policy later, when 
K&C Were absorbed by the^Or- 
pheum Circuit. It went legit in the 
early '30s, remaining so until the 
Orpheum lease expired. After a 
stab at a grind film policy, it closed 
in 1934. 



'HARRIET' 25G, SEATTLE 

Seattle. June 12. . 
Second week ot, Helen Hayes in 
"Harriet"' at the 1.500-seat Metro- 
politan slightly outgrossOd the in- 
itial stanza,, both .weeks being at 
capacity. 

Second week did $25,000 sans tax; 
the first $24,500. a reclicck. House is 
sealed from $3.50. 



Wednesday, June 13, 1915 



LEGITIMATE 



57 



23 N. Y. Dept. Stores Buy Page Ads 
In Dailies to Herald 16 Bond Shows 



'Strange Fruit' in Fall 

Jose Ferrer plans to produce El- 
Han Smith's dramatization of . her 
novel. "Strange Fruit." on Broadway 
this fall. It'll be his first production; 
he won't be in it* 

Actor, now playing opposite "Paul 
Robeson in "Othello" at City Center, 
N. Y.. will also direct, the play." He's 
owned rights to the best-seller for 
14 months. . 



Page ads in the 'dailies next Sun-*- 
dav (17). to be paid for by 23. New I . h 
York department stores, will herald | jQSg \§ rTOdUCe 

Seventh War Loan bond perform- | 
artces by 16 shows on Broadway 
to be given between June 25 and 
July 5. It will be the heartiest par- 
ticipation by all legit groups, who 
are donating their services, since the 
Treasury Department requested sup- 
port •during the yajJous_bond drives, 
cooperation by major, iiores also Be- 
ing highly, lauded. The ready com- 
pliance of managers, actors, diama- 
tists and stage unions will more than 
even up for inactivity in the sixth 
bond drive, request from the Gov- 
ernment coming so late in the cam- 
paign that it was impractical to give 
bond performances at that time. 

Broadway Would make a stronger 
demonstration but for the fact that 
a. number of attractions will have 
clnsed for the sRason bcfore the legit 
drive will start and some in-be- 
tweeners are not included, it being 
figured they would hot materially 
aid. Virtually e„very new • hit on 
the list will give a bond peri'orni- 
anee, all. but one being special mat- 
inees, and included, of course, is the 
holdover heavyweight, "Oklahoma!" 



Seek to Clarify Rule On 
Switchboard Apparatus 

William A. Carroll 6£ New York's 
City Council has introduced an ordi- 
nance designed to clear up what are 
regarded, as violations, according to 
long-standing regulations. The meas- 
ure w-ould authorize the use of port- 
able switchboards, necessary in mod- ' 
ern presentations, so long as handled;! 
by licensed electricians such as those 
heading electrical departments back- j 
stage.- '-.'.• j 

During the spring city inspectors j tracts for a new musical, "The 
objected, to the movable switch- [Duchess . Misbehaves,"' which he 
boards, also to electrical cables not i p i a ,-j s to produce before the fail. 



Soldier Vote Not Expected to Figure 
Materially in Final Equity Balloting 



A. P. Waxman to Produce 



Although counting of ballots for 
I Equity's contested election was set 
back over seven weeks after the. 



election June 1, in order to get in 



Frank Black's Musical f 



A. P. 



ATAM Starts 
Welfare Fund 



securely—anchored,, but^stagehands-j-show-has-music by-Dr. Frank-Black 
pointed out if such an order was . NBC conductor, and book and lyrics 
mandatory, scene changes" could not j by Gladys Shelley. Story, laid in 
be made. Inspections also resulted 
in orders for installation of new en- 



\ Assn. of Theatrical Agents and j 
Managers has started a welfare de- 
partment whereby members will 
have hospitalization and death ben- 
efits available from a fund to be 
raised ' by- assessment' That was de- 
, cided upon at a special meeting in 
Purchasers o( '.^»'^?_ n f s : °"^ | New York Monday 111) and replaces 

the plan for life insurance, which 
was favorably voted on some time 
ago. Indicated shortly thereafter the 
average ATAM-er is 56 years of age. 
which would require too high a 
premium from any established in- 
surance company. 

i Welfare fund becomes operative 
expected closings such performances immediatelv . as does tne c „|f 6c tion 
have been held n. abeyance m al- | of 4Wt ' asse?sm ei,ts on salaries. Death 

benefit presently is $250, but when 
the fund amounts to $,15,000 the 
amount payable to eachl-deceascd's 
estate goes to $500. 

General plan calls for a benefit 
show annually and it's expected that 
source will materially support the 
fund. When the $15,000 balance is 
reached assessments will cease. One 
feature of the innovation will per- 
mit any member to borrow up to 
$50 from the fund. 



be admitted, there being a total of 
19,100 tickets for that purpose. Per- 
sons buying $5,000 bonds will get 
front locations, the bond values 
gravitating down to $25, which call 
for top-shelf or gallery tickets. Out- 
of-town bond shows were planned 
but because of .shufTHng of dates and I 



most all cases. Gross amount 
bonds represented by the special 
performances is $1 2.5471150. 
Bond matinees to be given: 
•II 



cased conduits from underground 
street power and light lines into the- 
atres, the cost being considerable in 
some instances. Inspections are us- 
ual prior' to issuance of theatre li- 
censes but some managers say the 
checkup this season' was exception- 
ally severe. 

Theatre interiors were more 
strictly inspected following Boston's 
fire disaster at the Cocoanut Grove 
a couple years ago. Immediately 
thereafter all dressing rooms under 
stages were banned, same going for 
wardrobe rooms, unless there is a 
concrete ceiling between the .stage 
and the basement. 



that, factor will figure 1 materially 
Waxman has signed con- i in the results. 

Ballots were mailed to members 
in uniform early in May, although 
it was then doubted that after GIs 
at the fronts were inte rested enough, 
to send |n their votes. What per- 
centage of 800 in uniform is eligible 
to vote is not known around Equity; 
many in uniform are juniors. Only 
soldier ballots received so far are 
from, members, over here, the num- 
ber being small. Soldier ballots are 
placed in a vault, ballot boxes hav- 
ing been sealed immediately after 
the election. »■'.'. 

Stated that Equity's surplus of 
$1.0)2.571 as of March 31 is accu- 
rate, although press releases indi- 
cated that amount included cash and 
i securities deposited with Equity by 
j managers to guarantee salaries and 



Spain, concerns the painter Fran- 
cesco de Goya, and his affair with 1 
the Duchess of Alba. 
No cast or directors as yet set. . 



IA Admits Rep 
Abused Powers 



MOSS CANCELS PERMITS 
OF 2 B'WAYTIX BROKERS 



Abuse of authority by a repre- 
sentative of the New York stage' 
hands "union was admitted by the 
latter during a ,seSSion last week 
with managers to iron out certain 
"provisions in the basic agreement 
between the two factions. There was 
a dispute several weeks ago that 



actors claims. There is $376,724 in 
cash and securities from those 
sources, separate and apart fi'oni' 
Equity's ovyn assets, managerial coin 
being a liability. That money is de- 
posited in Equity's name, but* ear- 
marked. 

Some of the guarantee money has 
been in Equity's hands for nearly 15 
years. Two managers (Mike Todd 



.hut*' 'i.'t, " I la rv.t-y. 
Hhc.»s VlrmiKiTii''." I'l 

.Innr 'in. "A Hell I'm 
••l'al(MISfi," MujMI.il.; "1>< 

JtltuVrV. "i i;ciii<niMT 
•*<»KI«li«in» !." si 
Jlnsiy llfjiri." Hudson 

•lull*. 'MI l«-vi'lllHJ;'l. ' 



IJU u— HLctvt : 
house, 
or Allium." 
IHur lllilh." 

Alll.Ml!!.". 
• iMIIll'S: 



•Til,- 

fori : 
lleiipj 

"Th* 



I'mumuiY. ground," 

rini 



June "iK. "Hli>i»nier tliil," Sliuln-il 
J.iLif Cru'iKf A'plr>." Lyceum. 

.limp VI. "Tin- Voter of I he '1'lirnV." 
Muroseo: "l'i< in tVntral Park," liiuud 
w iiy. 

.Inly "I.>:iii( or llie Moon.". -Uilll 

ftfrt't'i; "So'itK of S'lirwiiy,"- liiipe'riat. 

rliil.V a. "Holt.v wood I'ninfore." Alvln. 
Before the concerted drive started, 
a Sunday night bond performance 
was given by "Anna Lucasta," Mans- 
field. 

Stores and the number of tickets 
allotted each are: Macy's 
Gimbels, Bloomingdale's, Abraham 
& Strauss, Altman's. Lord & Tay- 
lor. Saks Fifth Avenue. Loescr's, 
Stern's, Hearn's. 1.200 each; Frank- 
lin Simon. Arnold Constable, Me- 
Creery's, Bonwit Teller, Namm's. 
800 each; Russek's, Oppenheim Col- 
lins. Saks 34th Street, 500 each; Dc 
Pinna. Sloan's. Ludwig Baumann, 
Sachs Quality, McCutcheon, 250 each. 

Acknowledgment is made to or- 
ganizations donating their services: 
Dramatists Guild < Authors League 
of America.!, League of New York 
Theatres (managers): Equity and 
Chorus Equity; local 802, musicians 
union; local No. I, stagehands union; 
wardrobe attendants union; Assn. of 
Theatrical Agents' and Managers; 
treasurers and ticket sellers union, 
ushers and doormen's union, build- 
ing service unipn and operating 
engineers union. 

AH details and schedules were ar- 
ranged by James F. Reilly, executive 
secretary of • the League of N. Y. 
Theatres. ' 



<^ Hayes' $1,700,000 

Seattle, June 12. 
Bond matinee at the Metropoli- 
tan, with Helen Hayes in "Harriett," 
"grossed" $1,700,000. House scaled at 
$5,000 war-bond top to a few $100 
in the top gallery. Capacity rated 
$1,400,000. 



CRAWFORD, WEBSTER 
MULL REP THEATRE 

Cheryl Crawford and Margaret 
Webster have been mulling a rep- 
ertory idea, on the lines of a national 
1.550; | theatre. The former admits that the 
idea hasn't gone beyond the discus- 
sion stage. 

Both are committed to assignments 
for the new season, so that the idea 
is something- for the future. 



Two more agencies were 
by Paul Moss. New York's license 
commissioner, on grounds of over- 
charging, brokers being Mike Atlas, 
head of the Acme ticket office, and 
John Ahearn. associated with Mrs. 
Helen Rosenfeld. Both have been 
under suspension by the enforce- 
ment board of the legit ticket code, 
but now will be out of business in- 
definitely. Moss having cancelled 
their licenses. It's because of the 
double jeopardy about which some 
specs have complained. 

Acme had been severely disci- 
plined by the code board, legit the- 
atres being prohibited from allotting 
tickets to that agency for four 
months. Four instances where Acme 
received double the boxoffice price 
and more were cited but positive 
evidence was given on only one such 
transaction. Alleged that money for 
a pair of tickets sold at excess rates 
was handed to Atlas or his clerk by 
a policewoman. A heart! was for- 
merly connected with an agency in 
the 21 Club. . "- .. 



involved "Marinka." new musical 

now trying out. with the union. | and Billy Rose) have $50,000 each on 
erw.i,»ri i J - J - Le'venthal. producing the new 1 deposit as blanket guarantees cov- 

"- " ••••» •- ->-- - ' ering shows current or likely to be 

produced. ■■■ 



show with Harry Howard. 



tlso 

partner in "The Overtons." Forrest. | 

N, Y,. presenter* of that attraction' .■ : , X: 

being Paul, Czinner. ! < 1 1 f AD AUJCIfV' CM A Gil 

Because the "Marinka" matter had | . J Avl/Ov IT Oti I ijinAull 

not been . settled, Vincent Jacobi. 
then a business agent for the deck- 
hands, went backstage at the For- 
rest with the evident idea of forcing 
I action by Leventhal. It was eight 
minutes after the play's starling time 
before Jacobi gave the curtain man 



IN LONDON PREMIERE 



London, June 12. 
"Jacobowsky and the Colonel," 
Broadway hit of the past season, teed 
off hete at the Piccadilly June 6, 
an okay to ring up. Soon afterward, I with best-dressed audience since the 
he was defeated for reelection; j war started, Drew terrific audience 
Union people at the meeting said . response. " 



Harold Cll.irman's "The 



'Othello' Cancelled 

For US0 Overseas 

Shipment of the Paul Robeson- 
Jose Ferrer-Uta Hagen company of 
"Othello" overseas,, as part of USO- 
Camp Shows' V-E legit program, in 
Europe, has been cancelled. . 

War Dept. misunderstood terms. | 
thinking unit was going overseas for j 
the usual six-month period. When 
advised troupe could only go for 14 ; 
weeks and wanted assurance of be- 
ing brought back promptly. War | public. The frustrated mood per- 
Dept. had to Check . with Europe, ! vades the book. 

which took two weeks. Meantime, I Clurman honestly cites the Group's 
several of the* secondary-role play- | faults— its indecisions and quarrels, 
ers took on commercial contracts, its dictatorial setup. :he defections 
Difficulty of finding replacements in of its members to Hollywood and 
time was considered too difficult, so j elsewhere. His share as co-d i rector 
whole venture has been dropped 



in effect "it won't happen again.' 

LA., FRISCO ADDED 
TO THEATRE GUILD LIST 

Inclusion of Los Angeles and San 
Francisco as Theatre Guild subscrip- 
tion towns is assured next season 
with word that Lawrence Lartgner. 
Guild co-d.irectpr. leaves N. Y, June! 
25 for a two weeks' trip to the Coast I 
to set up an American Theatre Soci- j 
1 ety-Theatre Guild subscription series 
i in both cities. 

i Move had been contemplated be- 
fore the war. war conditions pre- 
. venting. Guild at present has 14 siib- 
fer *-'S nt ! scription cities (including N. Y.l. go- 
Years' .Knopf. $3.50) is a tascinatmg | ing on , ag far west as S t. Louis 

and Chicago. Kansas City Mo., is 



Harold Clurman s Book On 
Group Theatre OK Reading! 



story of the Group Theatre, the -com- 
mercial theatre, and the '30s. A 
warm, troubled book, it discusses the 
rise and fall of the Group in blunt, 
clinical detail, keen and unsparing. 
That the Group was 'bound to fail 
from the outset seems obvious — in 
the depressed times 11931-41), in its 
very ideals (an art theatre trying to 
be commercial in a gambler envir- 
onment), in the indifference or 
vagueness of- press.' producers and 



Although play drew mixed notices, 
ticket libraries ibrokers) and box- 
office are already active, indicating 
a run. "Jacobowsky" is in for two 
months because theatre is wanted 
tor the new Noel Coward revue due • 
early in August. But it is certain to 
be transferred to another house. 

Individual hits were scored by 
Karel Stepanek as Jacobowsky. Mi- 
chael Redgrave a.s the "Colonel" the 
also directed) and Joseph Almas. 

Shumlin Dickers For 

Lizabeth Scott Legit 

Hollywood, June 12. 
Herman •Shumlin. currently di- 
recting "Confidential Agent" at War- 
ners, is negotiating with Hal Wallis 
for the loan of Lizabeth Scott to 
star in a Broadway legit play to be 
produced by Shumlin next winter, 
j Miss Scott is under contract to • 
_ . ^ . „ ... Wallis, with whom Shumlin was for- 

TrVing t0 bau0tageuUlW! inrl, y associated in the filming of 



being considered for 17th .sub spot. 



Claudia Cassidy Denies 



Robeson, howeven is still expected 
to go overseas as ei concert artist, 
to entertain GIs in song programs. 



"Blackouts"— Fifth Drive 4 

Hollywood, June 12. 

•'Blackouts." at the El Capitah, 
Hollywood, has figured in. four War 
Bond drives and has arranged an- 
other for the current campaign, all 
tickets having been disposed of al- 
ready. First drive topped $1,000,000 
in bonds, the other three represent- 
ing over $2,000,000 each. Increase 
was registered because originally the 
best seats went for $5,000 bonds, 
while at later drives the "top" was 
$10,000 bonds. 

El Capitan's ticup is with the I. 
Magnin store, which "sells" the tick- 
els in exchange for bond purchases. 
House and show complements con- 
tribute services gratis and it's stated 
that not one cent of expense has 
been used for promotion. • 



B'way Hits Scheduled 
Into L, A. Biltmore 

■'■■■• .?:'■'. '.' . Los Angeles, June 12. 

Legit lineup for the Biltmore thea- 
tre here runs heavily to Broadway 
productions through -SUrfirner and 
autumn, with "Glass Menagerie" as 
the outstanding offering. Fall sched- 
ule includes. "Rebecca, "Dear Ruih" 
and "Soldier's Wife.''. 

Currently ori the Biltmore stage 
is "Ten Little Indians," to be fol- 
lowed by "Rain." starring Gladys 
George. '> : 



isn't glossed over. Clurman is blunt 
in his attacks— on the Theatre Guild 
which, though admirable, "doesn't 
want to. say anything through plays"; 
on drama critics, "who are powerful 
because, they believe in nothing.'' He 
doesn't overemphasize what is also 
obvious — the glories of the Group;. 
its contributions to the 1930s: its pro- 
ductions of "Awake and Sing," 
"Golden Boy." "Men in White." "My 
Hearts in the Highlands": the fine 
talent in its ranks, Clifford Odtts, 
Luther and Stella Adler, Elia Kazan. 
Morris Camovsky. Franehot Tone. J. 
Edward Bromberg, John Garfield. 
Lee Strasberg; Cheryl Crawford. The 
book's as tumultous as the times. 

■Brou. 



Chicago, June 12. 
Denial that vshe's trying to destroy 
the 'Theatre Guild's subscription 
'season and is sponsoring a rival one 
j was registered last , week by Claudia 
Cassidy, ' Chicago Tribune drama 
: critic. Miss Cassidy reported she 
was long-distanced by Lawrence 
J Langiier, Guild majordomo. Thurs- 
day (7). denying that he or anyone 
in the N Y. Guild office had ac- 
cused her of such tactics. 

'.'All I'm campaigning for now. and 
all I've ever campaigned for, is 
something approximating the shows 
the Guild and other Broadway pro- 
ducers put on in N. Y.," Miss Cas- 
sidy said. "I hope you've noticed, by 
the way, that that 'extended engage- 
ment"' 'of- 'Jacobowsky' and the 
Colonel' the Guild promised amounts 
to just a weeki" 



"Watch On the Rhine" at Warners. 



'Army' in E. Indies 

Molucca, Dutch East Indies. 



Shuberts Nix Chi Sheet 
For Slighting Reviews 

Chicago, June -12. 
Last week the Shuberts office re- 
fused to pay for any more ads in; 
j the Chicago Journal of Commerce 
j for "Countess Maritza," produced 
' by themselves and the Opera House 
! Corp., or for "Dear Ruth" or "Voice 
j of the Turtle." because of slighting 
reviews in the sheet of "Maritza" 
and "Mme. du Barry," first of the 
two projected series of summer 
1 operettas put on here. "Ruth" and 
I "Turtle" are playing in Shubert 
' houses. Series petered out Sunday 
1 10); following puny gross of $14,000 
for "Maritza" in its second week.. 
"Ruth" and "Turtle" ads, however, 
' now being bankrolled by the pro- 
| ducers, are still appearing. Bill 
j Leonard, the offending critic, mean- 
! while, is in N. Y. looking over shows 



Gwenn Returns to B'way 



BIBLE PLAY TO OPEN 

* :•'■!■ Hollywood. June 12. 

Nineteenth annual Pilgrimage Play- 
is slated to open July It at the Hol- 
lywood Pilgrimage Bowl. 

Outdoor religious spectacle will be 
produced by Adrian Awan for the 
second successiv e year. / v 



TUFTS HONORS HELBUKN 

Theresa Helburn, Theatre Guild 
co-director, will receive the hon- 
orary degree of Master of Arts from 
Tufts College, Boston. Sunday "i 17). 

Miss Helburn. a Bryn Mawr grad, 
is receiving award "for her work 
with the Theatre Guild in elevating 
the whole character 'of the American 
s-tagc."' 



•'This Is the Army," Irving Berlin ' " 
GI musical, has just arrived here; 

jarter a 10-week tour of the thilip- i 

I pines, to make this the 18th country [ 

I "TITA" has played' in. . - ; '/ I Hollywood, June 12. 

Since its July 4. 1942. .opening in , Edmund Gwenn is deserting the 

I New York. "TITA" has played 825 | -creen temporarily to take the top 
performances, before 1.600,000 spec- j role in the new Tennessee Williams 
lators. over a million of them .^erv- legiter, "You Touched Me," to be 
icemen. Since leaving .-Jew York : produced by Guthrie McClintock on 
lor overseas, October. 1'943. the mu-j Broadway. 

sical has traveled over 200 days on Actor leaves for New York on 

water, and covered' approximately 'completion of his cu, rent film chiire 
50,000 miies. ; 



I in "She Went to the Races" al. Metro. 



58 



LEGITIMATE 



VARIETY 



Wednesday, June IS, 



Shuberts Loss of 44th St. Theatre 
Cues Further Musical Booking Snag 



Berthing of musicals on Broadway ■* 
is still a booking puzzler, latest i 
problem having arisen when the ; 
N. Y. Times notified the Shuberts , 
that their lease on . the 44th Street • 
theatre would terminate on June 30. j 
Last week "On the Town'.' moved to j. 
the house froiTT tire -Adelphi— hmor-~ 
' having no cooling .system. If the; 
musical is forced to vacate, its des- j 
tination has hot been figured Out. i 
Stage Door Canteen, in the base-;' 
merit or the same building., will have 
to move', too. 

Shuberts have requested The 
Times to extend the lease on a 
month-to-month basis, and with that 
okay the show ; and Canteen would 
possibly remain into autumn. Thea- 
tre backs up to the publication's 
plant on 43rd street. Times bought 
the property a year or so ago and 
soon afterwards filed plans for a 
new 11-story building on the site. 
Soon after V-E Day .'application was 
made for clearance on excavation 
and priority for construction steel, 
and it granted, it will be the first 
new building in Times Square since 
before the war. 

The Times management and the 
Shuberts gambled on the length of 
the war with Germany, the mana- 
gers getting a five-year lease on the 



149 EQUITYITES DIED 
DURING PAST YEAR 

Equity's tiles reveal 149 members ) 
died dtiHtig the past. year, ending ; 
March 31. 13 while in service. 

The dead-: . .. 



L iter at i 



The Old Bags' 

- Ave rage . age. for showgirls - 1 1 v 
the 1908 and '09 "Follies'' was 
tour years. Thai's the way a 
showman figured it alter listen- 
ing to some of the alumnae .talk- 

: ing things over and lying about 
their -birtlidaysr-.-— — ^ — ; — 
In Ziegteld Club circles the 

'former Ziegteld beauts refer to. 
each other as "old bags." .. -.;.''.- 

ELITCH OPENS JUNE 24; 
OTHER STRAWHAT BOWS 



' W . Hid 
ll't'tl. lit 

H «. 

Ilm.ll 1!' 



,\U1.1.'\ Hi'llVI if, 
Viv.-nn'il. Leslie 
l«s ll.ili'n. tMlli' 

jt.iliiM-l I Ir Ml' 



II. 



Ill 



III nnl.s. A. It, llu.wtl, Kill'l." 
rlj lllnMll. \Jl'»J Hi i'\\ n.. .Icri'iH'- 
,.„im.. W. l-,:Ml.ili,in". Tlul'iv l|. 
N:H \';\\i. I. nun. Cijilrt.n. H'Mly 
]'i'iii'»iir'»'ii,' Urn i^iiiiHtiD. Atln l:*<i|«-... J.nnea 
Vi-ii ihh * . I..'iinl i'ihu.-ii-. Win. i-i'iiiuiiiH. Ui'U- 
} i-ii'i in * 'i I'MiiHU*. -Ai tht'li I'niiniiialiiHii. .l-'SiM'li 

-.-I'll*:..-!, , ■ ' - ' 

! Al-ii. Alll.li . Pale. ■I'.mV'-ii l(i.t>\' ('"- 

i I.MIV IVAiA lllf . AW Kiinfli' l>.'lfil.-illii', .mmut 
I D.'Slnn .1. MiIi hIim I !>•• SHlii, .I'll"! ><• "'I 
| si.fl, Alan llhtcliii.il. Kiullv IHi'I'l. K.l.Minr.l 
iroi/i'. i:..l. t'i l I.. • I li.w'lililu. Kl. uiir.l 
I>iwiiij..|-. Mm l fa K.livui.ls. AHn'il KhIh- 
vfiii |.\ KnWmx'l l-!.i li.T. Vi.- Kihisi, .1*1- 
■ wat.i l"n I.li.iK, At PiVIiIm. Si"l'lii*n l'\>x>. 
I, lluliei't ..W. Piusim. t'llinU. Cill'J . HimBll"; 

I s.v.ln.-. r ilil.snii, l-Yi'innnliil 
iWlk.' H.lwiiril M. «!ra«Y'.- Ai.'Siimlei' 



Mill-Morrow Merger 

M. S. Mill Co. has arranged with 
William Morrow & Co. to handle 
production. ", advertising, publicity 
and sales of all Mill books 
board of directors of M. S. Mill Co.. 
lite;, now consists of M. S. Mill. Elsie 
.Mill. Thayer Hobsori. Donald M. 
Stevenson and Chester. B. McLaugh- 
lin. 

Officers of the other Mill outfit are 
M. S. Mill, president and treasurer: 
Thomas "F^ MahbTTyrT-.pv.snd sales- 
manager, and Helen King. Secretary. 
Mrs. King continues as Morrow's as- 
sociate editor and Mahony as sales 
manager at Morrow's. 



hiell Hnmmelt. Capt. James Gould 
Cozzens, Warrant Officer Irwin 
. Shaw, Lt. Jesse Stuart, Capt. Rich- 
j ai d She man, Sgt. John Cheever, 
The ; and .war correspondents John 'Stein-' 
i beck. John P. Marquard. John 
O'Hara. the late Ernie Pyle. Ernest 
Hemingway and Mack-inlay . Kantor. 
I Gray-son worked with the Signal 
! Corps in Italy filming the War there, 
and is now at work in the Army's 
| job of compiling the film history of. 
rthe ivai in Ila|y_... 



I'll. ..in 



his ! 



I -lnliu- 

(Who leaves | , )m i. 



Elitch Gardens theatre. Denver, 
oldest . summer theatre in the coun- 
try ""will • resume"" June' "."24— with 
"Blithe Spirit." Season, the 54th. 
will run 10 weeks. George Somnes, 
Who left N. Y. lor. the west Thurs- 
day i8i, will be. directing for 
I 1th consecutive year. - - 

Company, of Broadway 
sionals will include John 
Catherine Anderson. Virginia Dwyer 
Eda Heinemann.THto Hulctt. Donald j 
Foster. Dermis King. Jr 
the cast of "Kiss Them For Me" to- 
morrow. 14th), Marie Paxton. 
Skedae Miller. Beatrice Pearson, 
i Peter Scott, Albert Stephens and 
,44th Street but no mention was ■ Helen Bonfils (Mrs. Somnes). 
made about rental deal having a can- Charles .1. Parsons will be stage 
cellation clause. Managers miscal- | mana g el -, an d Victor Paganuzzi, as 
dilated the length of the war. as j uslla i do tne sets. ' 
indicated when they installed a cedarlrtH-st Opening June U 

cooling system last spring. At : the . . - . " 

time there was speculation over the !• Cedarhurst Playhouse. Cgdarhurst 
priority but "Winged Victory", the j L. !- will open its season June 2(5 
AAF drama, was playing We house, with Melchior LengyeVs Autumn 
However, that engagement ended be ' ' 
fore the apparatus wasMnstalled. 
Wing Spent % 20G ', 



I Hi. 



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Hull.. i ; .Vl;..ll..n II:. ii i". Sl.lll 
...if .li.l.n ll:li'n..o.l. (Ir.'i.i. lU'iHlfi'K..". 
Ili.l,..v; Kiilil H».l(, Olliirles • WeMl 
lli.ujjiL,! UdM-iiP I'Menuim ll..wi..n. MiK lifll 
llimnhiilil. Uiil.^l' livinc K.l.llf Jnmi's, 
\V riflei: .lame's. NWI* .li-rfi'lli". JV..1I|P kVmie. 
I.piv KMlv. denil.l Koni*. Myrilii Ki'imwly. 
Ai m. .1.1 Korfr. tlul iy l.liliRtliiii. I.lii'llle [ft 
Win... rims. T. I.ovfli, .1. i'. I.?wln. Jr., 
lMii.lv s hiiiiK. Kllilly l.iirriiill.i'. O.il'OIln 

I. nw'i'll. r.i;iif : MrllHiili'I. I'nlluM'iiH': All': 

II. llili, Kilv-Mnl .W.Naiiliuil. I''.'.'.leri.' Mlil- 
'.'.ili.C "kchi:.' 'Mi. y -Kill.': M'iry.lIfW.-Wmv M-l - 

nmfes- lillfhli Jadr M^rwlilli. Mrs. llnm.- ,\lillciv 
f ' Kli.ilK V. Mi'fl.'l'. II. K. M.H.'K. 

Archer. I , , , „.,;.,....,. v .,„„ flnW , x.niif.; H.n ; i-v 



',". CHATTER 
Paul Denis has an article, "Column 
Understudy," in forthcoming Go 
Magazine. . - t . 

H. Alien Smith's First Novel Allen Marple, fiction editor for 

Humorist H. Allen Smith is doing Collier's, lining up story material in 
his first novel. "Rhubarb." for Hollywood. 



Al- 



'i.i;' 



llHil.'y «l. . N..nliu.l. 
IrviiiB O'llny, .lnliu !•'• 
■. i» .\.'ill. Anni'ii^ oils- 
iiii-l I'm..-, l.lilyil I' ii 



Ni'vlllc. llHi l.'y <:. .- Ni>rllm.l>. MtM'ttlt 
" O'Miilli'y. 
')■, . A i'. hi.' 

.r.liiiiKl l'ni>i'. I.l'iyii i'c.ihi'ii'U. ..lc.«moV 
I iMiiliilici'. Ui.ii.ii.ii.il i'i.'si"ii'. • nil* 1'iri- 

l i'. ll. Uh. n. Ill' Ti.iavi RiM'C- .S'1'lnml S. liiir". 

Jtnt-W. ItnliiU. Kviiuk Kannry. Kr»iik.'.«\ 
Kn'yilliHH)*, t'iU'l A. ItPPd, Ki'ntlk It.'yiiuin. 
Mi-'linii llnrkf, itailKe Knssi'll. rhiirK's Sli; 
iVni. I.tuhvls Shi/.;: I.'rniii'ls .11; Snyies. I'luis. 
M. Sfiiv. BlUni'lii- SpyinmU', ' 'Iti-Klmilil Slllil- 
I11111I. <t. Wnli^r Sillliniin. Kmivsl Sinllh. 
KivUiri.-l; Hiiillti: Mnrl< Bmlllf, ll".v Sliitlli. 
I'Mwin smn'ley, Ji.)>ii TiIkks-. riiiiK IVrner. 
1'r.'. 11k i'jIiiiiI. .n.iii.'s liny IVIier, l,ui>f 
Wl.-z. Inhii VIMirurk*. A1-1 linn Wfsi. sii- 

sunn.- W.'Slfoiil. 1 1 vihk Willie. Mto«. flu.,". 
WiMiinl. f. .IliJ Witlhii.is. K1.111U Illul WII' 

lliirnsttii. J. 'll ici" VVi'ittlit. lli.mmilittf AVu, 

lOlislHi'i. <;. \V. Wyiilli 



Doubleday. Doran, although it's 
based on the same wacky comedy 
style he. has[:mapifested jhejaasU 
Has to do With a cat which inherits 
a baseball club, and the novel will 
be replete with baseball characters, 
Broadway bookies. Lindyites, et al. 

"Rhubarb" is the name of the 1 - 
line and it's also a baseball . term 
which means any squabble, such as 
umpire-bailing, locker-room tiffing, 
etc. '■ ."'• 

Incidentally, Smith's forthcoming 
anthology, "Desert Island 'Decam- 
eron,"-, his .fourth book for DD, has a 
75.000 advance ,<ale. It's due this 
month. 



Diwl in s.» 



American Theatre Wing spent 
around $20,000 to renovate and re- 
furbish the Canteen last season. Be- 
fore that work was started the Wing 
surveyed the. district with the idea 
of moving to larger quarters but 
discovered no preferable spot. The 
chances of finding another location 
appear to be no brighter at this 
time. The Shuberts. who donated j July 
the Canteen quarters, notified the 
Wing to vacate after getting similar 
word from the Times. Wing plans to 
continue activities beyond V-J Day 
and its finances will be strength- 
ened by another motion picture, lo- 
cated in Paris Stage Door Canteen. 

Shuberts have been in control of 
most theatres suitable tor musicals. 
They're also losing the 46th Street, 
which was bought by the City In- 
vesting Co., latter having filed dis- 
possess proceedings. City Investing 
also owns the Morosco, Bijou 



Ember" in a hew adaption by Mar 
j vin Mar. Greta Keller, nitery singer. I 
J will make her. eastern legit debut in 
! the lead role. Norman MacDonald 
I will stage the ipiial production: 
2 For Frovincctown 
Two new plays are listed for the 
I Provincetown 'Mass.) Playhouse i 
i this, summer.. "Inquire Within." by | 



Schwab Getting Plans 
Set for Fla. Muny Spot 



Red Barber's Book 

Red Barber's aiitobiog of radio and 
baseball anecdota is slated foi' 
Doubleday, Doran publication. 

The radio announcer has promised 
to finish the volume this year. 



Premier Sues Toronto Star 

Immediate on his re-election (5) 
as Premier of Ontario. George Drew- 
slapped a vy-it for $100,000 damages j Augustine. Fla 
against Joseph E. Atkinson, pub- > Entire July 9 



Profiles of Earl Wilson are in cur- 
rent Tune In mag and next issue of 
Newspaperman.. ■/•"•" 

Sam Sheaft'er, formerly with the 
Washington Times-Herald, back from 
I the wars, is now with Newsweek, 
j Natalie Davis. ex-PM unit mem- 
j ber, is now with tlje OWI in Wash- 
i ington. • • : ■ . ■'•■'.'. ....... .-'-.'.-.■.•._■ . 

Buck Herzog. drama editor for 
! Milwaukee Sentinel, in Hollywood 
! for three weeks of interviews. s 
Eddie Johnson. Chicago Tribune 
artist, arrives in Hollywood June 25 
to spend three weeks painting por- 
traits of film stars. 

llona Keiiney, Continental chan- 
toosey, is having a non-fiction book, 
"Bitter Seed." published by Putnam 
in the fall or early winter. It's about 
her being lost in the Belgian Congo' 
five years ago. 

W. Lee Dickson. ex-Broadway 
playwright and formerly European 
correspondent. INS and Herald Trib- 
une, is directing amateur theatricals 
between newspaper work in St. 



Usher of The Toronto Daily Star. 
Canada's largest daily (circulation, 
Lawrence Schwab, summering at 1 s0)Tle noo.OOO). Drew explained his 
Westport. Colin., returns to his Mi- , acUou was to put an end lo " 0 utra- 
ami Beach home in the winter when j ge()US atta cks" on men in public life. 
Pmn,.^ P n ltVov and Frerlerirk Lan-I the showma " wiU really yet vU,n !t ! He said that the libel action will be 

inJ n^v and Vh^ rodf Bk^ 1 8(1 Ior |he mUnicip " tl,Mtre " e I ^ W final judgment for "the 
sing Day, and The Gods Sit Back. mana g e tner e. Tom Smith will man- n ,. 0 t Pl! ti 0 ,, of honest iouinalism and ! a ,u- i . u 

by Halsted Welles. Season opens * 6 convention Hall, and there. I S^kH^ <«" a wood this week to write h,> 

3 with "Blithe Spirit." leads 1 .£„ u „ „.i.„„ t„ .i,„ ' ae< ency 1,1 P l,DIIC 11Ie - ! stmt for a month, meanwhile 



being Ronald Alexander, 
id Carmen Mathews. 



Faith God- 



win be other appurtenances to the, , Dl . ew , leader of the Progressive 
100-acre municipal venture, which [ Conservative Party, won 66 of On- 
will include a Pan-American Hall, , tario . s pal .iiamentary seats in last 



'Turtle' Cast for Antips 

Final castings have :been made 
for the Australian production of 
• Voice of tfie Turtle," set to open 
in Melbourne this fall with. Ameri- 
can players. Cast will consist of 
Ann Lincoln (Sally). Gladys Gris- 
W3Id (Olive) and Everett Ball (Bill 1. 
Lat'er replaces Harry Ellerbe. who 
Ful- I hsd to back out because of family 



include a Pan-American Hall 
restaurants, etc. 

Schwab will operate the theatre's 
al fresco legit policy (operettas and 
the like) as he. did in St. Louis and 
elsewhere. 

It's expected to be formally 
opened in late '46. 



j week's election. His father-in-law. 



ton and Forrest, all suited for I illness. 

straight plays, yet it is the only for- i Trio will be prepped for roles by 
midable booking opposition to the 1 Alfred de Liagre. Jr., producer of 



Play in Harlem 



issue of Saturday 
Review of Literature to be turned 
over to the editors of Yank. Army 
weekly, with Yank ed Sgt. Joe 
McCarthy writing Bennett Corf's 
"Trade Winds" column. 

Nate Gross. Chicago Herald- 
American columnist, is due in Holly- 
daily 
send- 
ing Hollywood-made platters of his 
radio show to Chicago for broadcast- 
ing over WBBM.. 

E. P. (Pat) Joy. former eastern 
sales service manager for the Cham- 
pion Paper & Fiber Co., ail ex-plant 
manager for the Regensteinger Corp. 
of Chicago, has become director of 
manufacturing for Pocket Books, Inc. 



Henri 4'lirisf o|»ln> 



Shuberts on Broadway. 



PLAY PUBLISHERS 

of Tits* and many 
olhmr ditt'nguhhtd ploys 

SONG Or BERNADETTE 
TOMORROW THE WORID 
LOST HCftlZON • HIGHLAND 
FUNG • EVE OF ST. MARK • BEST 
FOOT f 3RWARD • FEATHERS IN 
A GALE • MRS. MINIVER • GREAT 
A BIG DOORSTEP - KITTY 
*\ FOYLS - HOUSE WITHOUT A KEY 



THE DRAMATIC PUBLISHING CO. 

Incarporaled 1 887 
59 E. VAN BUREN ST., CHICAGO .5 

^ ^-'^ ^ ^ *'A ± 



the Broadway hit, and by John van 
j Druten, author, before sailing. Cast 
'; is due" to sail in July. Dorothy 
I Stewart did the casting for the 
I Aussie chain of J. C. Williamson 
! theatres. 



CHI IA NAMES RYAN 

; Chicago. June 12. 

Jimmy Ryan, chief electrician at 
the Shuberts" Selwyn theatre here, 
has been named to finish out the 
year-und-a-half term as secretary- 
treasurer of Chicago Theatrical Pro- 
tective Union. Local '2. IATSE: left 
vacant by death June 5 of Frank C. 
Olsen;. -' '.'..',. : . . .• , ' ■- . ." 

Appointment was made by union's 
executive board. 



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Edward Johnson, managing director 
of the N. Y, Mel., was iii Toronto for 
latter part of the campaign.) 

Drew charged The Toronto Star's 
attacks' were "villainous." that he j j 
had no need for personal vindication ; ,. 

but: "If public men with families, j ^ la '! ( Do,y stays 011 as Production 

and particularly young children of; S " 

school age (Drew has two), are sub- | 
j ject to false accusations, of the most! 
despicable character, it will become 
impossible to persuade men and i 
women of the kind we need in pub- 
lic life to expose their families to 
the taunts and abuse which grow out 
of such slanders." • 



Paul Nathan's Book 

Paul S. Nathan, editorial assistant] 
to John Byram. play department 
exec with Paramount, has a new 
book on the stalls tilled "Seven 



'MASTER RACE' NSG 
IN DEBUT ON COAST 

Oakland. Cal.. June 12. 
"The Private Life of the Master 
Race" by Bertolt Brecht. refugee 
German poet-dramatist, was given 
its first performance al the Univer- 
sity of California" last weel? (71 and 
gave no slightest hint of Brecht's • 
•' I importance either as poet or drama- 



tist, 
Tabulated 



as a documentary 



„. .... ww . ..^ , „ 

j lation of Gorky pieces, in collabora- ! drama limning the events in Ger 
I tion with Alexander Baksky. pub- j many between 1933 and 1938, and 
lished by Yale University Press. purporting to show how the Nazis 
Nathan is now working- on an- I conquered the home -folk 'berore em^ 
other tome titled "Seven Soviet ba !'!< ]n S W the chore of world domi- 



Plays" scheduled 
next season. 



for publication 




The Harlem American Negro The- 
| atre's final production of the season. 
Dan Hammerman's "Henri Chris- 
tophe." is a distinct disappointment. 
This play about the black king of 
Haiti, who revolted against the 
French and made himself emperor, 
lacks all the force and drama of the 
historical original. It is slow and 
fumbling: for the most part it's melo- 
dramatic and stagey, and only occa- 
sionally has moments of , fire. And 
the performance is in keeping with 
the. rest. 

With few exceptions, the . large 
mixed black and white cast plays the 
piece stiffly, even amateurishly. 
Charles Benton's medicine man. Aus- 
tin Briggs-HaU's Toussaint. .and 
Edith Whitemait's Marie Louise do 
have flavor and appeal. But even 
Frederick O'Neal, borrowed from 
Broadway's "Anna Lucasta" for the 
title role, appears miscast, bringing 
to the part none of the grandeur or 
heroic quality it demands. 

Drama, opening Wednesday (ft), is 
in tor a limited run. closing June 30. 

Biou. 



Ilotig-hlon Mifflin Ed lo OWI 

Paul Brooks, editor-in-chief of 
Houghton ' MiB'Hn. granted year's 

leave of absence to take post with I tempted to tell his story in 17 scenes 
OWI as Asst. Chief of Book Opera- I some of them consisting of only a 



nation, it is written in the style of 
the Federal Theatre's "Living News- 
paper." It is talky, incoherent and 
unconvincing. 

Despite the fact that the material 
is outdated, the chief fault of the 
piece is the writing. Brecht has at- 



lions in the European theatre. He 
w/ill headquarter in. London, making 
frequent trips to the . Continent. 
During his absence. Dorothy Hillier 
will head the editorial stall', under 
direction of Lovell Thompson, g.m. 
of the Trade Dept. She will be as- 
sisted by Mary Belly Underwood 
and Edward Hodnett in the Boston j willing 
office. Ferris Greenslet continues as ! Justice 
literary advisor and 



few lines, others running to uncon- 
scionable length, few of them im- 
portant as drama, , , 

Only thVee sketches have merit, 
the first a farce. "The Working Man 
on the Air," which is timeless in its 
content, the story of a harried an- 
nouncer trying to sell a bill of goods 
hrough the medium of three nn- 
witnesses: "In Search of 
hilarious bit- in which 



Esther Forbes ve nal .judge attempts to find a straw 
I gives half time to special projects J.'.L' tlle wind thr his decision: and 
j Joyce Hartman hais recently, been | 
added to staff of N. Y. office. 



Fifty Wartime Tales 

Half a Hundred Talcs, an anthol- 
ogy compiled by Capt. Cliailes. 
Grayson, former Warner Bros, write* 
now in the Army Signal Corps, is 
being published His week' by Blakis- 
ton. Featured among the Writers are: 
Cols. Thornton Wilder. Paul Horgan. 
Robert L. Scott, Jr.: Horace L. Ma- 
zet, Pvt. William Saroyan, Cpl. Das- 



The Informer," a bit of psychologi- 
cal drama that is delightfully ironic. 
I The play was presented by college 
actors under direction of Henry 
Schnit/.ler and' its commercial value 
is nil. Woso. 



A revised version of "Master Race," 
in nine scenes, was presented at 
Pauline Edwards theatre. City Col- 
lege. N. Y...last night (121, with a 
cast headed by Albert Basserman, 
Clarence Derwent and Paul Andor. 
Bertold Viertel directed. 



Wednesday, June 13, 1945 



59 




Broadway 



Elsie Jahis bedded with the flu 
at her Beverly Hills home. • 

Mike Todd guesting at Joe 
Schenck's house on his current 
quickie trip to the Coast. ; ~ * 

Wilrna Freeman, UA promotion 
manager, leaving the company June 
22 to go into indie p.a. work. 

Tom Kilpatrick, press agent for 
•'Harvey" (48th Street), in Memorial 
hospital for minor operation. . 

Theatre Information Bulletin ap- 
pended list of London's theatres and 
slifws, with leading players and pro- 
ducers. . ••■ 

Arthur Freed, Metro producer, re- 
turns to Hollywood June 29. Spend- 
ing most of his time seeing shows 
and o.o.ing talent. '....- 

Sam H. Grisman cancelled balance 
of a proposed summer season at 
Mosque, Newark, after three weeks 
of operetta revivals. ''' \ ' ~ : - "; ' 

The Celestials' luncheon-meeting 
at the Waldorf next Thursday will 
have Jimmy Walker as guest speaker 
and Paul Douglas, emcee. . , 

Bessie Mack, for 25 years with 
Major Bowes as publicist, among 
other duties, until he retired, has 
opened publicity offices in N. Y. 

Bill Fields, with sinus infection, 
out of Rlngling circus press depart- 
ment. Tom Killilea,, resigned from 
World-Telegram, rejoined RBB staff. 

Rudolph Field to Coast soon to 
try and interest Virginia Bruce or 
Carole Landis in lead of "Goddesses 
in Slacks," which he plans for 
Broadway. • . • , 

Film industry vets of the present 
war are organizing an American 
Legion post to be named after a film 
personality who gave his life in 
World War II. 

Bob Copsey and Carolyn Ayres, 
interpretative dancers, closed last 
night (12), after a long run, at the 
Versailles and open Friday (15) at 
the Stevens hotel, Chicago. 

"The Private Life of the Master 
Race," described as a documentary 
drama, plays the Pauline Edwards, 
an East Side little theatre, from 
Tuesday until Sunday (12-17). 

John Golden pays tribute to Lil- 
lian Russell for his vigorous health, 
in an article in June True Magazine, 
the actress having egged him on to 
taking physical training courses. 

Jack Pearl frankly states 'they 
don't take me seriously, so I'm gonna 
stick to comedy henceforth.' He 
tried a couple of serio-comic legit 
plays with Harry Green with abor- 
tive results. i '.'',*_ 

Carroll McComas. original Rox- 
aiine in "Cyrano de Bergerac" (1923) 
and lead in "Lulu Bctt" (1921), out 
of retirement after 15 years to go 
overseas for USO-Camp Shows in 
"Our Town." , . 

The Eddie Cantors celebrated their 
81st anniversary at Persian Room 
Saturday night (9). They return to 
Hollywood June 26. Cantor doing 
bond shows in Philly and Boston 
next week and. week after, 

Alfred de Liagre, Jr., will produce 
John van Druten's new play this fall 
as he did with "Voice, of the Turtle. 

British playwright Benn W. Levy 
and his act ress- wife, Constance Cum- 
mings, back to England after a N. Y. 
visit. . ', " .' 

Park.ave. cooks, maids and but- 
lers, who get pretty good wages, are 
getting the Treasury Dept. o.o. for 
income tax payments. Ditto head- 
waiters, etc. But that's nothing com- 
pared to that $2,200,000 which that 
w.k. restaurateur "forgot" to declare. 



Milwaukee and Minneapolis for simi- 
lar affairs, while Rodney Bush went 
on to Des Moines to arrange world 
premiere 'of "State Fair" in that city 
late in August. 



Bertha theatre now under own- 
ership of Joe Koppel. 

Lou Levy and his wife Maxine, of 
the Andrews Sisters, adopted a baby 
here last week. 

Vivian Vance replaces Betty Law- 
ford in "Voice of the Turtle" at the 
Selwyn on July 2. 

Sherman Billingsley, stopped over 
en route to Hollywood, where Para- 
mount is finishing up the picture, 
"Stork Club." 

De Marcos have been inked for the 
Aug. 31show in Empire Room of the 
Palmer House, with Eddie Oliver 
orch holding over. 

Tin Pan Alley farewell partied 
George Pincus, who is leaving Chi 
to become professional manager of 
Shapiro-Bernstein in New York. 

Film Rowers were, cocktail partied 
by Morton Van Praag on the occa- 
sion of debut of his new Supreme 
Pictures Co. exchange on Tues. (12). 

Biggest bond premiere of any 
theatre here was chalked up by the 
Palace with a take of $4,000,675 on 
Wednesday (6)' with showing of 
"China Sky.'' 

Carl Bi'isson, starring at the May- 
fair Room of the Blackstone hotel, 
reports that 'his son Maj. Freddie 
Brisson, is now on his way to Europe 
for the Army Air Forces. 

Ralph Be'rger, operator of the 
Latin Quarter, who will produce 
shows at the St. Francis hotel, San 
Francisco, starting next month, has 
signed Lou Holtz to head first show. 

Sid Blumenstock and Jules Fields 
were j n for the Christy Walsh-"Capt. 
Eddie" shindig and then went to 



Hollywood 

Janis Paige laid up with infected 
tooth. ■/-'. • • 

Rita Hayworth airlined to Wash- 
ington. 

" Susanna Foster laid up with Tooth" 
trouble. 

Joan Leslie laid up with throat 
infection. 

Marjorie Main home after sinus 
operation. 

Arnold Pressburger laid up with 
bronchitis. ■', ,. 

Hedy Lamarr and baby home from 
the hospital. 

Betty Hutton's mother hospitalized 
tor checkup. 

Jess Hjbbs recovering from ap- 
pendectomy. - - ... :._ 

B. G. DeSylva recovering from 
heart attack. 

Lena Home checked in for film 
work at Metro. 

Merle Oberon bought a ranch near 
Fred Astaire's. V 

Benedict E. Bogeaus divorced by 
Mi mi Forsythe. 

Jinx Falkenburg opened a dress 
shop in Bevhills. 

Lieul*. Jackie Coogan in town for 
a short stopover. 

Ray Milland and Gary. Cooper 
fishing at Balboa. 

Col. Frank Capra to Washington 
on Army business. 

Red Skelton reported hospitalized 
at Camp Pickett. Va. 

Ralph Freed returned , from 
Broadway business trip. 

Jack Mattis off to Njew York to 
play in "Bloomer Girl." '"".'■; 

Sam Hearn home from 25 months 
of Army camp entertaining. 

Dewey Starkey tipped to assistant 
production manager at RKO. 

Busby Berkely and bride honey- 
mooning in Las Vegas, Nev. 

Nunnally Johnson planed to At- 
lanta, where his mother is ill. 

Emily Kimbrough in town to write 
a film story for Deanna Durbin. 

Johnny Weissmuller in training 
for another Tarzan tree-climber, 

Judy Garland obtained her final 
decree of divorce from David Rose. 

Marjorie Reynolds to Salt Lake 
City on a Seventy War Loan pitch. 

Nate Blumberg. Universal prexy, 
arrived from eastern office confabs. 

John More checked in as new 
radio director of Republic's flackery. 

James B. Cassidy bedded By re- 
lapse, following recent sinus opera- 
tion. 

Ethel Smith leaves for New. York 
next week for a stint at the Capitol 
theatre. 

' Ruth Penny, v former RKO flack, 
upped to full lieutenancy in the 
WAVES. 

David Hanna, L. A. Daily News 
drama columnist, in hospital for leg 
surgery. ', ,. 

Louis B. Mayer bought a bank 
building in Beverly Hills for a re- 
ported $685,000. 

Shirley Temple leaving for the 
Pacific Northwest on a tour of Army 
and Navv hospitals. 

Sir Amos Ayre. chairman of Great 
Britain's Shin Building Conference, 
guested at Warners. 
" Lina Romay. film, songbird, filing 
suit for divorce against John" Law- 
rence Adams, sailor. 

Van Heftin checked in at Metro 
for the first time since he entered 
the Army two years ago. 

Charlie Chaolin's nlea for a new 
trial of his oaternity case turned 
down bv Superior Court. 

Joseoh Pincus. eastern talent chief 
for 20th-Fox. gandering Hollywood 
for the first time in 10 years. 

Bill Pine and a flock of assistants 
exploring location sites in the High 
SiCBfn.s. where fishing is good. 
'. .Mcouclinc While returned to 
Dfiala. Fla.. to rejoin the "Yearling" 
tjfoupe. * after attending her father's 
vfrreral in Hollywood. ' .... .. 

WLupc Vclez estate, chiefly jewels 
and furs valued at $160,000. will be 
auctioned June 21-22 at the late 
star'svBcverly Hills home. 

Danny Kave opened the Los An- 
geles Police Show as emcee, followed 
bv Bob Hope. Jack Carson, Kay 
Kyser and Carmen Miranda. 

A) Lichtman opened a city-wide 
campaign to raise funds for Ann 
Lehr's ' Hollywood Guild Canteen, 
which has housed and fed more than 
2,000.000 servicemen in three years. 



went operation and now recuper- 
ating, 

Morris Goodman, Republic Pic- 
tures vice prez, off to Paris and 
Spain. Expects to be away a month 
returning to New York next month. 

Victoria Films pacted rights to Ed- 
ward Percy's play, "The Shop at Sly 
Corner" <St. Martin's theatre), ana 
negotiating with Leslie Banks for 
lead role. 

General Montgomery went back- 
stage to see Emlyn Williams and 
Diana Wynyard during a perform- 
ance of "The" Wind of Heaven." 
However, he declined to make a 
speech to the clamoring audience. ■ 

George. King to do filmization of 
"The Gibson Girl," British musical 
comedy hit of last decade, which is 
being adapted by Katherine Strubey,- 
wi'fe of film director- Gordon Welles-- 
ley. Shooting to start in August. 

.Duchess theatre up for auction 
shortly, with 82 more years of its 
lease to run. One of the most suc- 
cessful theatres built during the last 
20 years, it housed Emlyn Williams' 
hits, "Night Must Fall" and "The 
Corn Is Green." . 



Pittsburgh 

By Hal Cohen . . . 

.Fin D'Orsay a big hit at Trelon 
and held over. 

Maurice Soitalnys celebrated their 
30th anni last week. 

Fred LaBelle back on job as WB 
personnel director after 90-day 
leave. 

Sam Nixons pulling out for few 
weeks in California to visit his ailing 
mother. , 

Alma Zivic, of boxing family, join- 
ing Kathryn Duffy dancers at NY's 
Glass Hat. 

Tony Kraber, who went to Carne- 
gie Tech drama school, now a Par 
newsreel voice. 

Bill Green, nitery owner, back to 
Bainbridge, Md., uaval base after 
first leave at home. • v 

Cpl. Jack Krieg, brother of singer 
Mary Krieg Cain, got' his second 
Purple Heart on Okinawa. 

Natalie Beiersdorf, daughter of 
20th's Herman Beiersdorf, promoted 
to Wae sergeant in Philippines. 

Jimmy McKean, kid drummer, off 
to the Coast and has turned his band 
over to Bob Elliott, lead saxman. 

Ben Steerman hit Variety Club 
jackpot, winning both gin rummy 
and duplicate bridge (with Joe Feld- 
man ) tournaments. 




Mushroom Filmers 



Continued from page 3 



London 



■ A) Daft, local Universal head, off 
to Cairo. 

J6t»n> Paine and Herman Fuikel- 
stein planed to Spain. 

Larry Adler writing friends to. ex- 
pect him over here this summer. 

Cecil Bernstein improving under 
specialist's treatment -for "spinal trou- 
ble. 

Lt. John Drukker. son of David 
Drukker, of the Charles L, Tucker 
office, in Palestine hospital. 

Dr. Malcolm Sargent off to Au- 
stralia to conduct concert tour for 
Australian Broadcasting Commission. 

Cecil Madden, producer of BBC's 
"Variety Bandbox," recenlly undcr- 



chances, a sub-exchange and an of- 
fice in the Near East and Africa,' 

This includes a new exchange in 
Tel Aviv, Palestine, with Simcha 
Grinwald as manager. A new ex- 
change is being established in Beirut, 
Lebanon, to cover Syria and Leb- 
anon. New exchange opening in 
Bagdad, Iraq, will service Iran and 
Iraq, with a sub-exchange at Tehe- 
ran, Iran. 

Ah office is being opened in Khar- 
toum, in the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan, 
to cover operations in AES, Eritrea, 
British and Italian Somaliland and 
Ethiopia. . All of- these exchanges 
will be supervised out of Cairo, 
which Silvertone visited, to sfe the 
new 2,000-seat Cairo theatre, 20th- 
Fpx showcase, recently opened 
there; 20th exchanges in Oslo, Nor- 
way, and in Copenhagen, Denmark, 
have been reopened. . 

Silvertone related that in -Tel Aviv 
important features run four-five 
weeks, nights only, and are then 
shown during matiness only at lower 
prices. Matinees, in effect, constitute 
a second run with a single theatre 
controlling two runs. 

In Egypt, he reported, repeats are 
important business. Public demands, 
reprise of big pictures and continu- 
ing repeats at five or six-month in- 
tervals are profitable. 

Anti-U. S. film regulations in Italy 
have not yet been repealed. Silver- 
stone said, but the government is 
friendly and he believes that satis- 
factory agreements will be worked 
out in time. 



BIRTHS 

Mr. and Mrs. W. C. Fortson. Mem- 
phis. June 6, daughter. Father is 
musician with Navy, formerly with 
Clyde McCoy orch. 

Mr. and Mrs. Dick Remy, son, 
Hollywood, June 2. Father is mem- 
ber of vaude Comedy team of Dick 
and Dot Remy. . . 

'Mr. and Mrs. Jack Wrege, daugh- 
ter, Teaneck, N. J.. June 3. . Father 
is assistant to J. J. Unger, United 
Artists sales manager. 

Mr.' and Mrs. Edd Henry, son. Hol- 
lywood, June 6. Father is a film 
agent. 

Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Goldberg, son. 
Pittsburgh, May 28. Mother, former 
Kathic Leiberman. used to work for 
WB there and is' sister-in-law of 
Harry Kalniinc, head of WB thea- 
tres. 

Mr. and Mrs. Jim Lanngan, son. 
Pittsburgh. June 1/ Father and" 
mother are booking agents. ' . .• • 



GF.ORG KAISER , ; "'.-:'■•.'. 

Georfe Kaiser, 67, German play- 
wright, who ' fled to Switzerland 
when the Nazis came to power in 
Germany, died in Ascona, Switzer- 
land, June 5, according to word re- 
ceived by his friends inN.Y. He was 
considered an , outstanding impres- 
sionistic dramatist of the 20th cen- 
tury, and shared with Franz Werfel, 
Thomas Mann and some 12 others 
the honor df" being dismissed from 
the Prussian Academy of Art in 1933 
by the National Socialist Minister 
of Culture. " > 

Kaiser's plays were popular in 
Germany and throughout Europe in 
the 1920's. Many of them contained 
the pessimism shared by German 
writers . after the first world war. 
However, his resentment over the 
wrongs of civilization were not con- 
fined to Ger-any,- for "Gas," pro- 
duced in 1918, attacked the U: S. 
industrial system. His "Mississippi," 
produced iii 1931, covered his con : 
ception of the enmity between Amer- 
ican farmers*and city folks. His first 
play, "The Jewish Widow," was writ- 
ten in 1911. Other plays include 
"Burghers of Calais," "The Presi'-' 
dent"~and "Gilles and Jeanne." , . 

Originally he was Buenos Aires' 
representative for a German power 
company, but an illness acquired in 
Argentina kept . him an invalid for 
eight years.- During that time he 
started writing plays. " , 



HARDEEN 

Leo Hardeen, 69, magician and 
illusionist, known professionally as 
Hardeen, and brother of the late 
Harry Houdini, died yesterday (12) 
in-New York. 

Like his more famous brother, he 
had appeared in vaudeville for a 
number of years, jt being' legendary 
that the more successful brother had 
schooled him in bis stage routines 
of oatwitting handcuffs, strait- 
jackets, etc. When Houdini died, he 
also bequeathed his bag of tricks to 
him, which naturally enhanced his 
value in subsequent vaude and fair 
dates. Only recently he attempted 
a comeback in onc-nighters of RKO 
circuit. 

Both were sons of the late Rabbi 
M. S. Weiss, of Appleton, Wis. They 
assumed their stage names, it's said, 
when the father was none" too 
pleased about their excursions into 
show business. 

Survived by widow, daughter and 
two sons. 



TOM GERAGHTY 

Tom Geraghty, 62, one of the film 
industry's pioneer writers and pro-, 
ducers, died June 5 in Culver City. 
He was head of the Hollywood 
Bureau of Censorship, OWI, when 
he retired, because of ill health, 
about a year ago. 

Formerly reporter on N. Y. Herald 
and the Tribune, Geraghty entered 
pictures early * 1900's as publicity 
director for the old Metro company. 
In that capacity he. formed a friend- 
ship with Douglas Fairbanks and 
wrote numerous scenarios for him. 

In' his long cai;eer he turned out 
more than 100 scripts for early stars, 
including Thomas' Meighan, Gloria 
Swanson, W. C. Fields, Will Rogers 
and Joe E. Brown. 

.Surviving are two sons, Maurice 
and Gerald, and two daughters, 
Sheila, and Mrs. Carey Wilson. 



THOMAS MAYO GEARY 

Thomas Mayo Geary, 65, former 
.vaude performer, songwriter and 
yesteryear executive in the music 
publishing* field, died after a heart 
attack in New York,. June 8.. . 

Geary had bceri^n vaude for sev- 
era 1 years, teamed 'with Harry Br,een, 
later going into ^the music business 
and sohgwriting." After leaving 
Breen. latter had gone along for 
years as a monologist. Among his best 
kno.wn songs are "The Mart' With 
the Lacfder and the .Hose/' which 
glorified N, • T^'sV? fir^-flgMters, " and 
' Your , Dad GaVe His Life For His 
Country/' written during fhe.Span- 
ish-Amef icah 'war. •• . ■ ; | 
' For a time"-"be was president of 
the Paul Dresser Music Co., N. Y., 
and also had held exec post with 
Will Ro.-siter, Chicago music pub- 
lisher. ; r'.v**-""- ' . ■ :': : • 



"Ma" McCormick, he was featured on 
WLW's Boone County Jamboree and 
Top of the Morning programs. He 
also was a pioneer film exhibitor in 
Newport, Ky.' 

Survived by widow, son, daughter, 
sister and a brother. 



MARY DUNN 

Mrs. Mary Dunn, 72, died June 9 
in Jamaica, L. I., after a brief illness. 
She designed some of the costumes 
for "The Bluebird," then " became 
wardrobe mistress with that attrac- 
tion, later being in charge of ward- 
robe for Shubert operettas. " 

Her youngest daughter, Lulu, is 
the wife of.H. Wayne Pierson, two 
other daughters, Maud and Marion 
Dunn, having been in vaudeville. 
George Dunn, a, son, is manager of 
the 81st St. theatre. 7 : ■ 



CLARENCE "PA" McCORMICK 

Clarence "Pa" McCormick, 74, 
dean of WLW's .staff of hillbilly en- 
tertainers; died June 3 in Covington, 
Ky. He had been ill for four months, 
his first absence from the air in 20 
years. With his wife, Alice, "Pa" and 



WILLIAM P, DEVAULL : 

William P.' Devaull, 74, old lime 
vaudeville and screen actor, died 
June 4 in Hpllywood, As an ac-' 
tor in silent films, he appeared' 
in "The Birth of a Nation" arid 
played with such former stars, 
as Douglas . Fairbanks, . Sr., William 
Desmond, Dustin - Farnum, Marion . 
Davies and the Gish sisters. 

Surviving is his widow, Lottie 
Devaull, with whom he appeared in 
a stage act more than 40 years ago. ' 



"•'. FRANK C. OI.SEN 

Frank C. Olsen, 52, long the busi- 
ness manager and secretary-treas- 
urer of the Chicago Theatrical Pro- 
tective Union (stagehands), Local 2, 
IATSE, died In Chicago, June 5 at 
the Municipal Tuberculosis Sani- 
tarium. He was also president of 
the Chicago Laboratory Techniciani* 
Local 780, IATSE. 

Survived by widow and two 
brothers. 



DAVID HUGHES 

David Hughes Blees, 21, radio 
actor known as David Hughes, died. 
J une 8 i n Hollywood after a heart 
attack. He had appeared on "Corliss 
Archer,'.' Silver Theatre and Lux 
Radio Theatre. . "V , • 

He was the son of William Blees,. 
Young & Rubicam vice-president in 
Hollywood. ' .;'•'. 



Father, 76,, of Frederick Schang, 
Jr., Columbia* Concerts, . Inc., vice- 
president, died at Bye, N. Y., May 
30. In addition to his son, who was 
a major in the Army until recently, 
he leaves, a widow and daughter, 
Mrs. Frances King. 

Mrs. Rosa Msrkowitz, grandmother 
of S. Sylvan Simon, Metro director, 
and mother of Sid Marke, Pittsburgh 
booking agent, died in that city 
June 7. 



Simon F. Miller, 78,- former mem- 
ber of Boston Symphony^ orchestra 
and last surviving member of Stone's 
Military Band of Boston, died June 7 
in Watertdwn, Mass. 

Mother of Pearl Karris, secretary 
to Pat Lombard, head of Chicago 
William Morris office band dept., 
died there. June 8. 



MARRIAGES 

Eileen Murphy to A) Turner, 
Pittsburgh, May 30. Groom is former 
band-leader who n o w manages 
Bachelors Club, Pitt. 

Marcella Herman to. Daniel J. Me* . 
Grdgan, Pittsburgh, May 25." Bride 
is the daughter of . Dr. C. E. Herman, 
who owri* . several theatres in Pitt 
area. • .',/'' '- . ', 

Belty Mariotti to Henry Ford, 
Seattle, June %• ' Bride is asst. to. 
Jack Sampspn/^dv., manager, of Sterr 
ling Theatres. •'. '■: \ ■ • 

Jinx* Falkenburg -'to Lt, ,Col.- J. 
Reagan, (Tex) McCravy, New York, 
June TO. Bride is Columfai? screen 
actress! groom was •, Chief editorial 
writer of N. Y. Mirror before; join- 
ing Army. ^if^^Xf - 1 , 

Jane Ball to Monte .' Pr0ser.\N«j#. 
Hope, Pa^ June 10. Bride is. 20th- 
Fox contraei player; groom; cj^s Cor 
pacabar^rutery, ,N. v y. :''M-^'''%"j^i. 

Amy'Dow^* ^"Bb'ttsM^nus^^iHfc' 
burn, N. J., JuneJO,; Both Jufe 
members ot ; iPa'r^jMiH PlayhoMSe 
Co. in that'-city.^; .'v ■ . ' -f*. •' 

First Lt.iMary Beatrjcis Mattingly, 
WAC,. to..Lt: : 56hr» T. Hawaii USNR, 
at Aftrngton, Va., June 9,'GrQom i« 
former Par branch manager " in 
Detroit. 



333018B 



Wednesday, June IS, 1945 




ain Mr. Hampton 'Excites' a Manager! 




Understatement ? 
Mr. Schiffman, 
Are You Kiddin '? 



r* t o^ iV to •** *** 



«• look i w . 




LIONEL HAMPTON 



Mr. Hampton 
Received 
For HIS Share 

$13,434.25 

Which Is 
FIFTY Percent of 

$26,868.58 

(The Net Gross) 

The Actual Gross 
Being the 

ALL TIME RECORD of 

$32,241.00 



AND HIS FAMOUS ORCHESTRA 



Mow WMk o* Jut ■ 
DOWNTOWN THEATRE 
DETROIT 



WMk Jim 15 
RIVERSIDE THEATRE 
MILWAUKEE 



Wmr Jm » 
REftAL THEATRE 
CHICAGO 



Jan* 29-Jaly 2 
fAR AMOUNT THEATRE 
TOIEDO 



ALL RETURN ENGAGEMENTS 



MR. HAMPTON "EXCITED" THESE MANAGERS, TOO! 



DECCA RECORDS 
EXCLUSIVELY 



0f. 



AteooUded BoakdHf Go*™,. 



JOE GLA5ER, President 



745 FIFTH AVENUE. NEW YORK 
Phone PLaza 5-0078 



8271 SUNSET IOULEVARD, HOLLYWOOD, CAL. 
Phone Hillside 7464 



2 DOWN AND 1 TO GO - - ON TO TOKYO! 

Let's Hit 'Em With War Bonds 

♦♦♦♦♦*«♦♦»♦♦♦»♦♦♦»♦»♦♦»♦♦♦ ♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦»♦ »»»♦♦»♦♦»♦♦♦♦♦»♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦»♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦»♦♦»«♦* »♦♦♦♦♦»♦♦♦♦ ♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦ »;» »t » t 4 »»»»' 






Published Weakly at 1S4 \fest «th Street. New Tort 19, N. T., by Variety, Inc. Annual subscription, %10. Single copies, 21 cento, 
EuUi'od as aacond-ulaaa matter December 22, 1905, at Ilia Post Office at New York, N. Y„ under Uia act ot March I, 1*11. 

COFTBIGHX, »«, BX VARIKTT, IXC. Alt BIGHTS RESERVED . : 



VOL., 159 



No. 2 



NEW YORK, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 20, 1945 



PRICE 25 CENTS 



EXPECT PIX SHORTAGE IN FALL 



Radio's Special Eventers Groovy 
With Boff Coverage on Ike's Return 



Times Sq. was mobbed yesterday* 
(Tues.) but hardly a ticket was sold ' 
until the afternoon— and no one 
minded. The reason was that the 
town, including its showbiz people, 
was celebrating General Dwight D. 
Eisenhower Day. And, through un- 
usually smooth radio arrangements, 
the entire country was in on the 
celebration. 

There had been ample radio cover- 
age the day before (Mon.) too, when 
Ike Eisenhower got his official 
Washington reception. But every- 
body in the country wanted to be 
in on the big N. Y. spectacle — Eisen- 
hower's arrival at LaGuardia Air- 
port, the parade down Fifth ave., 
through the lower Manhattan can- 
yons to City Hall Park, and thence 
up Broadway through Times Sq. 

Morris Novik, as city radio chair- 
man and aide to Mayor Fiorello H. 
LaGuardia, had made unusually 
smooth arrangements for radio's 
coverage. 

On a ramp at the airport, all four 
webs were set up where vision was 
clear and the radio engineers and 
(Continued on page 23) 



Diatribe 
Vs. H'wood Intrigues 
Nunnally Johnson 

• Hollywood, June 15. 
Editor, "Variety": 

Referring to story on page 1, issue 
of June 6, captioned, "Sherwood 
Working on FDR Bipg for Metro," I 
am intrigued by your report: "Deal 
initiated by Metro with playwright 
Robert Sherwood many months 
ago to write an original yarn for 
the studio has reportedly been 
closed. Sherwood is being retained 
for a 13-week period for a." fee of 
$125,000 and he's to prepare a script 
about Franklin Delano Roosevelt. . . 
Sidney Kingsley and Carl Sandburg 
were some of the others who were 
given cash advances against future 
literary deliveries. Kingsley's deal 
was for around $150,000, also provid- 
ing for about the same length of 
time as Sherwood at the studio. 
Sandburg did his writing away from 
the studio." 

Can these be the poor devils that 
(Continued on page 46) 



NOT TECHNICOLORFUL 
ENOUGH FOR KALMUSES? 

Hollywood, June 19. 
Divorce of Dr. Herbert T. Kalmus 
and Natalie Kalmus was revealed 
°ver the weekend. Couple had been 
warned over 25 years and divorce 
took place several months ago. 
^eadly monotony of life together" 
was given as the reason for their 
separation, , 

JK ley wil1 continue in business to- 
. He ' s *> rez 01 Technicolor 
•>»d shes the chief art supervisor.' 



A-C Postscript 

Philadelphia, June 19. 
What a whale of a difference a 
few years make! f 
The last time Abbott & Costello 
appeared here in person was about 
six years ago when they played a 
week's engagement at the Shubert — 
then a burlesque house. For this 
they received • a couple of hundred 
bucks. 

On Aug. 3 they^will return here 
for a week's stint at the Earle. A & C 
are due to walk out with about 10 
times that. 



'Travel Bureaus' Catering 
To Those 'Bumped' Off 
Planes Now Big Business 

There's a new wrinkle in the na- 
tionwide travel crisis, crying for 
Office of Defense Transportation or 
Interstate Commerce Commission in- 
vestigation. It's the new "travel 
bureau" idea which has sprung up 
at the more prominent airline "bum- 
ping off" terminals. 

Show business personalities, who 
of necessity use the airlines without 
priorities in their cross-country trips, 
are reportedly the hardest hit of 
"bumped" voyagers. When priority- 
tabbed passengers get on a plane, 
those without priorities must either 
wait at the airline terminal for a 
plane with accommodations, or use 
some other means to reach their 
destination. Result is a "suggestion" 
by an airline employee that travel 
accommodations to their destination 
can be made with a "travel bureau" 
comprised o£ ordinary aUtos that 
have room for four or five passen- 
gers. > 

These "travel bureaus," which 
have been in business for the past 
several years, mainly throughout the 
southwest and have now spread to 
other states, formerly dealt mainly 
with travelers on limited budgets, 
seeking to- cut down on railroad fare, 
etc. But now the boys are in "big 
.(Continued on page 47) 



When Plastic Disks Come, 
Record Racks Will Boom 

With Metro now in the recording 
field (see separate story) and greater 
plans afoot for more phonograph 
waxing postwar, the disk and music 
fields are keyed up about a new- 
born boom for canned music. This 
ties in with the imminence of plas- 
tic records as soon as wartime re- 
strictions go off, following V-J Day. " 

Already the music racks people 
are laying plans for record racks, 
feasible only with plastic disks be- 
cause of their durability and non- 
brcakability. 





P 

TO 60% CAPACITY 

Major film company execs report 
that the sharp contraction in cur- 
rent production, combined with 
slowly shrinking backlogs at some 
of the studios, indicates strong pos- 
sibility of a severe film shortage for 
theatres next fall. 

While some of the majors have 
extensive backlogs, and have been 
dipping into them slightly to main- 
tain '• current releasing schedules, 
other companies have had no back- 
logs of any consequence.. In any 
event, it is pointed out, those majors 
with large backlogs have been re- 
leasing only about two or three pic- 
tures monthly. If this policy is 
maintained by these companies, par- 
ticularly with studio activity at low 
ebb, an uncomfortable shortage of 
film is indicated since the other pro- 
ducer-distributors have no pictures 
in stock to make up any deflciences. 

Effects of the slowdown inl pro-, 
duction during the past three 
months are expected to be felt in 
September, October and November 
releasing schedules. Pictures now be- 
ing released are mainly those started 
before the studio strike began. 

At some of the studios production 
is estimated around 60% of capacity, 
with four or five pictures shooting 
on stages where nine pictures can 
be rolled simultaneously. All this at 
a time >vhen pictures for fall re- 
lease should be rolling at top speed. 

Distribution execs state that ex- 
hibitors will have to revise frequent 
practice of pulling a picture after 
(Continued on page 23) 



CHIMNEY SIT-DOWNER 
EXCEEDS BOND QUOTA 

Milwaukee, June 19. 
- Arnold Brumm, who runs the Ritz 
theatre on the far north side of Mil- 
waukee, felt pretty badly because his 
house was falling far behind in its 
war bond sales. • 

"I'm going to sit on that Chimney, 
five stories over my theatre, until 
my quota is sold," he vowed. So he 
built a small platform on the brick 
chimney, hauled up a small chair, a 
telephone extension and a magazine, 
and began to sit.' 

The word ' got around through 
North Milwaukee, and the business 
men began to phone hi orders. "I'll 
buy $1,000," said a merchant! An- 
other followed. The good news was 
phoned up to Brumm by his wife. 
Brumm's little son and daughter 
yelled to him that they would each 
buy a bond it he would come down 
for Father's day. But Brumm stayed 
up. 

It was 3 p. m. Saturday (16) when 
he began his sit. At sunset the 
weather turned chilly, and he 
phoned down: "Eend me my sheep- 
skin. I'm freezing to death." 
. Brumm's lofty vigil lasted 24V 2 
hours. By that time 150% of his 
quota had been sold. 



Mary Astor, Pat O'Brien, Gargan, Etc., 
Airshows Point Up Holly wood Trend 



Sing and Jig for figs 

Cigaret shortage has prompted 
nabe niteries in N. Y. and suburbs to 
revive "Amateur Nights" twice or 
thrice weekly and pay off the win- 
ning contestants of the warbling and 
hoofing session with cartons of cigs 
instead of coin as formerly. 

Mostly employed in spots having 
small dance combos but no talent 
budget and stunt reported doing its 
stuff in pulling 'em in. 



British-Yank Talent 
Exchange Awaits 
Election in England 

Atlhough negotiations for export 
of acts to England seems to be one 
of the hottest subjects in talent of- 
fices both here and abroad, there's 
little likelihood that any definite ac- 
tion can be taken until after the 
English elections scheduled for early 
July. * 

Major reason for the current 
standstill, aside from the snag on 
transportation, is the fact that no 
ruling is expected to come from the 
British Ministry of Labor regard- 
ing the repeal of wartime restric- 
tions on visiting artists until the new 
cabinet is formed. 

Under present restrictions, no for- 
eign acts can be admitted unless it's 
on a mission for the national in- 
terest. Visits of -film people to All 
an engagement, oratrips such as that 
undertaken by Alfred Lunt and 
Lynn Fontanne to do plays there, 
are regarded as in the national in- 
terest. It would be difficult under 
present conditions to justify whole- 
' (Continued on page 42) 



Further evidence of the manner 
in which radio looks more and more 
to pix personalities to wrap up air 
packages instead of "hatching its 
own" is revealed in the lineup of 
new shows set. That not only goes 
for the summertime replacement 
programs but in shows skedded for 
a fall precm. 

" The CBS sustainer sked for the 
hot weather -months is distinguished 
chiefly by packages comprising such 
Hollywood vets— though practically 
newcomers to radio — as Pat O'Brien, 
Mary Astor, William Gargan and 
Hugh Herbert, each- with their own 
programs and all regarded as com- 
mercial prospects for the fall. -Simi- 
larly, Roland Young has bowed into 
the summer network picture with 
his General Foods "Topper" show 
on NBC. 

And one of the most ambitious 
Hollywood-slanted packages to hit 
the air in some time is skedded for 
a fall preem under Campbell's. 
Soups aegis. Thafr"TnT~$rfcffflO 
Masquers' - club show (see separate 
story) which practically has th«. 
whole Hollywood field to cull from. 



TbanlrU': Beiiily— Warns 
Radio to Stop Copying 

Jack Benny says he is not chang- 
ing his comedy formal; that so far 
as his sponsor and he are concerned 
hels had his best year in radio, 
Hooperating* notwithstanding and de- 
spite the fact he missed out on "the 
first 15" a couple of times. , 

From the comedian's viewpoint, 
the essence of good radio showman- 
ship is interpreted if he has im- 
pressed himself as a character. When 
people wonder if he's really that 

. ■ (Continued on page 18) 



FOR TELEVISION 



The Hour 
f Of Charm 

All-tiirl Orchestra 
and Choir 

. « ond ur led hy 

Phil Spitalny 



MISCELLANY 



Wednesday, June 20, 1915 



Shew Biz Reflects on Advantages 
Of Wallaces Tax-Spread Proposal 



Show business is much interested* 
in the proposal set forth by Secre- 
tary of Commerce Henry A. Wal- 
lace who believes that: "The period 
during which business losses may be 
carried over and offset in a later 
year against profits should be ex- 
tended from two to five or six 
years." It would be a change in tax 
-procedure that managers, drama- 
tists and actors declare is far more 
equitable than the present system. 

Suggestion by Wallace is but one 
proposal revealed in an article by 
him entitled "Planning for Free- 
dom," which appeared in the May 
issue oi Reader's Digest,, but the tax 
idea is the feature most pertinent 
J.o show business. Production of 
shows, is. a gamble, more precarious 
■ K than any .type of commercial ven- 
: ~ture, records proving -that there arc 
three times as many 0ops as there 
are successes during an average 
. . . season. ■ 

A producer may have a hit one 
season and sink all profits remain- 
ing after a- huge tax bite during the 
following year or years. Same ap- 
plics to authors who may write a 
click, after which there may be 
years of blanks. That, too, . goes, for 
actors who may be in a run show 
one season and then not connect 
with another success for years, but 
in all three classifications the tax 
absorbs far too much of the profit, it 
is contended. " 

Spreading the Profit 
It's argued that show people 
should be permitted to spread the 
profit over several seasons to safe- 
guard against the lean periods, for 
income from the theatre is never 
constant. Managers have talked 
about seeking a tax change but have 
never seriously strived to attain that 
objective. When they huddled the 
last time about the subject it . was 
agreed that the proposal would not be 
entertained in Washington during 
the war. Equity recognized the sit- 
uation, as, soon as the managers and 
' has been seeking a solution for a 
dozen years. 

Wallace's plans called for "small 
business" to expand, thrive and mul- 
tiply, which could take in the thea- 
tre, for even the biggest successes 
are snjall enterprises compared to 
major corporations. Senate commit' 
tee on that problem reported: "The 
wartime tax structure falls relative- 
ly more heavily on new and small 
business . than on long-established 
large firms. ' This makes it very dif-. 
ficult ... to lay aside funds for re- 
conversion to peacetime operations. 
. It jeopardizes their survival." Wal- 
lace adds that such businesses have 
had to pay 70% of their annual 
profits in taxation. 

Another Wallace proposal which 
show business would welcome is his 
plan to abolish excess profits as soon 
\ as possible after the war is over and 
danger of inflation has passed, he also 
advocating a substantial, increase in 
tax exemptions immediately. In 
some instances managers have been 
able to partially spread profits over 
.» period of years, as indicated by 
picture-rights deals payable in part 
annually for between two and five 
. years. 



Jes' Too Hot 

Epidemic of cooling systems 
breaking down in niteries, the- 
atres 'and homeoffice projection 
rooms in New York. • 

Just a case of riot having been 
properly attended to or, in the 
case of some theatres, the influx 
of population neutralized the 
airconditioning almost to the de- 
gree where there is little benefit. , 



Look to Higher 
GI Pay Demands 

While the manpower problem in 
distribution and theatre operation is 
expected to be eased by soldiers re- 
turned to civvies during the coming 
year, and also by reduction in de- 
fense- work, it's feared in trade cir- 
cles that salary demands will be 
higher- than before the war. 

Question which arises is whether 
servicemen and defense workers 
will want to go back to former 
jobs, in other industries as well as 
pictures, at the same scale of pay. 
Not only are they likely to want 
better dough if resuming former 
jobs but probably, it's surmised, 
many former filmites working in 
homeofflces, theatres and exchanges 
will want better posts than they 
held before. The former usher, who 
emerges 'from the war as perhaps 
a lieutenant, is not going to want 
that job back, it is contended, with 
same holding true of lesser help in 
h.o.s and exchanges. 




Anniversary Week, 4lh Year 
June 24lh-July 1st 

KEN MURRAY'S 

"BLACKOUTS OF 1945" 
El Capitan Theatre, Hollywood, Cal. 

"Congratulations ■ Ken, ' keep 'em 
laughing'. Four good years deserve 

another." r— — • — — — 

EDGAR BERGEN. 



■ MM * >♦♦♦♦♦♦ t ♦♦»♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦»♦♦♦»♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦*♦♦♦»♦ 

SCULLY'S SCRAPBOOK 

♦ mm mm « By Frank Scully 



Warners' Morale Pitch 

Chicago/ June 19. , 
One way of keeping former thea- 
tre circuit employees now in the 
Armed Forces interested in return- 
ing to their old jobs — which many 
have shown no interest in taking up 
again — is the gimmick cooked up by 
Charles Ryan, assistant zone mana- 
ger of Warner Theatres here, which 
will appear in the July issue of 
Warnergrams, employees' mag that's 
slanted mostly towards khaki-&-blue 
readership. 

Layout is a plea to local WB cir- 
cuit's 400 employees in the services 
to make suggestions to improve 
theatre service postwar. It's a pitch 
for "morale, welfare or money-sav- 
ing ideas," with War Bonds offered 
as prizes for the best ones. 

Judges will be Ryan and district 
managers Hairy Turrell and Herb 
Wheeler. 



Eddie Cantor Does a Pied 
Piper on Henry Street 

• Eddie Cantor and his Ida last 
•week did a Pied Piper of Henry 

Street, in New York's lower east 
: side, where he first courted her 39 
.; years ago. It was a thrill to a num- 
: b'er of Broadwayites who made this 
sentimental' journey with the comed- 
ian. The Cantors have just' cele- 
brated their 31st anniversary. 
. Cantor had been yenning to tour 
the East Side nitery-eatery circuit 
■i (Old Roumanian, the Cafe Royale, 
etc.) and for an extra fillip two car- 
-loads of Broadwayites, mostly show 

• people, wound up on Henry Street. 

; It was 11 p. m., but soon the neigh- 
bors recognized the comedian and 
they fell off the fire-escapes and out 
of the apartments, and thus the Pied 
Piper "act started as Cantor, uncon- 
cerned, refreshed his and Ida's 
memory of this op that landmark, 
including where Eddie's own home 

; once stood (now a vacant lot), and 
; finally the Riis House. In three or 
. four blocks, the Henry Street conga 
line which trailed Eddie and Ida 
numbered into the hundreds, 
, When Cantor visited the local 
settlement house he broke up the 
kids' jitterbugging (to canned music) 
and was forced, to make a speech. 
Unknown to theni he left enough 



Gene Markey in Hosp 

• Washington, June 19. 

Capt. Gene Markey, USNR, head 
of the Navy Photographic Service, 
is under observation at the Naval 
Hospital at Bethesda, near here. 

Markey has had several re- 
currences of a- tropical disorder 
contracted while on duty in the 
Far East. It was for outstanding 
service in that tlfeatre that he re- 
ceived the Navy Cross. 



KATH WILLIAMS' 10G SUIT 

Pittsburgh, June 19. 

Name of Kathleen Williams, serial 
star ot the silent screen 25 years 
ago, cropped up in the news here 
again recently when she charged in 
a suit for $10,000 ngainst the Fred- 
erick Hotel Co. of Huntington, W. 
Va., that she had been scalded and 
suffered -injuries while taking a 
shower there.. 

Miss Williams was originally from 
Pittsburgh, going into films from 
here. 



H'wood Masquers 
Club Spots Stars 
For Campbell's 

Campbell's Soups, through its 
agency, Ward Wheelock, has pacted 
a five-year deal with the Masquers' 
Club, Hollywood's counterpart of 
The Lambs in New York, for a 
weekly air series called "At Your 
Service." It's, an $18,000 weekly 
•package, put together by A & S 
Lyons agency, with the Masquers' 
Club pledging its entire member- 
ship (which practically amounts to 
a "Who's Who" of the pix studios) 
for appearances on the stanzas. In 
return the club's philanthropic, 
charitable endeavors, etc., would 
benefit from the sponsorship coin. 

Format will be similar to Armed 
Forces Radio Service's "Command 
Performance" and "Mail Call" and 
will be a- takeoff on Canteen shows 
with the audience confined to serv- 
icemen. 

From present indications the show 
will replace the Campbell's Soups 
"Radio Reader's Digest" show heard 
Sunday nights on CBS at 9 o'clock 
(Ward Wheelock has been shopping 
around for some time for a "Digest" 
replacement). . ; . 

As such it comes as a break for 
the network, faced with such stiff 
Sunday night opposish from NBC as 
the Jack Benny-Fred Allen-Edgar 
Bergen parlay and the Blue's poten- 
tially sock Sunday night round robin 
of Walter Winchell, the skedded 
Ford Symphony Hour and the new 
U. S. Steel-Theatre Guild hour of 
legit plays. 

It's reported, too, that "The Saint,' 
announced as the. summer replace' 
ment, for Campbell's Jack Carson 
Wednesday night show starting to- 
night (20) will stay put right through 
the fall under terms of a long-range 
contract. Which would indicate that 
the Carson show is washed up. .". 

Mpls. Headwaiter Cupids 
Carol Bruce Marriage 

Minneapolis, June 19. 
Carol Bruce of films, stage, radio 
and night clubs was wedded here 
Sunday (17) to Milton Nalhanson 
local < tobacco company executive, 
following a whirlwind courtship six 
days after they were introduced to 
each other by William Burgini Hotel 
Raddisson Flame Room headwaiter. 

Miss Bruce, playing a three-week 
engagement in the Flame Room, cap- 
tured Nathanson on her' opening 
night, June 1, aud he attended every 
show after that. The wedding took 
place at the home of his brother. 
Gilbert Nathanson, theatre circuit 
owner. 



Video Terrace, June 17. 
Twenty years ago Gilbert Seldes, sjow vice-president in charge of CBS' 
television postponements, wrote a book called "The Seven Lively Arts" — 
which didn't do very well, either, Billy Rose might like to know. It did, 
however, popularize a Santayana saying belittling those who "suffered 
from a corrupt desire to appear refined." But it took General George 
Patton, Jr., and radio to make them really suffer.; ,'■ 

Since publishing "Arts" Gilbert Seldes has been content to be known in 
fact (after a weekly of the same name) as George's brother. At least he 
was until a week ago when he climbed out on a boom to assure Hollywood 
that a national video network is still 10 years away. We've been hearing 
that 10-year plan for 20 years, : " :. 

I guess I'll have to tell the committee in charge of postponements that 
wide screen television is here and that I happened to be one of the wit- 
nesses to the first, hand-tooled television performance. With General 
Patton carrying the sound track it was really formidable— a French word 
which means formidable. v" 

• How it happened was simple. In a Hilltop home, a radio at my side, I 
was overlooking all Hollywood which was framed in a 10x6 window. Ten 
miles away the Los Angeles Coliseum was blazing forth with millions of 
candlepower penetrating miles in the sky. Overhead planes thundered 
enroute to, the Coliseum where 105,000 persons were packed to see Gen- 
erals Patton and Doolittle. Olympic arenas were familiar to these boys, 
Patton _had represented Los 'Angeles, in the 1912 Olympics, competing in 1 
the pentathlon, which ^m Thbvpe- "won: — Oddly ,- Thorpe -pulled. j).tiJL;of_ 
L.A. to join the Merchant Marine almost on the eve of Patton's arrival 
in town. Doolittle had gone to Manual Arts high, having such eminent 
fellow students as Lawrence Tibbett, Phyllis Haver, Frank' Capra and 
"Irish" Me*isel. Rob Wagner was one of their teachers. Mervyn LeRoy, 
who directed "Thirty Seconds Over Tokio," staged the Coliseum spectacle. 
So altogether, despite that 105,000, it was a clubby affair. ■ : 

The announcer was telling the world that a 17-gun salute was under 
way and, sure enough, I could hear the boom over the radio and see 
framed in my window, the bombs bursting in air, as proof through the 
night that our flag was still there. It was a synthetic television thriller-'' 
diller. '. ■'.'><.,' 

Patton and Radio 

When Patton came on they yelled. (.Robinson's briefing had been loud 
enough to wake Himmler.) Patton apparently thought the yells of "louder" 
also meant "funnier," for he told about German towns he couldn't pro- 
nounce but had eliminated just the same. And then he let go a "damit." 
Still on the air he boomed a brace of "gahdamits." I'd have given any- 
thing to have seen the faces of the army of radio monitors throughout the 
land at that moment. Undaunted, Patton sought to describe the Japs. 
Everybody held his fingers to his ears. But he conceded he couldn't really 
do the subject justice and stay on the air. So he switched to an anti- 
climax but got a laugh. 

There's an old saying (and if there isn't there should be) that clowns 
should 1 be given the run of a circus and generals of the battlefield, but 
both ought to be kept off platforms. Anyway, they'd better get Heming- 
way, Tully, Farrell, Wilson and Cain to tone down the Patton radio scripts! 



folding money behind with the 
matron to keep them in ice-cream 
for days. Cantor's impromptu 
speechlet that his youth on the east 
side, in this same Riis House, were 
the happiest days of his life struck 
a spark with "the kids— now mostly 
of Italian extraction — who cheered 
him rousingly, despite the terrific 
heat. , Cantor was all but raised on- 
the-shoulders in traditional gridiron 
fashion. It- was a different, more 
sincere and genuinely heart-warming 
reaction to a local east side boy who 
made good than the usual autograph 
stuff. . - 



Sheehan in Poor Shape 

Winfleltf R. Sheehan is reported in 
bad physical shape. ." 

He just completed the Eddie Rick 
enbacker film biog, "Capt. Eddie," 
for 20th-Fox. but is unable to at- 
tend any of the exploitation hoopla 



Grade: Fields' SRO 

Brisbane, June 19 
Terrific trade is reported for the 
personal appearance of Gracie Fields 
in Brisbane. 

Miss Fields is doing Civilian Char 
ity concerts, plus servicemen shows 



Correction 

"You dolt," writes E.L.L. which may represent a longer version of Lois 
Long, "Morton Thompson, the wounded tennis ball, is out of the Army 
and by.now you must know that he and his book are in the hire of M-G-M. 
Call Culver City and find him in the writers' building. 

"I wrote you mj»nths ago that I met him in the office of the literary 
department of Leiand Hayward in New York, where Thompson's wife is 
in charge. He was late, but when he did arrive he was a sight to behold. 
No. G.I. with a butch haircut, but a well-heeled discharged veteran with a 
pencil-thin mustache, a dark, well-cut suit, a double-breasted pearl-gray 
vest and a derby So help me, a derby! Not a pearl gray one, but .still an 
iron beret. He was also carrying a small life-preserver around his middle, 
under. his clothing. Fat and sassy and not unlike a customer's man in a 
flourishing art and run gallery. But extremely cordial and agreeable. His 
wife, who seems a most sensible and capable gal is Frances Pyndyk. 

"Mortie has been really cutting a sartorial swath since he's come into 
royalties from 'Joe, the Wounded Tennis Player,' ordering suits galore, 
neckties by the score and in other ways making Lucius Beebe look like 
something out of Uncle Ben's Toggery. He loves New York and only wants 
to return to California (northern)." 

So naturally he's in southern California fronting for "Hollywood Pina- 
fore," right in a film factory. Coincidence, ?i'est-ce pos? 

. JP. S.— He Got the Gob 
A producer asked ex-admiral's secretary, Max Knepper, what picture 
qualifications he had 1 aside from a medical discharge from the Navy. 

"I know," replied Max, "Gail Russell, Andy Russell, Jane Russell, Rosa- 
lind Russell, Lillian Russell, Charles Edward RusselJ,. Bertrand Russell, 
the Russell Brothers and the Russell Sisters from Russell Birdwell — and 
that's only the beginning." 

The producer hustled him into a secretarial chair. "Sit there," he .said, 
"till they call your pay-number. You're hired." 



Dictated But Not Read - 

Commentator Carvath Wells knows someone that he claims wrote a book. 
"Don't say 'wrote'," advised a friend, bogged down by all this ghastly 
ghosting, "say dictated." 



Chi Still Feels It Has the Edge Over LA. 
And Detroit for a Postwar World's Fair 



Chicago, June 19. 

Chi, it would appear on the sur- 
face, isn't any further along in its 
plans for a postwar World's Fair 
than it was when the movement was 
revealed in "Variety" last Dec. 20, 
but judging from reports from De-' 
troit and Los Anfeles, which are 
also said to be setting up plans for 
Victory Expositions to outshine all 
and sundry in the past, plans here 
are much more concrete than those 
of the other two industrial centers. 

Felt by interested parties that, al- 
though there's "plenty of infection 
which hasn't erupted yet," it's more 
than likely to pop any day now, and 
for two good reasons: first, because 
of the intensified tub-thumping of 
the tightly-knit Century of Progress 
Association, composed of persons 
connected with management of the 
successful 1933-34 Fair; and, second, 
because the town's progress since 
1940 in one field alone— electronics- 



is sufficient in itself to warrant gel- 
ting the ball rolling, and in a hurry. 

The "eruption" abovementloned 
refers, of course, to something more 
concrete than the talking that's, been 
going on at Association meetings, at 
which there has been a lot of tsk- 
tsking over the fact that civic lead- 
ers who've been approached with 
the thought haven't as yet gotten to- 
gether to at least appoint a make- 
shift committee to case the. situation 
thoroughly. 

It's known among members, for 
example, that Maj. Lenox R. Lohr, 
now head of the Rosenwald Museum 
and veepee and general manager of 
the last Fair under the late Rufus 
Dawes, is "willing to be drafted into 
service if civic pressure were ap- 
plied." More activity than is evi- 
denced is justified because of that, 
they claim, although it's recognized 
that leaders in railroad, hotel, bank- 
ing and other industries who'd logi- 
(Continued on page 23) : 



Wednesday, June 20, 1945 



PICTURES 



TALENT PACKAGE-POOLS GAIN 



"It's Going Great, But- 



99 



Everybody knows that the Showmen's Seventh War Bond cam- 
paign is going great ... but that's the trouble. 

The war news has, of course, been wonderful. Great stuff 
for the armchair generals and living-room diplomats. But . 

The home front has all but forgotten that there's' a- tough,, 
murderous, knock-down-drag-out battle still going on at the' 
muddy approaches to Japan. -;, ; 

Drive leaders report that the Seventh War Bond campaign is 
going great— but' there's a danger it may not go over the top, fail 
of its objective. '. ... , . 

Complacency on the home front is the most insidious enemy 
show business has to face in the current campaign. Gen. George 
Patton summed it up when he said, "There's still a chance this 
damn war can be lost." '•:.• 

There's quiet, tireless, persistent pressure by local drive leaders 



to push moimting ^TB'^ohd saTes evelpllglSeTCv Btrti;heatre-Qper- 
ators will have to fight home front lassitude to a standstill if the 
Treasury goal is to be attained. 

Sure, it's going great, but the blood of American soldiers falling 
on Okinawa isn't dry yet. It isn't over and neither is the Show- 
men's Seventh. . . •. 



Cuff o Pix Theatres for GIs Abroad 
If Army Absorbs Cost; 16mm. Cut Off 



U. S. Army authorities and Amer- + 
ican film companies are now work- 
ing out plans which will determine 
whether doughboys in Europe will 
pay for admission to motion picture 
theatres or whether the' -Army will 
absorb the cost. 

Film company reps have been 
ironing out a basis of compensation 
for films distributed for showing to 
GIs in Europe. Discussions have 
been held with U. S. Army officials 
both in the U. S. and Europe. 

With" Europe no longer a combat 
zone the shipment of free 16mm films 
is being discontinued and a circuit 
of theatres where regular 35mm 
films will be shown, exclusively for 
CI's, is being^set ,up. 

Price of admission for GI's to 
picture houses at camps in the U. S. 
is around 12- 14c and possibility is 
that a similar formula will be es- 
tablished for the occupation troops 
abroad, though it remains to be 
seen whether the unit cost- will be. 
paid by the Government or indi- 
vidual servicemen. 

Gl theatres abroad will be es- 
tablished to service an estimated 
1.000,000 men. Rentals from U. S. 
Army camp theatres here are still 
averaging around $7,500,000 ' an- 
nually. At the peak of mobilization, 
wjien over 1,000 theatres were in 
operations,- rentals were near the 
$9,000,000 annual mark. 

Need to provide entertainment 
for A ,riei 'iean occupation .forces in 
Europe has kieen figuring prom- 
inently in film industry counpils. 
Preliminary discussions relating to 
establishment of the GI circuit of 
regular theatres abroad were held 
several .months ago. . 

First hand survey of the situation 
was made within the last few weeks, 
however, and report is now re- 
ported under study of all major 
companies. 



M-G, 20TH, PAR IN QUEST 
OF STORIES IN EUROPE 

Metro. 20th-Fox, Paramount and 
other studios are preparing to in- 
tensify search for, story material in 
England and on the continent. 

20th-Fox is dickering with Arch 
Ogden, of the Council of Books In 
Wartime, to head up story depart- 
ment abroad. 

Metro is planning to send one of 
lis studio story department execs 
overseas. Par office in England will 
expand overage. 



Selinick SOS's Peck 

■ ' Hollywood, June 19. 

Vanguard (Selznick) has issued a 
jWll to Gregory Peck to return by 
Friday at the latest to resume chores 
"> 'Duel in Sun." Actor was loaned 
out to Metro for "Yearling," where 
he locationed in Florida. 

However, loanout was contingent 
"Poii momentary recall for Selznick 
nl "> resumption, and "Duel'*, starts 
shooting with Peck's return. . 



GRAD SEARS BACK AT 
HIS UA DESK JULY 2 

Grad Sears. United Artists v.p., in 
charge of distribution, returns to his 
N. Y. home office desk July 2 fol- 
lowing recovery from his recent 
illness. Edward C. Raftery, UA 
prexy, has wired exchange forces of 
Sears' impending return. 

Sears entered New York Hospital 
last February suffering from a heart 
ailment. He left the hospital several 
weelss ago and continued to improve 
rapidly. 



No Rank-Par Bldg. 
Race in Canada 

While a theatre-building race be- 
tween J, Arthur Rank's Odeon chain 
in Canada and Paramount's Famous 
Players-Canadian, is a postwar pos- 
sibility, construction plans by both 
circuits in the Dominion remain 
relatively limited for the time being. 

Par's Canadian affiliate, according 
to J. J. Fit/.gibbons. operator, plans 
construction of five or six new thea- 
tres as soon as labor and materials 
are available, but these theatres 
were on the drafting boards before 
the' war broke out. FP-C plans, at 
the moment, are to build only those 
houses planned before war broke 
out in September, 1939. 

Rank, when questioned closely 
about rumored plans for some 50 
new theatres in Canada, told "Va- 
riety" that sites had thus far been 
selected for only one or two in 
Montreal and Toronto respectively. 

Construction of even one deluxer 
in Montreal, however, would pro-, 
vide serious opposition to thesolid- 
ly-entreached Consolidated Theatres 
(subs id of FP-C i which, currently 
controls virtually all of the first-run 
outlets in the city. Only through a 
pool operation involving the Capitol, 
Princess, Palace and Loew's thea- 
tres; whereby all available product 
could be sliced up and booked into 
the most suitable house, was the 
mst-run situation placed on a prof- 
itable basis in, the thirties. 

Any competition for major prod- 
uct in this area would affect grosses 
at the other houses radically since, 
for many years, there was not 
enough strong product to assure 
profitable operation for all the first- 
runs in the FP-Consoliclated group. 
V . : — ~ ; g . 

Nugent's H'wood Vac&sh 

: * ' . >^__^ . . Hollywood. June 19. 
Elliott Nugent will head for Holly- 
wood and a six-week vacation on 
Coast with the seasonal closing of 
"Voice of the Turtle." June 3D. 

Actor will merely take outing and 
has; , no plans for picture deals. He 
will return to N. Y. for reopening of 
•■Turtle" Sept. 1. 




OF 




Pooling of creative ideas via the 
formation of incorporated writing 
groups, reportedly the first of the 
kind, is latest outgrowth of the con- 
tinuing, unabated swing to inde- 
pendent film production. 

Independent unit production, 
which appears likely to continue for 
a time, since no .sharp downward re- 
vision in income taxes is indicated- 
for another year, is giving, rise to 
unusual phases of independent 
groupings of various kinds, accord- 
ing to studio, execs. • 
- _What~may-.-be.._the_ forexiiniier_.of . 
similar production groups is a unit 
now being incorporated composed of 
five prominent screen writers who 
.will provide complete shooting 
scripts for producers. Earnings by 
members Of the group,' whether fi-om 
studio contracts or single picture 
deals, will be spooled and divided.' 
Ideas will also be pooled. "'-■ 

Package idea, major company pro- 
duction execs point out, may well be 
applied to other phases of studio 
work. : .:'-..-.■ 

'Growth of independent film out- 
put, meantime, which also points to 
new distribution outlets in the near 
future, will likely affect production 
policy at some studios where inde- 
dependent product has figured prom- 
inently. 

KKO's Hedge On Indies 

RKO. with high gross income large- 
ly resulting from indie releases, is 
planning higher-budgeted product in 
an effort to become independent of 
outside films. RKO may increase its 
total output . next season chiefly 
for two reasons: (i) Distribution fees 
from outside product is insufficient 
to maintain top earning power, and 
(2) some Of the independents will 
sooner or later set distribution deals 
away from RKO. . ■ ". ~ 

If prepared to sell eight or 10 
more films next season RKO would 
be able to offset, to some extent, pos- 
sible loss of some of its outside pro- 
ducers. 

Studio heads, meantime, continue 
of the opinion that when the income 
tax structure is revised there will be 
a return from indie units to studio 
contract lists. While leading inde- 
pendent producers will most likely 
continue on their own, it is believed 
that many of the wartime unit 
groups will dissolve. 



Briskin-Capra 
Probably RKO 

Hollywood. June 19. 
■Sam Briskin heads for New York 
on Friday to meet Col. Frank Capra. 
his partner in Liberty Pictures, just 
out of Army and to discuss proposi- 
tion of distribution of films they 
contemplate making. Briskin dis- 
cussed releasing through United 
Artists when Ed Raftery was here a 
month ago. but how desires to talk 
with Ned Depinet. of RKO. Indica- 
tions are that the unit will probably 
tie in with RKO, as preliminary talks 
already took place here and in New. 
York. Report has it that there is 
possibility of blending the Liberty 
unit with that of Rainbow, the 
organization in which Leo McCarey. 
Birig Crosby and a number -of others 
are interested. ' . . ' ;. ',':■' 
" Probably first film that Liberty 
would do is Eric Knight's "Flying 
Yorkshireman." which Capra wanted 
to make while he was at Columbia, 
before going into the Army. 



DSM to Col. Capra. 

Washington, Jiine 19. 

Distinguished Service Medal was 
awarded Thursday ( 14 ) to Col. Frank 
Capra, with the presentation being 
made personally py General George 
C. Marshall. .Army- Chief of^Staff. 
Ceremony took place in Marshall's 
office, the citation being read by 
Major General James A. Ulio. the 
Adjutant General. 

Capra. who entered the Army iiy 
February. 1942. is slated to be re- 
tired to private life shortly. He now 
heads the Army Motion Picture Uni! 
and is Assistant Chief of the Army- 
Pictorial Service. 



Indies Look to Nelson to Lead To 
Stronger Trading Position, Public 
Relations in U.S.; Share of Exports 



DeSylva Improves 

Hollywood, June 19.' 

Buddy DeSylva is reported greatly 
improved since the heart attack and 
stroke which befell him last week. 
The paralysis has left the arm but 
is still, in the face, with the. blood 
clot dissolved. Crisis is expected in 
another 10 days. : . ' 

DeSylva, however, understands 
people talking to him but is still 
inarticulate. Only visitors are Sam 
Ledner and George Cohen, his 
attorney... ':..'..'.{."- 



Nelson's Value 
Aired by Cagney 

William Cagney. head of Cagney 
Productions, stated in . N. Y. yes- 
terday (Tues.) that independent 
producers were glad to be able tot 
get a man-like Donald Nelson to 
head their organization (Society of 
Independent Motion Picture- Pro- 
ducers), particularly because of the 
need to get a fair share of the for- 
eign market. 

Cagney said tliat independent pro- 
ducers are confronted with a tough 
situation insofar as the foreign mar- 
kets are concerned. 

If independent producers fail to 
get their share of the foreign rent- 
als, Cagney contended, they would 
be obliged to limit budgets to a 
maximum of $500,000 or take a long 
chance on recovering cost plus a 
profit. " 

Cagney pointed put that Nelson 
would be especially valuable in rep- 
resenting independents on foreign 
problems because of his entree to 
Russian, Chinese and other foreign 
government offices in various parts 
of the world. ' ; 

With rumors, flying around, since 
the Nelson appointment, of a new" 
distribution organization through 
which all the independents would 
release their product. Cagney Was 
asked about possibility of such a 
company being formed. 

"Anything is possible/' Cagney re- 
plied. He added that independents 
produce more than 4') pictures an- 
nually, more than , enough to sus- 
tain a new releasing outlet. 

Cagney's first picture scheduled 
this year is "The Gtray Lamb." 
which will roll in eight or 10 weeks, 
depending on the outcome of the 
studio strike. Cagney said he ex- 
pects to trade James Cagney for a 
Gary Cooper, Bob Hope or • Bob 
(Continued on page 43) 



HAL WALLIS-WILDBERG 
DICKERING 1UCASTA' 

John Wildberg, producer of "Anna 
Lucasta," may close with Hal Wallis 
(Joe Hazen) Productions for the film 
rights. Terms may develop into a 
straight Sharing arrangement, sans 
cash. .- 

Two previous bids from Wallis 
have been $150,000 against 10% of 
the gross, or 50% of the net profits, 

Negro play, of course, would be 
done whi.tefaee. ■'■■'.' 



Europe Hungry for U.S. 
Pix Says UA Topper 

\ Hollywood. June 19. 

All Europe is starving for Amer- 
ican films, according to a cable from 
Walter Gould, foreign chief for 
United Artists, now in Paris, to Cecil 
Coan, UA foreign head on the 
Coast. As an example. Switzerland 
has had only 24 Hollywood pictures 
in four years, and has used them 
over and over again in preference 
to German films. 

Coan is rushing shipments of UA 
product to all countries except those 
dominated by Japan. 



Signing of former War Production 
Board head Donald M. Nelson as 
president of the Society of Inde- 
pendent Motion Picture Producers 
(effective June 29) is generally re- 
garded within the trade as a move 
strengthening the position of inde- 
pendent producers in relation to con- 
sent decree and other industry prob- 
lems. It's also indicative of the be- 
lief, held by some majors also, that 
the center of public relations activi- 
ties has shifter! away from New York 
to Washington and Hollywood. 

Two important problems which 
Nelson likely will be called upon to 
explore immediately are: 

1. Consent decree. ; 

2. The film', export association. 

In" the latter, Nelson can wield 
considerable influence on behalf of 
the independents since the effective- 
ness of the industry's export organi- 
zation is measured in terms of unani- 
mous action in foreign countries. It 
independent product continues to ba 
sold' in territories where other film 
has been withdrawn, the effective- 
ness of any territorial boycott by 
the American film industry could be 
voided. 

In consent decree matters the in- 
dependent group, while composed of 
some of the U. S. film industry's 
most important producers, has thus 
(Continued on page 43) 



BORZAGE BLASTS NEW 
GANGSTER PIX CYCLE 

Hollywood, June 19. 

In open letter to Hays office, Frank 
Borzage blasted gangster films and 
suggested Hollywood "grow up," 
adding, "nothing can do more harm 
to this country and the movie in- 
dustry at this particular time." 

As during 1930's, Borzage warned 
that films glamorizing gangsters and 
dealing with black markets and 
subjects of that ilk were giving the 
"wrong idea of American life." He 
urged production of educational 
films, "which bring healthy profits" 
and suggested system pf voluntary 
censorship, citing "Bernadette" "Go- 
ing my Way" and "Wilson." He said 
these were films of which Hollywood 
could be proud. 




Trade Mark Registered 
FOUNDED BY 8IMB SILVERMAN 
Published Weekly by VARIETY. Inc. 

Sid Silverman. President 
151 West ««U St.. New York 19. N. T. 



SUBSCRIPTION 














Vol. 159 


No. 2 



INDEX 

Bills ' 43 

Chatter .. . . ..... 47 

Film Reviews ... . '■< . .... . . , . 11 

Foreign ..■'. ..... 19 

House .Reviews . .', , i ....... 18 

Inside Legit. . ... . . ... .... ..44 

Inside Music 38 

Inside Orchestras . ; 38 

Inside Radio ... .......... . . 31 

Legitimate: 44 

Literati 19 

Music ....'36V 

New Acts 42 

Night Club Reviews. . . 43 
Obituary ... ...... . . . ... . ... 47 

Orchestras . ,; '. 36 

Pictures ..... . . ;„-.' 3 

Radio 24 

Radio Reviews ., 30 

Frank Scully ..... .... . 2 

Television , ....... . ....... . 35 

Vaudeville 40 
War Activities ....... . . « 

- DAILY VARlKTV 

(PutiliWieis In Hollywood by 
Dally Variety. I,id ) 
110 a Year— JIZ Foreign 



few 

P ffiSlET f Wednesday, June 20, 1945 




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PRICES . . DAY-AN 



WAR ACTIVITIES 



Wednesday, June 20, 1915 



Roy Rogers Spurs Chi Kids, 

Of Them, to Push 7th Bond Drive 



Chicago, June 19. ♦ 
Roy Rogers' pix are gelling the 
biggest call from the 600,000 school 
kids here who are ringing doorbells 
like demented in the last-minute 
rush to push the Mighty Seventh 
over the top. According to exhibitors 
who've made classroom queries on 
what the moppets want to see on 
Children's Bond Show' Day Saturday 
(23), it's Rogers two to one. So 
that's what the. small fry will get- 
plus, of course, the usual lotsa 
cartoons. 

Top 10% o£ the junior bondsellers 
will receive merit award certificates, 
which in turn will admit them to 
one of the 44 morning shows, and, 
besides screenings for grammar 
sehoolitcs, Balaban & Katz is staging 
an all-star review at Chicago Stadi- 
um in the afternoon for high school 
■award winners. Houses holding the 
kid shows are B&K, 16; Allied, 12; 
Essaness, 6; Warner Bros., 4; H. & E. 
Balaban, 3; . Schoenstadt, 2; and 
Illinois-Indiana, 1, 

Whether they rate ^dmish to the 
shows or not, each kid who sells a 
bond will be given a button with {he 
words Merit. Citation on a back- 
ground of the Iwo Jima flag-raising 
scene. 

Program is under the direction of 
Mrs: F. Russell Lyon for public and 
private schools and Mrs. Leo P. 
Cummings for Catholic schools, and 
is sponsored by "James B. McCahey, 
prez of Board of Education; James 
T. Caffney, assistant superintendent 
of Chi public schools; Noble J. 
Puffer, county superintendent of 
schools; and Msgr. Daniel F. Cun- 
ningham of the Catholic schools. Hi 
S. Davidson of the Mere'dith Publish- 
ing Co. was promotion counsellor for 
the program, and prepared general 
outline as member of sales promo- 
tion and' publicity committees. 



TOO AUTHENTIC? 



Mock "Tokyo" Warfare Burns 250 
Bui Robt. Young Escapes 



• New Orleans, June 19, 
Robert Young, pix star, acting as 
emcee for the mock "Tokyo Beach- 
head Invasion" on Lake Pontchar- 
train Sunday <"17) to stimulate bond 
sales, in the 7th war loan, narrowly 
escaped serious injury when phos- 
phorous grenades, used by mistake, 
fell and exploded' in the crowd of 
30,000 which' gathered to witness the 
event. The actor was close to the 
falling grenades which resulted in 
injury from chemical burns to over 
250 persons. He escaped unhurt. 

Officials explaining the incident, 
said that the phosphorous grenades; 
had been placed in a box of smoke 
bombs by mistake. . 



'Private' Meals 

Partly as result of gripes from 
(lis who resented performers 
linking up With officers, .all 
USO-Camp Shows '.units going 
overseas are asked by Camp 
Shows • officials to eat at least 

: one meal a day with GIs. 

Moss Hart, who returned to 
N, Y. last week after a Pacific 
tour with "The Man Who Came to 

_ Dinner,", stated that during the 
entire fouMnonth tour he and 
his unit ate only four times with' 
officers. All other times they got 
in line for chow like any dough- 
boy. 



WB's $3,000,000 Bond Buy 

Hollywood, June 19. 

Seventh War Loan subscriptions 
hi the film ' -Industry were lipped $3,- 
000.000 in one- day by the Warners 
studio,' the largest Hollywood, cor- 
poration purchase made to dale in 
the current drive*. 

Meanwhile, individuals on (he 
Bui-bank lot have bought an addi- 
tional $323,000 worth Of bonds. 



1,278 CURRENTLY ON 
USO TOURS OVERSEAS 



HUB MET BOND SHOW 
GROSSES $460,000 

Boston, June 19. 

More than $460,000 worth of E- 
bonds ...found takers at the Metro- 
politan bond show, with house capa- 
city (4,367) sold out 10 days in ad- 
vance. A personal F.ppearance by 
Ida" Lupino and "Nob Hill" 1 20th ) 
among attractions. 

Hub is still talking about Bing 
Crosby's 30-minute appearance on 
Boston Common theatre bondstand 
last Saturday. He drew 75,000 fans 
and sold $80,000 in bonds, with his 
necktie bringing $2,500. Tony Peters, 
guitarist, accompanied Bing, and 
other entertainers included Herb 
Lewis. Kay Ivers and Larry Flint 
orch. The War Activities Committee 
of the Motion Picture Industry 
pulled the strings. 



1-Wk.s Red Cross 
Total— $457,348 

Hollywood, June 19. 
Cheek for $457,348 has been turned 
over to the American Red Cross by 
Charles P. Skouras, chairman of mo- 
tion picture theatres branch of Red 
Cross. Coin represents one week's 
drive- in 600 Southern California 
film houses. Coin amounting "to 
$227,156 contributed by patrons at 
160 Fox- West Coast houses, while 
an additional gift of $32,225 made 
from company funds. Other affili- 
ated circuits and indie houses total- 
ing 440 accounted for remaining 
$197,966 of patron donations. 

Amount sets record for any single 
agency's contribution during a seven- 
day period. • ' 



There are now 1,278 entertainers 
overseas for USO-Camp Shows, most 
the organization has ever had across. 
Total, which includes 30 guest, stars, 
represents 236 units. 

Since its inception in 1942, Camp 
Shows has sent overseas 3,247 en- 
tertainers, totaling 556 units. 



H'wood May Crack Mark 
Set in Former Drives 

Hollywood, June 19. 

Hollywood film industry has in- 
vested more than $8,000,000 in the 
Seventh War Loan, with 11 days 
still to go, according to Henry 
Ginsberg, chairman of the Holly- 
wood Motion Picture War Finance 
Committee. 

With only three studio corpora- 
tion purchases registered- to date, 
Ginsberg declared the 7th campaign 
is certain to equal or surpass the 
average of $14,000,000 set by three 
previous drives. In addition to the 
three studios, namely Warners, 
Universal and 20th-Fox, the Holly- 
wood Canteen has invested $200,000 
and the Screen Actors Guild $50,000. 



Romero Heads Service 
'Salvos' in Worcester 

Worcester, June 19. 

"Salvos of 1945," Army-Navy- 
Coast Guard war bond show, head- 
ed by Chief Boatswain's Mate Cesar 
Romero, opened three-night stand 
in Municipal Auditorium here last 
night (18) with WTAG as sponsor. 

It show doesn't achieve its pur- 
pose, 'it's simply because central 
Massachusetts residents are already 
up to their necks in bonds. For the 
all-service revue has been plugged 
constantly for more than a week by 
WTAG and several front page 
stories in dailies have kept the citi- 
zenry reminded. Tickets, of course, 
were available with bond purchases 



Brig. Gen. Munson Now 

Washington, June 19. 

Col. Edward L. Munson, chief of 
Army Pictorial Service, was nomi- 
nated yesterday < 18) by President 
Truman to the temporary rank of 
brigadier general. 

Munson, the War Dept. said, "is 
responsible lor procuring, producing, 
and maintaining files, and distribut- 
ing motion picture films, film strips, 
and still pictures for training, tech- 
nical, historical and publicity pur- 
poses for the. Army Ground Forces 
and Army Service Forces." 



Hadassah's Amazing Total . 

..... _ - Philadelphia, . June 19, _ 
The Philadelphia Hadassah spon- 
sored one of the most successful 
bond premieres in history Tuesday 
night (12) when a total of $4,511,075 
worth of E bonds were sold for the 
showing of "Valley of Decision" at 
the Aldine, Stanley-Warner deluxer. 

Total was amazing in : view of the 
fact that the house seats only about 
1,400. Reason huge total Was reached 
was that most of the seats were sold 
and resold many times, original 
bond buyers turning back seats to 
Hadassah committee for resale. 

Approximately 13,500 persons 
laid $1,500,000 on the line for "E" 
bonds to watch the Eddie Cantor 
show at Convention Hall last night 
(Mon.). 

Despite the excessive heat, the hall 
was jammed. Clarence Fuhrman's 
KYW house band, accompanied the 
show. 



Mpls. Hypoing 

Minneapolis, June 19. 

Although results here, as else- 
where throughout the U. S., have 
been disappointing in the matter of 
sales, John J. Friedl, War Activities 
Committee chairman, is taking pride 
in the fact that this territory leads 
the entire country in number of 
Seventh War Loan Bond shows. 

A capacity audience of 4,000 is as- 
sured for the childrens' war bond 
show at the Radio City theatre here 
this week. Local talent will provide 
a stage show and the picture will be 
"A Boy. a Girl and a Dog," produced 
by W. R. Frank, local indie theatre 
circuit magnate. 

Incidentally, the Frank picture, in- 
depently distributed, has been 
booked into one of the loop Minne- 
sota Amus. Co. (Par) houses, the 
Century. Deal was made by Frank 
himself with John J, Frjedl, circuit 
president, • •/ '- . . ;•'■'' .... 



SAN ANTONE HOUSES IN 
HOME STRETCH HYPOES 

San Antonio, June 19. 

With only, two weeks remaining in 
the Seventh War Loan Drive, local 
Interstate Theatres are going all out 
in bond selling, according to Al 
Reynolds, Interstate's city manager, 
Among the events scheduled by the 
local theatres include a cartoon show 
tor local kiddies who purchase war 
stamps in the amount of 25c. Event 
will; be staged at the Majestic theatre 
Saturday (23). 

Over at the Texas a bond show 
was held last week (13), with "Dia- 
mond Horseshoe" the screen fare 
and a special stage show by the Ran- 
dolph Field orchestra. Show played 
to capacity. 

Jack Mitchell, manager of the Ma- 
jestic, will give some local bond buy- 
er a- $2,000 mink coat. Coat will be 
given to the holder of a coupon 
given by arrangements with local 
merchants. 



'PORGY & BESS' NEVER 
GOT PUSHED AROUND 

USO-Camp Shows' "Porgy a, id 
Bess" company of 17, first Negro 
legit show to tour the Pacific, re- 
turned last week after a six-month 
trek, full of enthusiasm for the trip, 
and praise for their treatment. They 
met no discrimination because of 
their color, they said. They lived 
with Negro officers, and Negro GIs 
approved. They played for white 
and Negro troops, always in open- 
air theatres, with two pianos for 
music, playing iii rain or heat, at 
all times. 

Troupe members "iff .various points 
joined church choirs and helped out 
the chaplains, to whom they paid 
high, tribute as "a force and power 
in the service." Members helped all 
denominations and one, Eloise Ug- 
gam, sang "Eili, Eili" at a Jewish 
Sabbath service. (She ;had used it 
on .Broadway in "Rhapsody in 
Black".) John Garth, who played 
Porgy, pulled an iron-man stunt. Op- 
erated on once for hernia, which 
kept him out 12 days, he subsequent 
ly had to be operated on for appen- 
dicitis, and was back in the cast 
eight days after the operation. 

Troupe alternated "Porgy" with a 
variety show, doing both at all stops. 
Special Services is so pleased with 
results of their touri that they want 
the unit to go "but ' again, in the 
European theatre, ■ ' - 



No Book on Trip, 
Says Moss Hart 

Black-bearded, bronzed Moss Hart 
returned to New York last Thursday 
(14) after three months in the South 
Pacific playing Sheridan Whiteside 
in a ' USO-Camp Shows' "The Man 
Who Came To Dinner," claiming it 
was the hardest work he ever did. 
The tour was grueling and exhaust- 
ing, he said, It's also Hart's debut 
and farewell as an actor, unless they 
need him in the European area next 
year. ."Whatever ham I had in me," 
he said, "is out." ' 

"Dinner" was the first legiter . to 
play the Saipan, Guam, Kwangelain 
area, and 50% of audience had never 
seen a straight play before. They're 
a little tired of films and variety 
shows, of accordionists, jugglers and 
tapsters, Hart said. The play gave 
troops a talking point. They want 
more legits. "Dinner" particularly 
appealed to GIs for psychological 
i-easons,...Hatt__saidi_the_J^a__(^ a 
man insulting everybody and getting 
away with it. against all discipline 
and conventions, simply wowed the 
troops. 

After a summer resting at his 
Bucks Gounty, Pa., farm, Hart will 
direct Robert Turney's "Secret 
Room" for Joseph M. Hymah and. 
Bernard Hart this fall. He posir 
tively doesn't intend to write a book 
on his trip, he said. 



Metro Director Dassin 
To Help Stage GI Shows 

Jules Dassin checks out of Metro 
and goes overseas shortly to direct 
soldiers in Europe in plays. Metro 
director goes under auspices of a 
program being devised by Actors 
Laboratory to send top film pilots 
into the ETO'for purpose of staging 
soldier shows, thereby building 
morale and also showcasing GI 
talent. 

Dassin leaves upon conclusion of 
"A Letter for Evie" filming. 



Kiddie Bond Show 

Schenectady, N. Y., June 19. 
A presentation on the stage of 
Proctor's theatre "of WGY's "Toll Me 
a Story" children's program,, at its 
regular air time, will feature a War 
Bond Kiddie ShOw'arrangcd by Guy 
Graves, Fabian City manager, for 
June 3"0." "Son of Lassie" will be the. 
picture. A total of $45,000 in bonds 
has been sold for the show, each $25 
bond being good for a seat. Carl 
Co., department store, purchased 
$5,000 in bonds and received 280 
tickets for distribution to patrons 
and the latter's youngsters. Every 
Schenectady rrferchant using, news- 
paper advertising is plugging the 
show. : Broadcast, angle is new for 
local Bond premiere. 



L. A. to N. Y. 

Carlton Alsop. 

Jean Arthur. 

Joe Bigelow. 

William Cagney. 

Louis de Rochcmont. 

Ellen Drew. 

Manny Fcldstcin. 

Frances Fonda. - 

Dick French. 

Leon Fromkess. 

Jack Grimes. 

Buck Harris. 

Mann Holiner. 

John Hyde. 

Jesse Lasky. 

Alfred Lennart. ■ 

Ella. Logan. ■ ."' :, 

John McNulty; 

Pat O'Hara. 

Anthony Quinn. 

John Reber. 

Lilli Taylor 

Ruth Terry. 

Lin Unkefer. 

John Wayne. 

John Wildberg. . 

Nat Winecoff. 

Herbert J. Yates. 



Pres. Truman Discusses , 
Postwar Pix With Zanuck 

Washington, June 19. 
Darryl F. Zanuck conferred last 
Friday (15) with President Truman 
on the part that motion pictures 
should play in reeducating Germany 
away from Nazism. 

Zanuck told the President that 
pictures could be produced prima- 
rily of an entertainment character 
which would, nevertheless, show 
clearly what life is like in a demo- 
cratic country like the U- S. He 
said films could play a "vital" part 
in the reeducation program. 

'Films that would be best for the 
German population," Zanuck told 
hewsmen . afterward, "would not be 
merely propaganda but would be 
pictures that the American public 
would also enjoy seeing." He pointed 
to Metro's ' 'Human Comedy" as an 
example of what he meant. The 
20th-Fox biggie said Truman was 
much interested in the idea.' 

Zanuck and others have previ- 
ously seen the President in this con- 
nection. Zanuck was in town prior 
to the takeoff Sunday (17) of the 
industry executives for ■•' Germany 
and other parts of Europe under 
the guidance of the Army. 



8 CANADIAN TROUPES 
TO ENTERTAIN OVERSEAS 

Montreal, June 19. 

Eight troupe show units composed 
of non-professionals and sponsored 
by commercial firms and" organiza- 
tions are headed overseas to enter- 
tain troops in England and the oc- 
cupations areas. The units have 
been entertaining troops in training 
camps since early in the war. The 
entertainers are expected to leave 
about the end of this month. 

(Canada has no USO set tip for 
troop entertainment. All troops show 
units are voluntarily sponsored by 
various firms and organizations, and 
operate as separate entities, with 
costs being defrayed by the indivi- 
dual groups.). 

This tour is being arranged by the 
Canadian Legion War Services Com- 
mittee. • . 



HVC Sends Out More 

Stars to Hospitals 

Hollywood, June 19. 

Hollywood Victory Committee an- 
nounced a new list of screen, radio 
and stage names on tour this woek 
to entertain servicemen in hospitals 
from coast to coast. - 

Shirley Temple is covering re- 
cuperation centres in Oregon and 
Washington; Walter Brennan in Utah; 
Dinah Shore in Colorado; Sidney 
Toler and Viva Tattersall in the San 
Francisco Bay area; Florence George 
in Kentucky; Ida Lupino in New 
York State;, James Dunn "imd Edna 
Rush iff- Tennessee, and Basil and 
Ouida Rathbone in the midwest. 



PIDGEON TO PACIFIC 

Waller Pidgeon is headed overseas 
shortly on a solo persdnality tour, to 
last six weeks; ', : 

Where most other guest stars are 
going to Europe, Pidgeon will visit 
the Pacific area. 



N Y. to L. A. 

Eddie Cantor, 
Bettina Cevf. V 
Rouben Mamoulian. 
Azadia Newman. 
David Rose. • 
Jules C. Stein, 
ionie Taps. ' 



Piermont, O'Connor Switched 

Ben Piermont, who headed the 
now disbanded Blue or tabloid cir- 
cuit for USO-Camp Shows, is being 
transferred to the Chicago office as 
talent scout. ,. • 

Ed O'Connor, asst, to Frank Heller 
in the N. Y. legit dept., is being 
transferred to the Paris office as 
field director. B. D. Kranz, stage 
manager for Herman Shumlin, re- 
placing. 



USO Sends SOS For 

es 

Same talent shortage that exists in 
the vaude and nitery fields, also ob- 
tains in the longhair ranks, accord- 
ing to USO-Camp Shows, whose con- 
cert ' division, headed by Gino 
Baldini, is having difficulty filling its 
Army requisitions for overseas units: 
The dept. is shy three V-E units for 
Europe as well as four regular 
requisitions. It now has 43 units 
overseas, and four in rehearsal, with 
total of 54 required overseas by end 
of June. 

One of its new units headed over- 
seas is an all-girl string ensemble of 
16, conducted by a femme, Clara 
Roesch. Aside from the Don Cos- 
sacks, this is the largest concert unit 
sent across. 



Benny Meroff Returns 
After 11 Mos. Overseas 

After 11 months heading an over- 
seas troupe.of 11 performers in his 
"Funzaflre" unit, for USO-Camp 
Shows, Benny Meroff returned to 
the States last week. Among his 
troupe was his wife, known pro- 
fessionally as Kathleen McLaughlin. 

Meroff played all the way from 
North Africa and Italy through the 
Persian Gulf Command and India, 
doing a total of around 750 shows. 

He's due to vacation in Milwaukee 
for the next three months. 



Vince Hart Joins NAM 

Major Vincent C. Hart, on the 
staff of Brig. Gen. Ralph K. Robert- 
son, commanding officer of Military 
District 1, for the past three years, 
has joined the industrial relations 
staff of the National Association of 
Manufacturers following his return 
to inactive duty last week. 

Major Hart was on the Hays Pro^ 
duction Code Staff from 1929 to 1939. 
He's a former deputy controller and 
confidential assistant attorney gen- 
eral of New York state. A veteran 
of World War I he served as Trial 
Judge Advocate Defense Counsel and 
as a member of the General Special 
Courts' Martial while on active duly. 



Wednesday, June 20, 1915 



VARIETY 



PICTURES 



3d Union Group Files Charges Against 
Studios as Strike Enters Its 15th Week 



. Hollywood, June 19. 
With the studio strike now enter- 
ins its 15th week, decision by NLRB 
oir the Set Decorators election, key 
to the whole situation, is nrtt ex - 
pected until the first of next week. 
Exception to the recommendation 
made by regional director filed yes- 
terday by IATSE, probably will not 
reach Washington before tomorrow 
or Wednesday. Unlikely any ruling 
would be issued earlier than next 
week unless LVs exception is denied 
without hearing. \ v ' 

Third union group to file charges 
of unfair labor practices against 
nine major studios were the paint- 
ers who charged 873 brushmen had 
their employment terminated be- 
cause of union activities. Moving 
Picture Painters Local 644 attorneys 
filed charges with NLRB and named 
Goldwyn. Columbia, Paramount. 
Metro. ""Universal, - Warners,. 20ih.-. 
Fox. RKO and Republic. Other 
groups which have already filed are 
Screen Set Designers, Illustrators & 
Decorators Local 1421 and Studio 
Machinists Local 1185, with total of 
approximately 1875 men listed as 
dismissed. Meanwhile, although con- 
spiracy allegation withdrawn against 
21 members of Affiliated Property 
Craftsmen Local 44, Judge Emmet 
Wilson held they must answer ques- 
tions prop<Hmfled__ r by Attorney 
Michael Luddy at disposition hear- 
ing in connection with distribution 
ot circulars, contacts with Jrfwbcrt 
Sorrell. et al. ;■ ,.'\ ' '.' 

Conspiracy clause in ■ injunction 
suit alleged takeover of local union 
by IATSE was for purpose of con- 
tinuing B. C. (Cappy) Duval in ot- 
ice as business representative. Judge 
Wilson recently refused to issue 
preliminary injunction to restrain 
International from interfering with 
autonomy of local, but plaintiffs have 
appealed decision to State Supreme 
Court. 

roglpone Ruling on Picketing- 

Superior Court ruling on legality 
of mass picketing in the current 
studio strike has been postponed 
until next month. Hearing on appli- 
cation of Samuel Goldwyn studios 
for injunction restraining use of 
more than six pickets at time has 
been continued until July 20 by 
agreement of all parties concerned. 
In meantime, temporary restraining 
order issued by Judge Emmett Wil- 
son wilt remain in force. 

Strikers at mass meeting Sunday 
night heard thaf a new peace move 
was afoot, launched by the unions 
in the studio basic agreement. Un- 
ions working under basic agreement 
have asked their prexies to meet in 
Washington and to see if basis for 
settlement cannot be reached, t 1 - — 
rBoth faction leaders, Herbert Sor- 
rell, Conference of Studio Unions 
chief, and Richard Walsh. IATSE 
prexy. arrived backvi town to con- 
tinue active direction of their groups 
from the scene of action. Sorrell 
had been in Sacramento, and Walsh 
was in New York. 

Voting Problem Develops 
Voting problem in the film strike I 
developed added complications when | 
Luddy. counsel for IATSE. filed an j 
exception with the WLRB, contend- I 
ing that the vote cast by striking set 1 
decorators be tossed out. His con- 
tention was that the employment of 
the strikers had been terminated by 
the major studios, and that only the 
ballots ot strike replacements should 
be counted in designating a bargain- 
ing agency for all set decorators. 

Meanwhile, the major producers 
announced that production is now on 
a higher level than it was when the 
strike began March 12. 



Fleischer Joins Sebastian 

Hollywood, June 19. 
Dave Fleischer, formerly with 
Columbia and Paramount, bought 
an interest in the newly incorpo- 
rated (Dave) Sebastian Productions. 

Company recently acquired screen 
rights to "Simon Lash" series of 
whodunit novels written by Frank 
Gruber, 



Raoul Succeeds 
Krouse in IA Job 



William P. Raoul. executive assist- 
a nt to Richa rd F. Walsh, president 
of International AlTiaTTc^^rThea'tri?" 
cal Stage Employees, succeeds Louis 
Krouse as general secretary-treas- 
urer of the IA. 

A veteran with the Alliance and 
its secretary-treasurer for more than 
15 years. Krouse resigned last week 
due to illness. He has been confined 
to his home in .Philadelphia for 
several months. 

On his resignation, the IA elected 
to retire Krouse at half pay for the 
rest Of his life. Krouse came up 
through the Philly operators' local, 
while Raoul is* a member of. the 
Atlanta stagehands' union. He was 
made assistant to Walsh when latter 
succeeded the deposed .George E. 
Brown three years ago. 



Pix Divvys Dip 

Washington. June 19. 
■ Film industry dividends are def- 
initely on the skids this year. 

Stockholders received payments of 
only $5,400,000 during the first five 
months, contrasted with $6,700,000 
during the same period in 1944. The 
May, 1945, cut amounted to only 
$300,000, while the melon was 
$900,000 for. the same; month last 
year. • •■• " • ; ;. 



Getting Increasingly Tougher for U. S. 
Pix to Recapture European Markets 



H'WOOD UNIONS, GUILDS 
GANG UP ON DeMILLE 

Hollywood. June 19. 

Council of Hollywood Guilds and 
Unions named a committee to "com- 
bat Cecil B. DeMille's attack on po-. 
litical action by unions." 

Min Selvin. of the Screen Office 
Employees Guild, is chairman. Other 
members are Dorothy— T.re£._Screen 
Actors Guild: Harmon Alexander^ 
Radio Writers Guild: George Camp- 
bell, musicians: Charles Daggett, 
screen publicists: Norval Crutcher,. 
film technicians; Ted Ellsworth, cos- 
tumers: Maurice Howard, cartoon- 
ists: Ray Lopez, makeup artists; 
Claude MeCue. radio artists; George 
McNulty, script supervisors; Fiances 
Millington, screen analysts: J. L. 
Nisnett. painters, .. and- William 
Pomerance, screen writers. 



Anglo-U. S. Kinship 
Stressed By Skouras 
At Dinner to Rank 

Spyros Skouras, 20th -Fox prexy, 
hosting J. Arthur Rank at a dinner 
at the Union Club, N. Y.. last Friday 
(15), said he hoped that, through the 
medium of motion pictures, the 
moral standards of mankind would 
be raised/ so that future wars could 
be avoided. 

He mentioned the kinship between 
American and British films and de- 
jlaxed_Jlh.at Rank als o realize d the 
value of motion pictures as a cul- 
tural force. 

Rank said he knows there are 
many difficulties ahead in getting! 
British pictures accepted in the 
American market. He hoped, how- 
ever, to make headway through 
the help and friendship being ex- 
tended to hirn by the American in- 
dustry. Rank said his only regret in 
being in America at this time was 
that he missed the Lord Mayor of 
London's dinner to Gen. Dwight D. 
Eisenhower for whom the British 
people "have a tremendous ^admira- 
tion." 

Officers and directors of 20th-Fox 
and members of Rank's party at- 
tended. Among the dinner guests 
were John R. Dillon. Bairinglon 
Gain, Malcolm Kingsberg, Phil Reis- 
man, Joseph M. Schenck, Roy Lar- 
sen, Floyd Odium, Bob O'Donnell. 
Charles Reagan, Tom Connors. Eddie 
Rickenbacker, Murray Silverstone, 
G. I. Woodham-Smith. Herbert Yates. 
A. J. Balaban. 



Cowdin's U Statement 

Pointing to the motion picture 
business as an industry that has 
assumed a new importance, reflect- 
ing the growing recognition of its 
social and economic significance to 
the nation and its value as a medium 
for promoting better international 
relations, J. Cheever Cowdin, chair- 
man of Universal, sent a special 
quarterly statement to shareholders 
last week outlining future industry 
possibilities. 

Besides pointing up the vital role 
films are playing in world develop- 
ment and in carrying • the torch for 
American industry throughout the 
world. Cowdin also gave a brief 
summary of latest development in 
U affairs, including the listing of 
Universal common on the N. Y. 
Stock Exchange.:- .. __ — -• . - . ' , .; . 



RKO Board Re-elects 
Rathvon, Odium, Depinet 

N. Peter Rathvon was re-elected 
president and Floyd B. Odium was 
re-nrmcd chairman of the board of 
RKO at the first meeting of the 
newly-elected board of directors 
last Thursday (14). Ned Depinet 
i also was re-elected vice-president. 



Chi 



Fetes- Rank Party. 

Chicago. June 19. 
J. Arthur Rank at a testimonial 
dinner tendered to him here Monday 
night (18) by Chi film company- 
execs, said that contracts and the 
option system as practiced in Holly- 
wood will be introduced, in England 
in the near future. Rank explained 
that the inability to maintain con- 
tinuous producing schedules on the 
part of the British producing com- 
panies held salaries in England down 
to the point that the top stars usually 
ended .up in Hollywood. Rank ad- 
mitted that 'he would sign any 
unusually promising talent that he 
found available "while here, but said 
.that he was not here for that express 
purpose. 

Baird Television Co.. Ltd.. a Rank- 
controlled organization which has 
been manufacturing mine detectors 
during the war, will go baek into 
the video field in the near future, 
according to Rank, with several 
broadcasting stations expected to be 
built as soon as equipment is avail- 
He is head of RKO-Radio pictures, i able ' Rank P lans *° inspect picture 
Others officers re-elected include houses that have acoustics or innova- 
Malcolm Kingsberg. v.p. and treas- | tions tna < mi S h t be incorporated into 
urer: Gordon E. Youngman, v.p. and British houses, to be built postwar 

while in the States. 



Yank Film Execs 
Arrive OK in Eng. 

• London, June 19. 

American film company produc- 
tion heads and company presidents, 
who arrived here yesterday' (Mon.), 
will be hosted tomorrow (Wed.i at 
Grosvenor House at a luncheon 
given by the Cinematograph Exhibi- 
tors Assn. Kinematograph Renters 
Society and Film Producers Assn. 
The 14 executives, who are staying 
here three days, are spotted in al- 
most as many different hotels 
throughout London. They huddled 
late today to appoint a head spokes- 
man lor U. S. film .group at Wednes- 
day's luncheon. Party came over by 
plane, leaving from Baltimore on 
Sunday 1 17). 

Purpose of this junket of Ameri- 
can picture company officials is to 
tour European batttefronts and visit 
scenes of concentration camp atroci- 
ties. Understood that Allied officials 
are hopeful that forthcoming Ameri- 
can feature productions may be 
framed around material obtained. 

Party shoves off for Paris on Fri- 
day (22). and goes on to Germany 
from there. Film officials will return 
to' the French capital on June 29 
when they expect to contact General 
Eisenhower on, his return from the 
U. S. Group is due back here around 
July 7, according to latest informa- 
tion. 



general counsel; J. Miller Walker 
secretary: and Garrett Van Wagner. J 
comptroller. 

Pathe News, Inc., directorate met 
the same day and elected Frederic 
Ullman. Jr., president and Rathvon 
chairman of the board. Walton C. 
Anient was named a vice-president. 
Youngman also is v.p. and general 
counsel of the corporation.' 



Myrna Loy's First Indie- 

Hollywood, June 19. 
First freelance chore for Myrna 
Loy, following the recent termina- 
tion of her Metro contract, will be a 
co-starring spot with Don Ameche in 
the Jack Skirball-Bruce Manning 
nidie production, "Genius In the 
Family." 

Picture is based on the life of 
Hiram Maxim, inventor of the 
Maxui) machine gun and other me- 
chanical gadgets. 



THIEIE'S FIRST 'SECRET' 

Hollywood, June 19. 
■ First double chore for William 
•Tniele under his new writer-direc- 
tor contract at Republic will be 
The Madonna's Secret." 
Filming starts early in August, 
wnh Stephen Auer producing. 



'Guerilla' Troupe to P R. 
Too Costly, Pic Stymied 

■ * ' ' ' Hollywood. June 19. 

"American Guerilla in the Philip- 
pines". has been shelved by 20th -Fox 
for the time being because of pro- 
hibitive cost of filming picture on 
Puerto Rico locations. Plans call for 
film to be snot elsewhere. Decision, 
however, will be made upon return 
of Dairy 1 F. Zanuck from Europe. 

Meanwhile cast and crew members 
are moaning because the projected 
trip, now off: had called for a series 
of medical preventative ibnls which 
caused most of them to take ill. 

Haymes, Holm Hooped 

Hollywood, June 19. 
Dick Haymes draws top male spot 
I opposite Celeste Holm in the 20th- 
Ifox musical tinter. "Bandwagon," 
| slated for early fall production. 
| Gregory Raton" will direct and 
'William Perlberg produces. 



Metro's Male Shortage 
Gives Execs Migraine 

Hollywood, June 19. 

Threat of a leading man shortage 
is causing headaches at Metro where 
a number of male names are figuring 
on long vacations, leaves of absence 
or ventures oh the legit stage. ... 

Clark Gable, currently in "This 
Strange Adventure," has announced 
a long holiday on completion of the 
picture. Robert Walker is demanding 
a six month leave when he finishes 
"What Next, Corporal Hargrove?" 
Spencer .Tracy wants to dp a Broad- 
Way play before making his nexl 
picture. Robert Montgomery, cur- 
rently winding up "They Were Ex- 
pendable," aims to return to the 
Navy, where a Commandership 
awaits him. 



Another Collins Whodunit 

Hollywood. June 19. 
Wilkie Collins, British author '-who 
'wrote chiiler-dillers 100 years ago;' 
. breaks into Warners for the second 
; time with "Woman in White." pub- 
lished in. 1840. Henry Blanke will 
produce. 

First of the. Collins novels. "Moon- 
stone." is currently in preparation 
on the Burbank lot. 



M-G Will Sell 'Waldorf 
And 'Follies' Separately 

"Weekend at the Waldorf" will be 
sold separately, as will "Ziegfeld 
Follies." another high - budgeter. 
"Weekend" cost a reported $2,500.- 
000. "Ziegfeld" hearer $4,000,003. 

Though the deal hasn't been set 
up., it is understood that tentative 
agreement has been reached to spot 
"Weekend" into Radio City Music 
Hall. N. Y„ some time in August on 
prerelease. Plans on "Ziegfeld" arc 
indeterminate at the moment. 

Metro meantime has decided to 
sell "Thrill of a Romance" along the 
same lines as "Meet Mo in St. Louis"' 
but mot under separate contract, at- 
taching it to a block as a high- 
brackeler. It will be given national 
release next month. Another picture 
to be released in July will be "Twice 
Blessed." a film.-' which also will be 
attached to a new package which 
has no) as yet been m:.de up. 

Irene Dunne Awarded 
Mu. I), at Alma Mammy 

. Chicago. June 19. 
Irene Dunne won a gold medal for 
voice excellence and received her 
, senior diploma . at Chicago Musical 
' College in l!)2(i. and she came back 
j to Chi Thursday , (14 > to accept an 
! honorary degree as Doctor of Music 
■ at .the 78lli annua! commencement 
'. exercises at the College in Orchestra 
; Hall. First film actress to be so 
: honored. Miss Dunne received the 
! award from Dr. Rudolph Can* in 
' recognition of her "outstanding ac- 
; eoroplishmehts in. and her unique 
! contribution to. the art on the stage 
j and screen." . 

j Also honored with a m?dal 
! was Edward Johnson. Metropolitan 
'Opera's general manager. 



Washington, June>-19. 

U. S. picture industry faces tough 
sledding to regain its European mar- 
kets due to Government pix monop- 
olies and the effort of the Russians 
to make Eastern Europe the special 
bailiwick of their studios, OWI chief 
Elmer Davis indicated last week. * - 

Romania was given as an example 
of the trouble spots, in a speech 
Davis made before a luncheon of 
film workers of the U. S. and allied 
governments. Davis said OWI has 
been having a very difficult time 
there, and said it might be even 
tougher for the American companies 
when they try to crack the country 
commercially. Virtually the only 
U. S. pictures now being screened 
in Romania are pre-war antiques 
preserved by commercial distribu- 
tors there. OWI has been unable to 
get a .film rep in. so far. 

Davis said heavy barriers were 
also encountered in France, where 



four governments bureaus have to 
clear any American films offered. 
The result again is that our pre-war 
stuff is being widely shown. 

In countries like Yugoslavia, he 
continued, OWI has been forced to 
do business with a government rnp- 
nopoly . . .; . 

Films, according. tq_ Da vis,, are the 
best medium for showing Europe 
what the war in the Pacific is like, 
and are being used widely for this 
purpose. Most screenings of this 
type are theatrical,, htit non-theatri- 
cal shows are being widely used "to 
tell the true story of American life." 
Davis felt that the Hollywood prod- 
uct does not present this situation 
properly. He said special films have 
been made to convince Europeans 
there is -a food shortage in the U S, 
as well as Europe. 



RKO S $1,141,000 NET 
1ST 13 WKS. OFF 428G 

Despite a reduction of nearly $1,- 
000.000 in -.excess ' profits tax provi- 
sion, Radio-Keith-Orpheum. • net 
profit in the first 13 weeks this year 
declined to $1,141,044 as compared 
with $1,509,628 in corresponding 
period a year ago. This is after all 
charges, preferred dividends paid 
and taxes in both instances. Cor- 
poration paid nothing on the K-A-O 
preferred shares in the quarter end- 
ing last March 31 (because since re- 
tired) while in comparable period 
last year $12,223 was paid. 

RKO profit before taxes, dividends 
and depreciation amounted to $3.- 
491,538 as compared with $4,718,884 
in the corresponding quarter last 
year, or $1,227,346 less than a. year 
ago. 

Corporation's normal and surtax 
rose from $527,000 a year ago to 
$632,000. Provision for excess profits 
tax was $1,390,000 as against $2,304,- 
000 in same quarter of 1944. 



RKO's $1.50 Divvy 

RKO directors last week declared 
the regular $1.50 dividend on its 6% 
preferred, covering the quarter end- 
ing next July 31. Divvy is payable 
Aug. 1 to stockholders of record, 
July 20. 



Eric Johnston and Hays 
Office Still Jes' Talkm 

While film company prexies and 
other execs huddled with Eric John- 
ston last week,' prior to the former 
hopping off for Europe last Sunday 
(17), no pact placing him in a high 
executive post in the Motion Picture 
Producers & Distributors Assn.. was 
announced. Film officials conferred 
on Johnston's new MPPDA post, hut 
apparently no decision was reached, 
reportedly because the U. S. Cham- 
ber of Commerce executive docs not 
desire to join, af least right now. 

If any contract has been signa- 
tured, it is a secret between Johnston 
and Will Hays, MPPDA prexy. ac- 
cording to latest information. Ap- 
parently the deal for Johnston to 
join the MPPDA was all set ill 
principle several months ago, but 
has been stalemated since. Under- 
stood that Johnston now is not so 
certain he would fit into the post 
picked for him.-. , '. 



Cowan Stays Behind 

Lester Cowan has postponed hi* 
trip to Europe because of the im- 
minent release of "G. I. Joe." < 

He was scheduled to leave Sunday 
(17) with the film industry group. 




* 



Some of the hits produced by the 
Miracle Man of the Boxoffice! 

THE GREAT McGINTY 

THE MIRACLE OF MORGAN'S CREEK 

HAIL THE CONQUERING HERO 

SULLIVAN'S TRAVELS 

THE PALM BEACH STORY 

CHRISTMAS IN JULY 

THE LADY EVE 




Wednesday, June 20, 194S 



PICTURES 



Local 702 Accord With 18 Labs 
In the East Held Big Union Boost 



"The 22-page agreement between 
Local 702, Motion Picture Labora- 
tory Technicians, and 18 eastern film 
printing plants, which was ratified 
by the membership Saturday (16), 
lv the first of a collective nature 
with the labs and is regarded by 
John J. Franeavilla, 'Local 702's 
president, as substantially strength- 
ening (lie position of the union. For- 
merly contracts have been negoti* 
ated' with the labs individually. 
• Under the new deal, the jab work- 
eis received many concessions, in- 
cluding provisions to set up. 8.6 dif- 
ferent classifications whereas lip to 
now there have been only 30. While 
the wage increase will range from 
$2 to $8.50 for men now averaging 
$40 to $50 weekly, under the new 
classification plan . some members 
will gel more' than $8.50. Also for 

..the Hist time lab workers, will re- 
ceive two weeks' vacation with pay, 

-erghl-hojjdays off without wage de- 
duction and severarree-pay-. — Latter 
■will run from one week's pay for 
employees on the job one year or 
over up to five weeks for 10 years 
or over. . 

' "Lab" technicians got a two-year 
deal retroactive to last March 10. 
tinder it, 'however,' there is a proviso 
that the contract may be reopened 
for renegotiation after one year, or 
March 10, 1946, in the event there is 
any chance', in the Government's 
wage stabilization policy. . ■• 

Long negotiating- with the lab 
plants, a few weeks ago talks 
readied the deadlock stage and it 
appeared . there might be a strike, 
intention to walk if the deadlock 
wasn't broken having been voted by 
the membership, numbering 1,800 
lab employees. However, in the 
hopes of getting a deal, Local 702 
rescinded its previous order that 
members could not work overtime, 
this step aiding in" finally reaching 
an agreement. 

Eastern labs, in N. Y. City, Astoria, 
L. I., and northern points In New 
Jersey, do the vast majority of fiim 
printing. They do no Technicolor 
printing; however. 



'Miss/ 'Adano/ 'Wilson' 
Due for 1st Fox Block 
On Coming Season 

Twant-ieth-Fox is throwing to- 
gether three high-bracket percentage 
pictures as its first block on the 
coming (1945-46) season, which this 
distributor always begins on "Aug". 1 , 
instead of Sept. ]. as with others. . [ 

Trio is "Junior Mjss, - ' current on , 
pre-release at the Rivoli, N. Y.: "A j 
Bell For .Adano." which will shortly 1 
arrive ai the Music Hall, N. Y.. and ! 
"Wilson." at" regular admission I 
prices. Latter is s'lated to go into the j 
Roxy, where it originally preemed , 
at upped scales, on July 25, 

"Wilson" was formerly sold at • 
admission of 75c and , $1.10, with; 
deals calling for straight percentage: 
of 60%. Terms on it when seut on ! 
re-release have not as yet been set, ! 
nor has it been determined what the ] 
exaci deals oil "Adano" and "Junior 
Miss" will be. 



Special 50G Presentation 
For Halperin Memorial 

■ Chicago, June 19. 
Formal presentation of check rep- 
resenting $50,000 for the Variety 
Club-Hal Halperin show staged in 
the Opera House- last Ma v 6, as a 
memorial to the late manager of the 
Chicago office of "Variety." will be 
made to Richard J. Fiiinigan, pub- 
lisher of the Chicago Daily Times 
and chairman of the board of LaRa- 
bida Sanitarium, at a special lunch- 
eon at the Variety Club here Mon- 
day (25). 

_ Jack Kirsch. Allied :' Theatres of 
Illinois pre/ and Variety Club's Chief 
Barker, will present the check, 
which will be used to build and 
equip a new wing at the hospital for 
children suffering from heart ail- 
ments on Chi's south side, to be 
known as the "Hal Halperin Me- 
morial." 

JANE. FRAZEE TOPS 'MILE' 

• Hollywood. June 19. 
.. Jane Frazee -.draws femme. lead in 
the Donald "Red'-' Barry starrer, 
''Last. Crooked Mile." to be produced 
".v William J. O'Slillivan at Republic, 
filming slarts when Miss Frazec 
winds up liei current role in "A Guv 
C-uuld Change." 



Grooming Norman Siegel 

Hollywood, June 19. 

Norman Siegel, ex-Cleveland Press 
radio-film columnist, •. is being 
groomed for a Paramount produc- 
tion berth eventually. 

He checked into the lot as an aide 
to George Brown, the publicity boss 
(now east, incidentally!, but Siegel 
will segue over into production 
thereafter..'' .' • . ■'•''..'• ' ~\ '; ; • - 

Strong Pix Biz 
Postwar Seen 
By Pars Prexy 

Expressing an optimistic view for 
soundly-financed film, companies 
postwar, Barney Balaban's annual 
statement to the Paramount stock- 
holders' - meeting yesterday i.Tues.) 
ciied factors likely to .-retain* picture 
interests in a strong position for 
some time after V-J Day. His state- 
ment was read by Austin Keough, 
v.p. and secretary of the company, 
since President Balaban now is with 
other film executives in Europe on a 
government mission. Shareholders 
re-elected the present directorate 
by a huge margin with the exception 
of the late John W. Hicks. Jr., his 
spot being filled by Charles M. Rea- 
gan, domestic sales chief. ". 

While admitting there was some 
difference of opinion, even among 
experts, as to the effect the termina- 
tion of war in Europe and finally 
in Japan would have on American 
economy. Balaban's report cited that 
an immediate possible increase in 
income is possible via- additional rev- 
enue from certain countries whose 
markets had been closed because of 
the war and where many films re- 
leased in. late years have not been 
shown. Tendency , toward national- 
istic control of film imports and de- 
velopment of additional competition 
in production might offset this pos- 
sibility, but he felt that these matters 
might be influenced by our national 
policies and the Bretton Woods and 
San Francisco Conference**pi'oposals. 
He reported that any cut in War- 
time tax rates should serve to 
cushion 'any decrease in revenue. 

Balaban's siinjrriary of Paramount's 
financial - condition brought much 
favorable stockholder comment. Ba- 
laban's statement revealed that the 
consolidated income for 1944 totaled 
$222,360,000. including Par's 43% 
share of the gross biz of its non- 
consolidated subsidiaries. . . 

Balaban reviewed the company's 
present improved position in de- 
tail, calling attention to the decrease 
in long-term obligations and securi- 
ties from $122,000,000 in 1930 to 
$17,400.00(1 at present. He related 
how $6,753,844 was paid to common 
stockholders last year or at the rale 
of $1.80 per share. He noted that 
Par and its consolidated subsids 
(Continued on page 23) 



Nat Holt's Shootin' Irons 

Hollywood, June 19. 

Story of early Oklahoma, "Bad- 
man's Territory," will be produced 
by Nat Holt as one of RKO's high 
budgeterS-for the 1945-46 program. 

Outdoor spectacle, slated for late 
summer filming, will star Randolph 
Scott. ' 



Removing Ban On 
Equip. Exports 

', . Washington. June 19. 

The ban of the export of motion 
picture equipment will probably be 
lifted, shortly, Stanley B. Adams, 
head of the War Production Board 
consumer durable goods division, 
told a press conference yesterday 
(18). Federal Emergency Admin- 
istration recommended the action 
and WPB is backing it, with the 
necessary steps now under study. 
With L-267, the order governing the 
rationing at the equipment, lifted, 
Adams said there appeared no rea- 
son why the export ban should riot 
come off. Export would consist 
principally of spare parts. Plenty of 
aluminum, steel and motors are now 
available for manufacturing. 

Great Britain is also getting leady 
to permit the export of motion pic- 
ture equipment. 

Adams, who left last night to visit 
the Eastman and Ansco plants at 
Rochester, said he would confer 
with George J. Schaefer, of WAC, 
before returning to Washington. Trip 
is to speed up raw stock production 
by ironing out manpower kinks. 

Present indication is that the sum- 
mer drop-off of raw stock output 
will be only 20.000.000 feei. Last 
year it was 50,000,000 feet. Recently 
Adams said it might be held down to 
30.000.000 feet this summer. 

Adams disclosed that J. Arthur 
Rank spent a day in Washington re- 
cently and that the two huddled "but 
we did not discuss any of Mr. Rank's 
own problems." 

Mean WPB is working closely 
with the Army to provide the neces- 
sary material for the Kodak-Pathe 
plant at Paris and the Gaevert fac- 
tory in Belgium so that they can 
keep up their raw film production 
schedules. 

Another' deal being worked out is 
io have the Army turn out its sur- 
plus film in Europe to FEA and to 
the liberated countries. This will 
simplify the question of supplying 
them from the V. S. In addition, 
fiim will not be held in storage by 
the Army until it becomes over age: 
To date the Army has declared sur- 
plus only 10.000.000 feet of 35 Jrtm 
film, most of it negative! 



NWLB Report Strongly Favors RKO 
Theatre Mgrs. on Wages, Hours, Etc. 



'Me' Vice 'Frontiersman' 

Hollywood, June 19. 

Next starrer for Errol Flynn at 
Warners will be "Don't Ever Leave 
Me," which takes the place of "The 
Frontiersman." Western picture was 
shoved back on the shooting sched- 
ule because of transportation diffi- 
culties entailed by a junket to Mis- 
souri. .-.. .'•' ' ." - 

William Jacobs will produce 
"Don't." with James Kern direeting:- 



♦ Following a lengthy struggle with 
RKO for recognition, the Motion 
Picture Theatre Operating Managers 
& Assistants Guild, comprising man- 
agerial employees in 41 Greater 
N. Y: and Westchester County RKO 
theatres, scored what is regarded as 
an outstanding victory under a 
National War Labor Board decision 
handed down yesterday (Tuesday). 
The panel report of the NWLB rec- 
ommended the following: 

1. That the company's (RKOi ob- 
jections to tine jurisdiction of the 
National War . Labor Board be dis- 
missed. - ' -,'•.'•. . .:'_'•/ I' 

2. That the union be granted the 
Board's standard maintenance ot 
membership provisions for union 
security and a clause providing for 
the compulsory checkoff of union 
dues and assessments. 

3. That the work week of the 
managers and assistant managers 
(now averaging . approximately H2 
hours per week) be reduced to 48 
hours per week, with overtime pay 
at the rate of time-and-a-half for all 
hours worked over 48 in any one 
week. ' ,.J- " ■ ; -'. ' ,;. ■;' 

4. That layoffs, rehirings alter lay- 
offs and promotions be governed by 
length of service and ability and ex- 
perience, with differences, to be sub- 
mitted to arbitration, v 

5. That discharges be made only 
for just cause. 

6. That a grievance procedure be 



B'klyn Indie Test 
Suit Vs. 20th May 
Be Significant 

A decision of far-reaching .signifi- 
cance, testing whether a distributor 
has a right to Choose his own cus- 
tomers,, is expected to be handed 
down shortly in the case involving 
the Leader theatre, Brooklyn, whose 
owner sued 20th-Fox because latter 
took first-run allocation on its pic- 
ture -away from it. The Randforce | established between the union and 
circuit in Brooklyn is also a defend- 
ant in the case, now being tried 



before Supreme Court. Justice Ber- 
nard Botein in' N. Y. 
. Leader Was formerly a part of the 
Randforce . chain, playing 20th-Fox : 
product on neighborhood, first-run 
day-and-date With other houses of 
that circuit. Last July it was taken 
over by Leopold Storch, a' refugee I 
from Germany. Claiming it could j 
get more out of its pictures by. | 
transferring the run ilo the Culver,] 
Brooklyn, also a Randforce theatre, 
20th took its product away from 
the Leader first -run. However, the 
Leader lias the Warner, RKO and 
Universal product first-run in its 
neighborhood. . 

. Various factors are claimed by 
20th 'to have entered into shifting 
from the Leader to the .Culver, 
including that, in its opinion, the 
Culver is a' better theatre and does 
more business. Randforce had been 
losing money with the Leader. 
Twentieth was also actuated in the 
step it took because of the fact that 
Randforce is an old and valuable, 
customer. 



Rickenbacker Pic Due 
For Columbus Bow Aug. 1 

Columbus, June 19. 

Hal Home, 20th-Fox publicity- 
advertising head, told a luncheon 
meeting of the Greater Columbus 
Civit Committee that the world 
premiere of "'Captain Eddie," 20th's 
life-story of Eddie Rickenbacker, 
would take place at the Ohio the- 
atre, Columbus, Aug. 1. .;..':.- 

Home was accompanied to the 
luncheon by assistants Sid Blumen- 
stock, James J. Grady, Jerome Pick- 
man. Harry Weiss and Jim Keefe, 
All but Keefe. Cincinnati exploita- 
tion representative, returned to New 
York. Latter will remain in Colum- 
bus until Aug. 1 to direct final ar- 
rangements. 



Inside Stuff-Pictures 

Metro's Van Johnson starrer, "Between Two Women," started out as one 
o'f the Dr. Kildare series and was originally titled "Dr. Red Adams." Sales 
department in New York, getting an early ogle at the picture, substituted 
the "Women" title as a better seller, and accompanied it with a smart ex- 
ploitation campaign. That is why a $450,000 production is registering an 
estimated $2,500,000 gross in the domestic field. . . . • 



But for the price demanded, Paramount probably would have had the I 
animated Douglas Leigh sign at Broadway and 46th street. Bob Gillham, 
pub-ad head, recommended a deal even at the $10,000 monthly asked, but 
the company heads thought the price too high. The $10,000 lease cost in- 
cluded all expenses in connection with the sign such as juice, animation, 
etc. Gillham figures that approximately 1.500.000 people see the sign 
daily. It was taken over and placed into operation over a week ago by 
the Schaefer Brewing Co. •;• • . ''./. ■'■••"'. • .'.:.,' ."-•■'.- .'.-..■ '•'.'■ 



Martin Quigley writes: "In your review of Raymond Moley's book. 'The 
Hays Office.' the following assertion appears: 'The Production Code was 
palpably born of a Catholic church boycott threat.' This is a serious mis- 
statement concerning an important fact It is not based upon any xepa\e_-_ 
sentations of fact or opinion presented in the Moley book. Moley recites 
(p. 69) that the Code was originated in 1929.' He further recites (pp. 80-81) 
that the Legion of Decency campaign which involved threat ot boycott of 
theatres playing pictures judged as being of immoral influence was started 
in 1934. These facts as reported by Moley are correct. The Production 
Code was originated five years before the Catholic Church boycott, threat. 
In the interests of accuracy, therefore, your statement that 'The Produc- 
tion Code was palpably born of a Catholic church boycott threat' stands 
subject to correction." > • •• ,' -, . 



Lubitsch Duals on 'Brown' 

. Hollywood. June 19. 

Ernst Lubitsch takes on the added 
chore of director on the '20th-FoX 
picture. "Cluny Brown." to which he 
was originally assigned as producer. 
Kxlra assignment is the result of a 
recent improvement in his health. 

Jennifer Jones and Charles Buyer 
will co-star. ■'.;'.. 



N. Y. Daily Worker, the Communist daily, on Sunday (11 1 in a full-page 
Story called attention to dangers of the U. S. being flooded with a wave of 
Hitler propaganda as, result of an invite by Alien Property Custodian James 
E. Markham for bids to distribute 650 Nazi films in America. Bids must 
be in by July 4. Films made between 1934 and 1944 are naturally. full of 
Nazi poison, states the Worker, citing several .samples. 

These include such self-explanatory titles as "Veiraicr Am Weil:'' (Trail- 
tops at Work i; "Jugend von Ileute" (Hitler Youth' of Today i: "Zu Neuen 
Ufern" (Toward New Shores', which berates the, British: "Die Nacht Mit 
Dem Kaiser" (A Night Willi the Emperor;, glorifying the Junkers: "Robert 
Koch." starring Wei ner Krauss. Goebbles" intimate, and Emil Jannihfis: 
"Joha lints-fetter,'' glorifying tree-love: "Es Leuchteii die Sterne" (The Staiv 
Are Shining) with Max Schmeling' as director of a concentration camp. 



the company for the handling of 
grievances and disputes;, that all 
grievances and disputes. not resolved 
through the grievance machinery be 
submitted to an impartial arbitrator, 
with the arbitrator to be appointed 
by the NWLB. ; . 

7. That the full wage increases 
permitted under the Little Steel for- 
mula, averaging $9 per employee in- 
volved, be paid by the company. 

8. That a rate range of $40 to $75 
be established for assistant managers 
and $85 to $140 be established for the 
managers. 

9. That all employees receiving 
less than the minimum of their re- 
spective classifications be raised to 
the new minimum; and that all other 
employees receive correctional in- 
creases so as to preserve the proper 
differentials between such em- 
ployees; 

10. That merit reviews oe made 
every six months, with disputes in 
reference thereto subject to arbitra- 
tion. 

11. That severance pay be granted 
to all managers and assistant mana- 
gers, at the rate of two weeks' pay 
for one year of employment and an 
additional week's pay for each ad- 
ditional year of employment up to 
10 years; that 12 weeks' severance 
pay be granted for those employed 
10 years or more. 

12. That an additional week's va- 
cation, making three weeks' vacation, 
be granted for those employed five 
years or more. 

It. wigs recommended that the con- 
tract, retroactive to Dec. 8, 19)4, shall 
extend to June 30, 1946. 

MPTOM&AG, of which George 
Dunn, manager of RKO's 81st St, 
N. V.. is chairman, was represented 
by Hyman N. Glickstein, widely- 
known labor attorney, while Monroe 
Gold water (& Flynn) acted r.s coun- 
sel for RKO. 



Atlas Trust Buys 25,000 
Common of Disney Prods. 

Atlas Corp. has bought 25,000 
common shares of Walt Disney 
Productions from treasury of latter 
company at $10 per share, it was 
announced here Friday (15).. Atlas 
also acquired the right to buy an 
additional 25,000 shares of treasury 
-stock— at $12.50 per share before the 
end of 1949. Atlas long has held 
a substantial interest in Disney 
Production preferred. Before the 
transaction, all common of Disney 
Productions was owned by the 
Disney families. 

Also announced that the Walt 
Disney management plans an offer'** 
to preferred shareholders to ex-: 
change their shares : partly for a 
new issue of bonds and partly for . 
common shares, 

WANGER BACK TO WORK 

Hollywood. June 19. 

Walter Wanger hops ' back into 
production at UniwrsaJ next mouth 
with two pictures getting the gun, 
"Scarlet Street" and 'Canyon Pas- 
sage." the latter, in Technicolor. 

Wanger has not made any pic- 
tures since he wound -up production 
of "Night in Paradise" 



Wednesday, June 20, 1945 






Oav/d (.. Loew presents 

90 



v;.:j,-: 



A Jean Renoh Production 

■ starring . 

ZACHARY SCOTT- BETTY FIELD 

w*. J. Carrol Naish < 
Beulah Bondi • Percy Kilbride 

CHreeted by Jean Hwioir 
Produced by DAVID L LOEW and ROBERT HAKIM 

RELEASED THRU , 





fMStf/ Hedda Hopper says the Week!" 



MKMITr M VA* LOAM 



Wednesday, June 20, 19i5 



FILM REVIEWS 



A Bell for Adano 

goibJCo* release of Louis D. Llghton nod 
t Miliar Tfotti production. Stars Gene Tler- 
nev John Hodiuk, William Bendix. Ki- 
ffi'ea by Henry King. Screenplay by 
] „,(„,. Troll 1 an* Norman Hellly Ralne, 
based on novel by John Hersey: camera, 
losenh l.n Shelle: editor, Barbara McLean; 

Alfred Newman. Trodesahown 
N Y.'. June M. Running time, 10* 

Tina'*'' • .....'...Gene Tlerney 

Mi lor Joitfolo • • .John MofliH k 

Setgeanl Bonh .WUllam BeiidU 

Ltelll. Livingstone I fflW'.fMW 

Nlcofo ..Richard Conte 

ttenmiit 'IVampapl Stanley Prager 

Captain Purvis- . .Henry Morgan 

<lMls ,. m ,e .Montague Bonus 

l\,mtuaml«r Robert son. ...... .Reed Hartley 

colonel MicoUeton. ..-Roy Roberts 



yitflier Pensovecchio, 
Zit< 

Gaiganii 

Krralile . •"• ..«.-. 

Krlia....... •••••• 

Cnc-oponlo. 



Hugo Haas 

Marcel Dallo 

l-'ortunio Bononova 
. . .Henry Armetia 
.Roman Bdinou 
Louis Alhernl 

j,,., "jJiiiiti..' .Eduardo Ciannelli 

Tomasinrt ..'William Edmunds 

Pium-'isea • • . . .Yvonne Vaulrat 

Captain Anderson . . . ..... .„.. John Russell 

j. ()sa Anna Demeti-lo 

l.i' Col. Sarlorius. James Ronnie 

M^reurio Sah-alore. . ... . . .Charles l,a Torro 

Alf ron't'l . • Charles .Inaels 

Busile. ','.;... .. .Frank Jaauol 

7„,,itil- Gino Corrado 

fy&xl Peter Cusanelli 

■ Sr'iieriil McKay...: ....Minor Watson 

Kdwnt'd ....Grady Ballon 

Cnpellt .....Joseph "Chef" Mllani 

j,l p.. : .'.- .....Edward llyans 



. "A Bell for Adano" has been made 
into an interesting film. The simple 
virtue's of the Pulitzer prize-winning 
novel and the stageplay .have been 
retained. Film has certain uneven 
qualities but in the main reflects the 
care and respect that have gone into 
its production. On the basis of book 
and play, as well as marquee draw 
(with an up-and-coming John Ho- 
diak, and a high-riding Gene Tierncy 
and William Bendix), film should do 
good business. 

John Kersey's story of «n Ameri- 
can major's administration of a town 
in Sicily, and his attempts to return 
it to its peaceful prewar status, has 
not been tampered with or elaborat- 
ed upon. The simplicity of the story 
has been faithfully observed. The 
film begins quietly to set the simple 
keynote, has some very beautiful, in- 
spired moments, and finishes off with 
several scenes of emotional bril- 
liance. 

In the middle the film sags, part of 
the fault being the episodic quality 
of the story. , But there are many 
fine moments. The opening scenes, 
as the U. S. forces take the town 
over while the natives creep slowly 
back to watch; the scene in the fish- 
erman's home, as three oddly-as-- 
sorted couples sit eating torrone 
candy; the attempted lynching of 
the former fascist mayor in the pub- 
lic square; the return of the released 
Italian prisoners of war; presentation 
to the major of his portrait by a 
grateful community; the party in 
honor of the major — these are su- 
perb, moments for any story. 

John Hodiak, in the difficult role 
of Major Joppolo, presents the right 
hardboiled type of civil -affairs offi- 
cer, determined to bring spiritual 
rebirth (through the return of its 
city-hall bell) to the community. 
Gene Tierney, too, as the 'blonde 
fisherman's daughter, has a certain 
quiet grace without always bringing 
sufficient poignancy to the role. 

William Bendix, as the major's or 
deiiy, plays the part in properly sub 
dued fashion for the most convincing 
portrayal of the three leads, rising 
superbly to his one big scene at the 
end. Here Bendix goes roaring 
drunk from bitterness at learning 
that the major is to be displaced: he 
breaks down and cries when failing 
in his attempts to keep the news 
from the major until after the civic 
• ceremony in the latter's honor is 
. over. 

There are some fine bits among 
subordinate characters. Roman Boh- 
nen's scene as the cart-driver trying 
to explain why he innocently ob- 
structed an Army convojvand Rich- 
ard Conte's description of the death 
of a fellow-prisoner are two of the 
individual highspots. They indicate 
the mood of honesty jmd deep-feel- 
ing pervading the whole film. 

Henry King's direction has cap- 
tured the story's mood superbly, and 
his was a job "particularly well done 
because of his ability to instill the 
thought of movement frequently 
where no action actually existed. 

Br on. 



ing that's perfect, a sock star sup- 
ported by -a flawless group of artists 
—and you have boff b.o. 

It's sad to reflect that Ernie Pyle 
didn't live long enough to see the 
picture as a whole (he had been 
shown rough cuts only). For Ernie 
undoubtedly would have liked it. 
since he'd have found it a genuine 
tribute to the infantrymen whom he 
loved so. 

From the moment the infantrymen 
are picked out by the camera at 
"blanket drill" in the African desert 
until the last shot on the open high- 
way to Rome, it's the foot-slogging 
soldier who counts most in this film. 
Pyle is there, very much. He is ever 
present. But as conceived by the 
scripters, directed by William A, 
Wellman, and acted by Burgess 
Meredith, Pyle is not the war but a 
commentary on it — which is as it 
should be. 

Meredith, playing the simple little 
figure that's Pyle, is felt in every 
scene, his impact carrying over from 
the preceding sequences. So skill- 
fully does he do his role that he be- 
comes a peripatetic, one-man Greek 
chorus, wandering through the dra- 
ma, giving a rationale to the slaugh- 
ter and suffering before you, making 
sense out of what seems so often like 
futility and chaos. Meredith as Pyle 
is right all the way through. He's 
a lonesome man even among his host 
of friends, yet never pathetic, never 
anything but lovable. Meredith as 
Pyle is memorable. . 

But without support, Meredith for 
all his worth could not . have made 
this the great picture it is. Robert 
Mitchum is excellent as the lieuten- 
ant who, in the film, grows to a cap- 
taincy, maturity, and finally martyr- 
dom. Freddie Steele is tops as the 
tough sergeant who finally cracks up 
when he hears his baby's voice on a 
disc mailed from home. Wally Cas- 
sell as the Lothario of the company, 
and all the others— professionals as 
well, as real-life GIs who helped 
make the pic — are excellent. 

As indicated, the story starts with 
the North - African campaign, and 
ends after the capture of Cassino in 
Italy. Ernie Pyle is seen joining an 
infantry company for a tour to the 
desert front in the beginning. From 
time to time, as the war progresses, 
he keeps returning to this one com- 
pany. At the end, when Capt. Walk- 
er (Mitchum) had been killed, and is 
bid farewell by his comrades, Ernie 
and the soldiers walk off on the 
highway to the Italian capital. That 
terrif scene is a flitting climax to the 
picture. In the body of the dead 
captain left against a stone wall, in 
the figures of Pyle and the soldiers, 
the sacrifices and the hopes of the 
entire war are symbolized. 

To make sure that they were pre- 
senting authentic Pyleana, the pro- 
ducers lined up a number of war 
correspondents with combat experi- 
ence to act as technical consultants. 
Result is that smallest details seem — 
at least to one who hasn't been in 
combat — correct. Apparently the 
combat correspondents think so, for 
some of them are being employed on 
the exploitation of the pic'. 

Nothing was' spared in the produc- 
tion to make the-fllm a fitting.. trib- 
ute to Pyle and GI Joe. Sensitive 
and sensible direction, fine camera 
work have combined with the other 
(actors to make an absorbing drama 
that will hold audiences tense for its 
entire length. It's quite possible that, 
in perspective, this film may be 
judged the greatest non-documentary 
to come out of the war. Cars. 



C aptain Eddie 

2njh-Fox release of Winfleld "ft. '.Sheehan 
production : associate producer. Christy 
Walsh, Stars l«'red Mac.Murray; features 
>Lynh Bari, Charles Bickford, Thomas 
.Mitchell. Lloyd Nolan, James Gleason. 
Miir-y t'tiilips, Parryl Hickman. Spring By- 
inglnn, Itlchurd Conte. Directed by Lloyd 
K,o-nn. Screenplay by John Tucker Bal- 
tic; camera, Joe MacDonald: editor, James 
B. Clark; special effects. Kred Sei-sen. 
Tr.-ulcshown N. %, June 1ft. '<">. Running 
time, 10? MISS.. 

Kihvard Jtickenbacker. . . .Fred MacMuri'ay 

Adelaide I.ynn Burl 

William .Kickenbacker. . . .Charles; Bickford 

Ike Howard Thomas Mitchell 

l.ieut. Whlttaker ;. Lloyd Nolan 

Tom Clark..... James Glcason 

Klise Rickenbacker. . . .... . .*. .Mary Philips 

Kddie Kickenbacker (boyL .Da rryl Hickman 



"A Bell For Adano" (20th). 
Honest version of Pulitzer best- 
seller will do good business. 

"Story of GI Joe" (Cowan- 
UA). Sock production starring 
Burgess Meredith. Boff b. o. 

"Captain Eddie" (20th). Fred 
MacMurray as Eddie Ricken- 
backer in dramatic story of First 
World War's ace; smash box- 
office. 

"Bewitched'' (M-G) Psycho 
drama, written and directed by 
Arch Oboler, with Umited but 
interesting b.o. prospects, 

"The Naiiffhty Nineties" Mu- 
sical) (U). One of the lesser 
Abbott-Costello comedies; mod- 
erate b. o. 

"Those Endearing Young 
Charms" (RKO). Robert Young 
in frothy romance; better than 
moderate b.o. 

"The Woman In Green" (U). 
Another fair Sherlock Holmes 
mystery. 

"The Way to the Stars" (UA). 
British-made yarn of American 
Air , Force in England; looks 
okay for most U. S. houses. 



Story of G.I. Joe 

Tn xi r*l Artists release of Lester. .Cowan 
Production; associate producer, David Kail. 
Slavs Burgess -Meredith. Director. William 
A. vYellinan. Baaed on -writings of the late 
Lrnle Pyle; screenplay, Leopold Atlas, Guy 
F.iKlore, Philip Stevenson: score, Ann p.o- 
neli. Umis Applebaum, Louis Forbes; cam- 
era, Hussell Metty; editors. Otho Lovering. 
A lircchi Joseph; assistant director. Ruber) 
Aldrid). TrndedhownJMS. %, June IS. '4.".. 
Running time. 100 MIN8. . • 

Krnle Pyle. ;.'.. JBurgess MBredith 

Lieutenant Walker ..Robert Mltclnim 

.Sergeant Warnicki. Freddie Steele 

Privaie Douditro;. Wally Cassclt 

llivnle Spencer.. » Jimmy Lloyd 

J'rJVlHo Murphy. ... ,'. ..... , ;.in t u Jteillv 

Itlvale Mew........,...; Bin ihjrphy 

For the Combat Correspondents 

....'. A> 

,.".1N*s 

.it 

Ap 

. .Stars and Stripes 

, . .Life Mai: 

. . .Header's DlgeM 

Blue' Xi'l 

Reuters 



lion Whitehead 

George La It 

Chris Cunningham 

Hal Boyle , 

. Sgt, Jaok Koisle,. 
Bull liitnflrv .',.(,, 
Luc.len Hubbard,, 
Clele Roberts.;... 
Uuberi P.eubc 



From where the civilian sits, this 
seems- the authentic story of GI Joe 
—that superb; slugging, human ma- 
etune, the- infantryman, without 
Whom wars cannot be won. Add to 
^i 1 !L stl 5 st01 'y handling a produc- 
tion thats superb, casting and dircct- 



.Vlrs. Frost 

-Private Bartek 

Sgl. lleynolds. ... .*,-.. 

Capt. Cherry.. 

Col. Adamson 

.labev. 

Lester Thomas 

Lacey, '.'. 

Louis ItiekenlHicker. 
Mary llii-kanliaoker. . 
Kinma Hickenbacker 
Dewey Itickeiibacltet- 
Ailieri TtickenbHcker 
Kill Kickenbacker. . , 
Lieut-. Do Angelis.", 
Mr. f'losl . .., ...... 

Sgl. Alex ....,..'. 

Mrs. Weslrotu 

Plnk'onspjel.. ...... ... 

Census Taker. . . . 

Mi-. Foley 

Mis. Foley .. 

Simmons. ........... 

Klii Clark; . 

Charlie . ... 

1'Vr.Mtc, '.,.., . . 

I'roffssol .Motilugne. 
Mine*. .Montague...... 



.Spring Byingtor 

Richard Conle 

.Charles Russell 

Richard Crane 

...;v. .Stanley Ridges 

Clem Bevans 

. . ., , . .Ciriiilv Sutton 

Chick Chandler 

Swayne, Hickman 

Nancy June Robinson 

'. . .Winifred Cjlyn 

. . . .Cregoi-y Mnradinn 
...... .David Spencer 

.Klvin l-'ieUt 

......George Milehcll 

........ . . .Boyd Davis 

. . . .... . . . .1.011 earner 

Mary CJorilon 
. . . . ..losepti .1. Greene 

.(lliii IJowllii 

, , . . i-.ftoberl Malcolm 
.......Leila JHcI'ntyre 

. . . .... .Harry Shannon 

.'.' ; .'v. Virginia Brlssac 

., . .Peier .Michael 

...... . .Peter (tnrcy 

. . . . .Vrcd i'lsslet 

.......... .Lottc Siein 



sequences of Columbus (O) in the 
horse-and-buggy age are sure to reg- 
ister well with the older folks. Pro- 
ducer Winfield R. Sheehan actually 
has made the. life story of Ricken- 
backer, renowned auto-racing driver 
and the No. 1 American ace of World 
War I, a veritable Americana of the 
U. S. from the horseless-carriage era 
through the World War to that point 
in the current world conflict where 
Rick survived the 19-day ordeal in 
the Pacific when the Army transport 
he was on is forced down mid-ocean. 

Any external forces regarding the 
Yank war ace count for naught here 
since the entertainment values meas- 
ure any film's b.o. worth. And they 
are here, in abundance, plus the fact 
that exhibs will have Freid Mac- 
Murray, Lynn Bari, Thomas Mitchell, 
Lloyd Nolan and Richard Conte 
among others with which to decorate 
their marquees. 

Story is done by means of flash- 
backs after Rickenbacker is shown 
floating in an Army rubber boat 
after the crash in the Pacific. Yet it 
never becomes episodic. . 

Some may find the earlier, some- 
what prolonged sequences a bit tedi- 
ous, but they are obviously there to 
stress the pioneering spirit of adven- 
turer Rickenbacker. Always a tink- 
erer with . machinery, the disastrous 
attempt to emulate an airplane off 
the roof of a family barn, his crack- 
up while spending $5 of his hard- 
earned auto factory coin to ride in a 
new-fangled airplane, and his ability 
to solve the early flaws in an auto- 
mobile, are made' deft highlights of 
his early life. These form a sturdy 
background for his later ventures as 
racetrack contestant and his 
ascendancy to fame as a daring first 
World War pilot when a man's skill 
in 'handling a plane spelled the dif- 
ference between victory and his own 
death. 

Throughout, producer Sheehan and 
director Lloyd Bacon have pointed 
up his mother's love and the single 
romance in Eddie's life. In fact, they 
have managed to give an original 
twist to the love affair between Mac- 
Murray (as Eddie) and Lynn Bari, 
as Adelaide. They have implanted 
the idea of Addie's complete faith in 
Rickenbacker's ability to come 
through his Pacific ocean ordeal the 
same as he survived the Atlanta air- 
plane crash. Incidentally, this is 
strictly historical, since Mrs. Rick- 
enbacker never abandoned hope of 
Rick's return from the Pacific. 

MacMurray is a happy choice for 
the title role, measuring up in all re- 
spects. Darryl Tickman makes a 
likeable juvenile Rickenbacker. Miss 
Bari is the modest Addie who shyly 
falls in love with the mechanically- 
minded Eddie, and then waits until 
he returns from his aerial combat 
over France to wed him. She makes 
it a standout role. 

Mary Philips, as his mother; 
Thomas Mitchell, as the pioneer auto 
manufacturer: Lloyd Nolan, as co- 
pilot of the plane which crashes in 
the Pacific- ocean: James Gleason, as 
the auto salesman, later identified 
with Eddie in business, and Richard 
Conte. as the seriously injured mem- 
ber of the party floating in rubber 
lifeboats mid-ocean are all standout. 
- Camera work of *Joe MacDonald is 
tops, while Fred Sersen's special 
photographic effects measure up. 
Sound recording job. with special 
bows to Euseno Grossman and Harry 
H Leonard, is an outstanding one. 
"Captain Eddie" is one of director 
Bacon's finest. Wear. 



"Captain Eddie," the Eddie Rick 
enbacker picture, turns out an opus 
ol American fortitude and faith in 
the future. More than that. it's, a 
tear-jerker and, most important' to 
exhibitors, smash boxofflce, Film 
does not expound any causes, being 
fundamentally a smalltown-boy 
makes-gopd. yarn. 

Picture may have been a bit short 
er than its 107 minutes, yet some of 
the seemingly extraneous footage 
carries incidents that will appeal to 
various groups. As for instance, the 



Bewitched 

Metro release of Jerry Bresler production. 
Stars Kdmund Uwunn. Phyllis Tliaxier; 
features Kathleen Loekhart, Henry II. 
Daniels,- Jr.. Horace McN'ally. Directed by 
Arch Oboler. Adaptation by Oboler from 
his original story. "Alter Kgo'.'; camera, 
Charles Salerno.* Jr.: music, Bronislau 
Kuper; editor. Harry Komer. Tfodesbown, 
N.Y., .Tune u. '!."». Running I line, 05 RUNS. 

Doctor Bergson;. Kdmund (Iwcnn 

Joan Alris Kills Phyllis Tbaxler 

Bob Arnold, .Henry II-. Daniels. Jr. 

John Kills ..Addison Iticharda 

Mrs, Ellis ....Kathleen. Loekhart 

Dr. George Willon .Francis Pierlot 

Small Girl Sharon Mc.Manua 

GlcndR .Gladys Blake 

Mr. Herkhciinei- Will Wright 

Eric Russell. ............. .Horace, MoNaUy 

Captain O'Malley. ........ ... .Oscar (VHltea 

Governor. .- Minor Wntpon 

.Governor's, Wife. Virginia Brissac 

One of the oddest films to come 
out of Hollywood in many months, 
"Bewitched" is strictly adult fare. It 
will get word-of -mouth and critic 
okay to such an extent that it may 
well be one of the sleepers of the 
year. ' 

Produced on a low budget, with a 
sterling cast of actors' actors, this 
picture just oozes with class because 
of the excellent adaptation and di- 
rection it has been given by radio's 
Arch Oboler, author of the story, 
Alter Ego." on which the film is. 
based. Climax follows climax, strong 
performance follows strong perform- 
ance in this thrilling psychopathic 
study of a girl obsessed by an inner 
voice that drives her to murder. 

Phyllis Thaxter carries the major 
burden in this one, and Oboler's. di- 
rection guides her to new dramatic 
heights. She's in fast company here, 
with Edmund Gwenn, co-starred in 
the role of a psychiatrist who- en- 
deavors to drive out the troubled 
girl's obsessions, registering tellingly 
and the supporting actors each play- 
ing their parts to the hilt. 

Yarn is told in flashbacks, an eerie 
musical score by Bronislau Kaper 
adding to the suspense. Set to wed, 
Miss Baxter hears a voice which she 
cannot drive away. She flees to an- 
other city, tries to escape her "tor- 
mentor," even goes out with another 
man; a. lawyer. But little words 
dropped at the most unexpected mo- 
ments bring the voice back. It tells 
her to kill her hometown boy friend 
who came to take her home. Just as 
she is about to be acquitted for the 
killing, she screams in the courtroom* 
that she is guilty. Her lawyer-friend 
endeavors to pull strings, succeeding 
in getting to the governor to sit 
through an ordeal wherein psychiat- 
rist Gwenn would endeavor to cure 
her of the obsession. The denoue- 
ment will linger in the minds of the 
audience. 

Entire production consists of stock 
sets, narration being depended upon 
to do the work. Oboler, in a way, 
uses radio technique in pictures. He 
definitely has something different to 
offer Hollywood. His talents may 
come to mean something at the cine- 
matic boxoffice with proper condi- 
tioning of the public. Sten. 

The .Yaughtv Nineties 

(MUSICAL) 

Universal release of Kdmund L. Hart- 
raann and John Grant production. Stars 
Abbott & Coslello. Directed by Jean Yar- 
brougb: , ".-.Screenplay. , Ilarlmann. Grant, 
Kdnmiid Joseph and Hal Finilierg; addi- 
tional comedy. Felix Adler; camera. George 
Boblnson; editor. Arthur Hilton: songs. 
Harry A-'on Til/.er. Jack Brooke. Ktlgar 
Fairchihi. Will A. Heplan. Tlinmax S. 
Allen. Junie McCiee. Albert Von Tilner. 
Previewed in N. Y., June 15, '45.* Itunbtns 
tlme.NlO MINN. 

Dexter.' '. .Boil Abbott 

Sebastian Lou Coslello 

Crawford A Ian Curtis 

Bonita Kifa Johnson 

Captain Sam ................. . Henry Trsvers 

Caroline. ' ;Lois Collier 

Bailey. ; . .Joe* Savvypr 

Cropier '. Joe Kirk 



moderately at the boxoffice in all sit- 
uations. * 

The_film sticks .closely to the play, 
written by Edward Chodorov and 
produced on Broadway by Max Gor- 
don in June; ."43/ Entire plot evolve* 
about four characters, a middle-class 
gal, the Army pilot, her mother, 
played by Ann Harding, and the gal's 
hometown boyfriend, portrayed by 
newcomer Bill Williams. Miss Day 
and Young -give topflight perform- 
ances, but somehow Miss Harding 
and Williams lack feeling, depth and 
understanding. In a picture which 
takes 81 minutes to unwind, much 
depends upon the latter duo, and 
they don't quite register. 

Story finds Williams introducing 
his gal friend to flyer Young, and the 
suave routine handed Out by the lat- 
ter soon has the femme . doing nip- 
ups. Unbeknownst to her, the Army 
pilot is just trying to- make haste 
quickly, until, just when it looks like 
he scored a missout'l he has a change 
of character from being an unscrup- 
ulous heel to become the marrying 
type. As indicated, some of the 
scenes are talk -bound. But bright 
dialog, especially in the love scenes, 
enhance the film. 

Bert Granet has given "Charms" 
several worthwhile production val- 
ues. The piloting of Lewis Allen, 
which bogs the proceedings down at 
times, could have guided Miss Hard- 
ing and Williams, who is a likeable 
lad, but somehow appears to be mis- 
cast in this one. He bespeaks of pos- 
sibilities as a juvenile which are al- 
most wholly hampered here by script 
and direction. Sten.. 

The Woman in Green 

Universal release of Koy William KeiH 
production, directed by Neill. Stars Basil 
Rathbone, Nigel Bruce; features Hillary 
Brooks, Henry Daniell. Screenplay by Ber- 
tram Millhauser. based* on characters cre- 
ated by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle: camera, 
Virgil Miller; editor, Edward Curtis. Trade- 
shown, projection room, N. Y., June 14, '45, 
Running time, M MINN. 

Holmes. .Basil Ralbbone 

Watson. . .'...'.... Nigel Bruce 

Lydla. ......... ; i". . . ....... .-*, . Hillary Brooke 

Moriarlty Henry Daniell 

Fenwtck Paul Cavanaugh 

Inspector Gregson. . r. . .. .Matthew Boulton 

Maude Kve Amber 

Onslow ' Frederic VVorlock 

Williams...... Tom Bryson - 

Crandon .Sally .shepherd 

Mrs. Hudson ...Mary Gordon 

As usual Basil Rathbone is cast 
as Sherlock Holmes and Nigel Bruce 
as his friend, Dr. Watson, in still an- 
other of the long line of pix based 
upon the characters created by Sir 
Arthur Conan Doyle. 

This one, an original screenplay by 
Bertram; Millhauser, finds the pair 
tracking down a blackmail, murder 
syndicate headed by Henry Daniell. 
Latter has as his associate a hyp- 
notist, portrayed by Hillary Brooke. 
And in order to catch the connivers 
at work, Holmes even goes so far as 
to permit himself to be mesmerized. 

Acting by entire cast is fairly sub- 
stantial. Production and direction 
by Roy William Neill is in the fa- 
miliar light-budget whodunit groove, 
along with the settings and camera- 
work. Sten. 



'Heart Beat' Taps 3 Veins 

Hollywood, Jtine 19. 

Bankroll for the forthcoming' 
Ginger Rogers starrer. "Heart Beat," 
comes from three sources, David 
Loew. the Security First National 
Bank and Consolidated Film Labo- 
ratories. Budget calls for $1,300,000. 

Picture, formerly made in French 
by the HakinV^ brothers, will be 
produced and directed here by Sam 
Wood, starting July 2, for RKO 
release. : 



The names of Abbott & Costello 
will have to carry "The Naughty 
Nineties." It's one of their average 
musicomedies. containing consider- 
able of the standard material, either 
straight. »or rewrite, with which 
they've been identified for years. 

This time the pair are associated 
with a showboat — the setting pre- 
sumably is in the Gay '90s— and the 
story concerns their efforts to extri- 
cate the showboat's captain from the 
scheming of a gambling trio to whom 
the cap is on the verge of losing the 
boat. 

The comedy is belabored, and some 
of the situational funny stuff is much 
too prolonged in addition to being 
familiar. However, the stars keep 
the pace fast, which is What will 
probably satisfy, , Alan Curtis. Rita 
Johnson, Henry Travers. Lois Collier 
and Joe Sawyef are in for the prom- 
inent support. 

Songs are mostly standards. Pro- 
duction itself looks fairly impressive 
from a budget standpoint. Kaltti. 



Those Endearing Voting 
1'harnis 

RKO release of Bert Oranel production. 
Stars .Boberf Young,' Lai-aine Day : features 
Ann Hardin]}.. Bill .Williams. Directed by 
Lewis Allen. Screenplay by Jerome Chodo- 
rov based Upon play by Kdward Chodorov: 
camera.- Tetl TeissJalt; editor, Poland Gross. 
At Palace. X, . V.. week ol June 111. *4o. 
Punning time. HI.MINS. , 
Bob.ell Yoilng 



The Way to the Stars 

(BBITISH-MADE) 

London, June 6:' 
United Artists release of Two Cities Films 
production. Stars Michael Iteilglave. Doug- 
lass Montgomery. John Mills. Rosamund 
John, Directed by Anthony Asoulth. 
Screenplay by Terence Rattlgan from story 
by Terence Rattlgan and Anatole de Grune- 
wald. At Pavilion. London. June u. '45. 
Running time, 107 MINS. 
David Archdale ,..*,. ...... Michael Redgrave 

Peter Penrose^... ....... , . .John Mills 



Johnnie Hollis 
Joe Frlselly. 
Miss Todd... 
Iris 

Mr, Palmer. ; . ■ 

Tiny 'Williams 

Miss Wlntcrton 

Squadron Leader Carter 
Rev. Charles Murray . . . 



Douglass Montgomery 

Bonar. Culleano 

....Rosamund John 

ltenee Asherson 

. .Stanley Ifolloway 

Basil Radford 

. . . . .Joyce Carey 
i'l-evor Howard 
i.Kellx Aylmer 



Hank 

Helen ........ '. 

Mrs. Braliill . . 
Captain L;nl* -Slow* 

Suzanne. 

Yttung So iioi 
naught} Flooi Lad.* 

'red i.. -. ....... 

Dot 



.Laraille Day 

.-Mm Harding 

..Man- Cramer . 

Anne Jeffreys 

Glenn Vernon 

, ,'. .Norman Vardcn 
. . Lawrence ■Tiorney 
. Vera Mai'She 



Introducing, Bill. Vtyiiianis as J.err.v 



"Those Endearing Young Charms" 
is a frothy romantic drama, with 
Laruine Day and Robert Young 
starred; that should score better than 



The Worst thing about this Amer- 
ican Air Force picture is its title. 
"My British Buddy" would have 
been more like it if Irving Berlin 
hadn't used it for that Anglo-Ameri- 
can get-together song hit. Aside from 
title, this straight tale of what hap- 
pened to an RAF airdrome when it 
was taken over by the 8th U. S. AAF \ 
is outstanding. It's the nearest thing 
to a Yank's letter home from war- 
time England ever to reach the 
screen. And it looks okay for most 
U. S. spots despite an all-British cast. 

Not the least interesting thing is 
the camera technique. Instead of 
many aerial shots, the camera is 
grounded entirely. Except for a few 
necessary runway shots and equally 
necessary snatches of formation fly- 
ing as seen from the ground, the 
camera concentrates on how the 
forces lived their lives on terra 
firma. '.J - ■."."■;:•■.■'.'..• ." 

Despite technically perfect per- 
formances by the three male princi- 
pals—Michael Redgrave, John Mills 
and Douglass Montgomery — Rosa- 
mund John actually walks away 
with the acting honors in a part as 
devoid of glamor as it is rich, in 
femme charm. She reminds of Ruth 
Chatterton of the New York stage. 
If there were any English Oscars to 
be handed out, this London Cockney 
girl would get a dozen of 'em for this 
one performance. 

When the Yank flyers first take a 
gander at her, as manageress of the 
village pub hear the airfield, they 
decide she is just another of those 
English' sour- pusses,, complete with 
spectacles. -But: they windHip wor- 
shiping at her feet when,, little by- 
little, they discover she has as much 
guts as any of them, and possibly 
(Continued pn page 18) 



It 



» - '* - 'f. t 




til 



in 
iff -j 



HUMPHREY BOGART • ALEXIS SMITH SYDNEY GREENSTREI . 

MUM »» WILLIAM JACOBS • Screw Play by Arthur T. Horman and Dwight Taylor b««j on oH*™. story by M Aiwi 



Wednesday, June 20, 1945 



is 




'CONFLICT" 

• t>ir<ci M by CURTIS BERNHARDT 



14 



PICTURE GROSSES 



Wednesday, June 20, 1945 



Heat Slows N.Y. But ConfHct'-Prima 
Giant $81,000, Near Record; 'Jr. Miss 
UFair 22C Tattey Huge 112G, 7th Wk. 



Devitalising heat of past week has | (Par) 
hurt Broadway business, but not to 
jtft-alarmiiig extent, with the week- 
end hav ing been . better generally 
than expected. How the day would 
finish up yestercray (Tues.) in face 
ot N. Y.'s all-out welcome to General 
Dwight D. Eisenhower was problem- 
atical but believed that it might end; 
at better than normal instead of bel- 
low, since terrific crowds were 
brought out to see "Dee." 

Neither the heat nor anything else 
has held the Strand in check. House 
brought in •'Conflict" Friday (15), 
with Louis Prima band and Dane 
Clark on .stage, and had its best non- 
holiday opening in history, grossing 
$11,800. At terrific pace set so far, 
house has a chance to equal or crack 
the all-time high at better than $81.- 
000. If not, it will be near the $81,200 
.set by "The Circus" under a straight 
picture policy back in January, 1928. 

Only three other new' shows 
opened. |"Junior Miss," which put in 
at Rivoli Saturday (16), was away 
disappointingly and on week will not 
top $22,000, just fair. Rialto's "Wom- 
an in Green" is not strong enough at 
$7,500 to hold. Second-run State, 
current with "Frenchman's Creek" 
plus Irene Bordoni and team of Mary 
Raye and Naldi, will hit only $20,000 
or over, light. 

"Valley ol Decision" is still hold-, 
over champ. Now in seventh week 
at the Music Hall, it looks to strike 
$112,000 or close, immense, and goes 
an eighth. Astor tenant. "Wonder 
Man," which hit a new house record 
of $58,000 on first week, continues 
very big on second week at about 
$53,000, second highest scored here. 

Roxy dropped considerably during 
the past week with "Where Do We 
Go From Here?" with Tony and 
Sally DeMiirjco, John Boles, Roddy 
McDowaU 4an4, Jackie Gleason, on 
second week tftrough to 5:15 o'clock 
yesterday afternoon (Tues.) getting 
only $56,000, mildish. House closed 
down at 5:15 p.m. to prepare for its 
monster bond benefit last night, 
which included a preview of^ "Nob 
Hill," clue at Roxy next Wednesday 
(27). part of current stagebill and 
supplemental talent. Irving Lesser, 
Roxy managing director, stated yes- 
terday (Tues.) that the sale of bonds 
was over $1,000,000. 

Palace Monday night (18) had a 
special bond preem of "Those En- 
dearing Young Charms," - which 
started regular run yesterday (Tues- 
day). House sold $105,000 in bonds. to^F^f 

Estimates tor This Week 



not a big grosser here, was 



Lonly $2,000 

Roxy (20th) 1 5.886: 6O-$1.20) 
"Where. Go From Here" (20 th), 
Tony and' Sally DeMarco, John 
Boles, Roddy McDo wall and Jackie 
Gleason (3d-final wk). Off sharply 
on second week, ended last night 
(Tues.), to $56,000. on mildish side. 
Initial week was strong $82,500. 

State (Loew's) (3.450; 43-$1.10) — 
'Frenchman's Creek" (Par) (2d 
run), with Irene Bordoni and team 
of Mary Raye and Naldi in person. 
Looks a light $20,000 or over. Last 
week, "Without Love" (M-G) (2d 
run) and Happy Felton and Adrian 
Rollini Trio, robust $30,000. . 

Strand (WB) (2.756; 6O-$1.20) 
"Conflict" (WB). with Louis Prima 
orch and Dane Clark on stage. Hit 
ting a terrific gait at $81,000 or bet- 
ter, with chance of topping the all- 
time high of $81,200 set by "The 
Circus" in January, 1928. Begins 
second week Friday (22). Good 
turnover is helping, house doing six 
stageshows Friday ' and Saturday, 
five on Sunday, six again Monday 
(18) and five yesterday (Tues.), 
which will obtain for rest of week. 
Third week for "Pillow to Post" 
(WB), Shep Fields orch. thin $31,600. 

Victoria (Maurer) (720; 70-$1.20) 
—"Way Ahead" (20th) (3d-final wk). 
Only about $7,200. mild, while last 
week was okay $9,500. "Call of Wild 
(20th) (reissue) opens Saturday 
(23). 



$5,000. Last week, "Without Love" 
(M-G), solid $7,000. 
Grand (RKO) (1.140; 40-65)— 
China Sky" (RKO) and "I'll Tell 
World" (U) (m.o,). Great $7,000. Last 
week, "Sudan" (U) and "Phantom 
42d Street" (PRC), $6,000. 

Ohio (Loew's) T3.074; 40-65) — 
Clock" (M-G) and "Scared Stiff" 
(Par). Sturdy $13,000. Last week, 
'•Son of Lassie" (M-G), sensational 
$16,000. 

Palace (RKO) (3.000: 40-85) — 
'Having Wonderful Crime" <RKO) 
and "Tarzan Amazons" (RKO). 
Robust $9,500 on 4-day weekend. 
"Horn Blows" (WB) and- McFarland 
Twins orch and Lulu Belle & Scotty 
on stage, big $9,000 in 3 days. Last 
week, "Honeymoon Ahead" (U) and 
Duke Ellington orch on stage, smash 
$14,500 in 3 days. 



'Affairs' Smash 
$17,500 in Wash. 



Astor (City Inv.) (1,300; 70-$1.40) 
— "Wonder Man" (RKO) (2d wk>. 
Continues very socko, looking $53,000 
this week (2d), and holds. First 
week was new high of $58,000. 

Capitol (Loew's) (4,820; 60-$1.20' 
—"Thrill of Romance" (M-G), Guy 
Lombardo orch, Joey Adams and 
June Havoc (4th wk). Down a bit 
to $63,000 but stiU good. Holds: 
Third Was stout $72,000. 

Criterion (Loew's) (1,700; 60-$l,25) 
— "Naughty Nineties" (U) opens 
here today (Wed.). Final four days 
on second week of "Son of Lassie" 
(M-G) was slender $12,000, while 
first week was okay $22,000. 

Globe (Brandt) (1,416; 60-$1.20)— 
"In Bag" (UA) (2d-final wk). Light 
at only about $12,000. Initial week 
was better than expected at suitable 
$17,000. "Murder, He Says" (Par) 
opens Saturday (23). 

Gotham (Brandt) (900; 60-$1.20>— 
"Delightfully Dangerous" (UA) (2d- 
final wk ). Weak at $7,000 or bit over. 
Initial week, light $8,400. "Bedside 
Manner" (UA) opens Friday (22). 

Hollywood (WB) (1,499; 50-$1.20) 
—"Corn Is Green" (WB) (12th wk). 
Down to slender $9,000, or bit over. 
The 11th week was mild $1.1,000. 
Goes one more frame, with "Rhap- 
sody in Blue" (WB) starting run 
next Wednesday (27) following press 
preview night before. 

Palace (RKO) (1.700; 60-$1.10)— 
"Endearing Young Charms" (RKO). 
Opened yesterday (Tues.) following 
bond preview Monday night (18). 
Final 4' S> days for "China Sky" 
(RKO) was $8,200, while second full 
week was oke $17,000. 

Paramount (Par) (3,664; 60-$1.20) 
—"Out (if This World" (Par), with 
Allan Jones, Gil Lamb, Eileen Bar- 
ton and Jerry Wald orch on stage 
(3d wk). Sturdy at $60,000 on sec- 
ond week through last night (Tues. I. 
while first was excellent $75,000. 

Itactio City Music Hall (Rockefel- 
lers.) (5.945: 60-$1.10)— "Valley of 



Washington. June 19*. 
Best all-round newcomer is "Af 
fairs of Susan" at Metropolitan, 
smash biz measuring up to critics' 
raves. " 

Estimates tor This Week 
Capitol (Loew) (3,434; 44-72)^- 
"Brewster's Millions" (UA) with 
vaude. Mildish $19,000. Last week, 
"Bernadette" (20th), same. 

Columbia (Lpew) (1.234; 44-72) 
"Dillinger" (Mono). Solid $12,000. 
Holds. Last week, "Diamond Horse- 
shoe" (20th). $8,000. 

Earle (WB) (2,240: 30-90)— "Pillow 
(WB) with vaude. Neat 
Last week, "Escape in 
Desert" (WB), fancy $26,800, aided 
by personals of Helmut Dantine and 
Andrea King. - . » . 

Keith's (RKO) (1,800; 34-66 )— 
•Enchanted Cottage" (RKO) (2d 
wk). Sturdy $14,500 after first week's 
boffo $21,000. 

« Metropolitan (WB) (1,800; 44-72)— 
J^,1^u°f ' Sus a n "- 'Par). "Smash 
$17,500, helped by crix raves. Last 
wit) $8^00 gh ' y Speaki "S'"T:WB)-(3d 

i Loew > f 2,778; 44-72)— 
.Without Love" (M-G) (2d wk) 
Fine $18,000. Last week, socko $24, 



RAINS SLQW ST. LOUIS, 
'LASSIE' HEFTY 19C 

j<^St. Louis, June 19. 
"Son of Lassie," running solo at 
Loew's. is in big dough to top town 
but heavy rains will slow pace else 
where. 

Estimates for This Week 
Loew's (Loew) (3.172; 30-60) 
Son of Lassie" (M-G). Hefty $19,000 
Last week. "Without Love" (M-G) 
(2d wk). big- $15,000. 

Orpheum (Loew) (2,000; 30-60)— 
'Without Love" (M-G). Good $6,500 
Last week. "Fighting Guardsman' 

$?200" and " K ' Uy ODay " tMon <>> 
Ambassador (F&M) (3.000; 50-60 
—"Affairs of Susan" (Par). Neat 
$14.000. ., Last week. "Medal for Ben 
ny" (Par) and "Swing Out Sister 
( U ) . $ 12 500 - 

Fox (F&M) <5,000: 50-60)— "Where 
Go From Here" (20th) and "Phan- 
tom 42d St" ( PRC). — Modest. $16,000. 
Last week, "Sudan" (U) and "Frisco 
Sal" (U). solid $20,500. 

Missouri (F&M) (3,500; 50-60) — 
"Imitation of Life" (U) and "East 
Side Heaven" (U) (2d wk). Will add 
$10,000 to swell $14,500 of first stanza. 
St. Louis (F&M) (4.000; 40-50)— 



Horseshoe' 13G, 
Standout in Pitt 

. I- Pittsburgh, June 19. 

Biz Is .better in nearly every lo- 
cation currently, with "Diamond 
Horseshoe" banging out husky ses- 
sion at Fulton, where it looks set for 
a run. "Bring On the Girls" at 
Penh and "Salty O'Rourke" at Stan- 
ley are both winners. 

Estimates tor This Week . 

Fulton (Shea) (1,700; 40-65)— "Dia- 
mond Horseshoe" (20th). Fancy 
$13,000, and ,£reai_.at_Xhis„spot. Last 
week, "Flame Barbary Coast" (Rep) 
(2d wk), solid $5,500. 

Harris (Harris) (2.200; 40-65) — 
"Call of Wild" (20th) (reissue). 
Strong $8,500, or ' over.. Last week, 
"Where Go From Here?" (20th) 
(2d wk), around $2,000 in 3 days. 

Penn (Loew's-UA) (3,300; 40-65)— 
'Bring On Girls" (Par). Looks like 
over $18,500. sturdy.' Last week, 
Without Love" (M-G) (2d wk) 
neat $13,000. 

Rita (WB) (800; 40-65) — "It's 
Pleasure" (RKO) (mo ). Fine $3,000. 
Last week, "Pillow to Post" (WB), 
also moved over from Stanley, $2,000. 

Senator (Harris) (1,750; 40-65) — 
"Where Do We Go?" (20th). Moved 
here from Harris, okay $3,600. Last 
week, "Vampire's Ghost" (Rep) and 
"Phantom Speaks" (Rep), same in 
9 days. 

Stanley (WB) (3.800: 40-65) — 
"Salty O'Rourke" (Par). Strong $17. 
500. Last week, "It's Pleasure' 
(RKO), $16,000. 

Warner (WB) (2,000; 40-65) - 
"Without Love" (M-G). Third week 
downtown. Still bofto at $8,000. Last 
week. "Horn Blows" (WB) and "Be- 
trayal From East" (RKO). $6,000. 



Chi OK; 'Clock' Boff 27G, 'Roughly' 
Robust % 'China Sky' Brisk 18G, 2d 



'Lassie' $12,000, Mo; 
'Affairs' Boff 13G, 2d 

. ^.Baltimore, June. 19. 

Mild response is being registered 
here currently with "Counter-At- 
tack" at the combo Hippodrome and 
"Where Do We Go From Here" at 
the New, faring best. 

Estimates tor This Week 
__Centtiry (Loew's-UA) (3,000; 20 
60)— "Son of Lassie" (M-G). Draw- 
ing some trade at $12,000. Last week, 
"Without Love" (M-G) (2d wk) 
strong $13,300: 

Hippodrome (Rappaport) (2.240 
20-74) — "Counter- Attack" (Col) 
(plus vaude). Steady $15,000. Last 
week. "Betrayal From East" (Col) 
plus Charlie Spivak orch, okay $16,- 
700. mainly on band on stage. 
"Keith's (Schanberger) (2,460; 20- 
60)— "East Side of Heaven" (U) and 
"Imitation of Life" (U) (reissues). 
Opening tomorrow (Wed.) after 
week of "Murder, He Says" (Par), 
modest $8,600. 

Mayfair (Hicks) (980; 25-55) — 
"Rough, Tough" (Col). Average 
$4,000. Last week, "Identity Un- 
known" (Rep). $3,700. 

New (Mechanic) (1,680; 20-60) — 
"Where Go From Here" (20th). Nice 
$8,000. Last week, "Bernadette" 
(20th), at oop scale. $6,600. 

Stanley (WB) (3,280; 25-65)— "Af- 
fairs Susan" (Par) (2d wk). Fine 
$13,000 after brisk $16,800 opener. ; 

Valencia (Loew's-UA) (1.840; 20- 
60) — "Without Love" (M-G) (m.o.) 
Still firm at $5,500 after two solid 
rounds in downstairs Century. Last 
week, "Gentle Annie" (M-G), mild 
$3,600. -. ■". 



'Murder, He Says' Hefty 
$12,500, Omaha Leader 

* Omaha, June 19! 

Town is going for "Murder, He 
Says," at the Orpheum, where smash 
session looms. 

Estimates for This Week 

Orpheum (Tristates) (3.000; )6-i>0) 
-"Murder, He Says" (Par) - and 
Scared Stiff" (Par). Great $12.- 
500, way oyer average for films 
alone. Last week, "Guest in House" 
<UA) ana, "Blonde Fever" (M-G), 
hefty $10,400. 

Paramount (Tristates) (3,000; 16- 
60)— "Keep Powder Dry" (M-G). 
Sturdy $10,000. Last week, "God 
Is Co-Pilot" (WB), smash $12,200. 

Brandeis (RKO) (1,500: 16-60)— 
.•China Sky" (RKO) and "2 O'Clock 
Courage" (RKOl. Solid $8,000, Last 
week, "Escape in Desert" (WB) and 
•Torrid Zone" (WB) (reissue), okay 
$6,500. 

Omaha (Tristates) (2.000; 16-60)— 
"God Is Co-Pilot" (WB) (m.o.) and 
"Goin* to Town" (RKO). Strong $9,- 
000 or near. Last week. "Affairs of 
Susan" (Par) (m.o.) and "Nevada" 
(RKO). sock $11,200. 

Stole (Goldberg) (865; 12-50)— 
"Music for Millions" (M-G) and 
"Docks of N. Y." (Mono). Big $2,500. 
Last week, "Tree in Brooklyn" 
(20th) and "Army Wives" (Mono), 
nice $2,600. 

f " ■ ' ' - 

'Salome Wow 22G 
In Slow Boston 

' Boston, June 19. 
Torrid heat wave blamed for dip 
at many spots in the past few days. 
"Dorian Gray" and "Salome. Where 
She Danced" both beat the hot 
weather, especially the latter. "Af- 
fairs of Susan" is holding up fairly 
well as holdover. . 

Estimates tor This Week 

Boston (RKO) (3,200; 50-$1.10)— 
"Two O'Clock Courage" (RKO ) with 
Johnny Richards orch, "Rochester," 
Nan Wynn, others, on stage. Sad 
$16,000. Last week, *:Body Snatcher" 
(RKO) with Georgie Auld orch, 
Irene Manning, etc., $18,000. 

Fenway (M-P) (1,373; 40-74)— "Af- 
fairs of Susan" (Par) and "Molly and 
Me" (20th ). Satisfactory $7,000. 
Last week. "Flame Barbary Coast" 
(Rep) and "Steppin* in Society" 
(Rep), $8,000. 

Majestic (Shubert) (1,500; 40-74)— 
"In the Bag" (UA) (2d wk). Fair 
$5,000. Last week, $8,000. 

Metropolitan (M-P) (4,367; 40-74) 
—"Where Go?" <20th). Medium $18.- 
000. Last week, "Affairs Susan" 
(Par) and "Molly and Me" (20th), 
$19,000 

Memorial (RKO) (2,900; 40-75)— 
"Salome" (U). and "Blonde Ransom" 
(U). Wow r $22,000. Last week, 
"Diamond Horseshoe" (20th) and 
"Scarlet Blue" (Mono) $18,000. 

Orpheum (Loew) (2,900; 35-75)— 
"Dorian Gray" (M-G).- Hot $25,000. 
Last week, ' Without Love" (M-G), 
$22,000. 

Paramount (M-P) (1.700: 40-74)— 
"Affairs of Susan" (Par) and "Molly 
and Me" (20th). Good $14,000. Last 
week, "Flame Barbary Coast" (Rep) 
and "Steppin' in Society" (Rep). 
$15,000. 

State (Loew) (3.200; 35-75)— "Do- 
rian Gray" (M-G). Trim $15,000. 
Last week, "Without Love" (M-G), 
$13,000. 

Translux (Translux) (900; 20-74)— 
"Call of Wild" (20th) and "Three Is 
Crowd" (Rep). Fair $5,000. Last 
week, "Missing Corpse" (PRC) and 
"Demon Doctor" I Indie), $5,500. 

Tremont (T&N) (2.200; 44-85) — 
"Tomorrow World" (UA) (5th wk). 
Fading $4,000. Last week. $6,000, 



Decision" (M-G) and stageshow" (7thl „ R ° ya '„ Scandal (20th) and "Belle 
wk). Another sock $112,000 will be Vukon |RK 0>. Nice $3,500. Last 
added to the $118,000 registered last! ™* ek - ^'Chicago _Kid" (Rep) and 
we<=k. Gops an eighth. 

RlaHo (Mayer) (594; 40-85) — 
"Woman. In Green" (U). Not strong 
enough to hold at $7,500, but fair 
enough. Last week, third for "Body 
Snatcher" (RKO), okay $6,000. 

Kivoli (UA-Par) (1,092; 76-$l,25 ) 
—"Junior Miss" (20th). Not avvav 
well, looking only about $22,000 on 
first week, disappointing, but re- 
mains. Concluding two days *>h 
fourth week of "Medal For Benny" 



"Song Sarong" <U>, '$3,000. 

'Clock' $13,000 in CoL 

t — Columbus, June 19. 
A wet weekend slowed biz a .bit; 
"China Sky'- and "The Clock" look 
■standout. '■ 

Estimates' for This Week 
Broad (Loew's) (2.500; 40-65) — 
"Son of Lassie" 4 M-G) 'm.o). Modest 



'Tomorrow' TIG, Monti 

'"""Montreal, June 19. 

Biz is off all over here, and the 
number of holdovers also is no help 
Estimates for This Week 

Palace (CT) (2.700: 35-62)— "Hol- 
lywood Canteen" (WB). Took slump 
to $7,800 alter .sock $14,000 opener. 

Capitol (CT) (2.700; 35-62)— "To- 
morrow World" (UA) and "Boston 
Blackie Booked" (Col). Fairish 
$11,000. Last week. "Suspect" (U) 
and "Song Sarong" <U), $9,000. 

Loew's (CT) (2.800; 35-67)— "Bell 
Tolls" (Ear) (3d wk). Modest $9,500 
alter last week's good $14,500. 

Princess (CT) (2.300; 34-47) — 
"Crime Doctor's Courage" (Col) and 
"Leave to Blondie" (Col). Weak 
$5,500. Last week. "Destiny" <U> and 
"Gets Her Man" (U), $7,000. 



love' Terrif $20,000, 
L'ville; 'Scandal' 11G 

V V Louisville, June 19. 

Biz here is brisk, although heavy 
rains cut down Saturday's take. 
"Without Love," at Loew's State, is 
terrific to pace city. 

Estimates for This Week 

Brown (4th Ave.-Loew's) (1.100; 
40-60) — "Its Pleasure" (RKO). 
Moreover frorruJiialto. __!air $3,500. 
Last week. "Flame Barbary Coast" 
(Rep) and "Identity Unknown" 
(Rep) (m.o.), near same. .'.-.-- ■ 

Kentucky (Switow) ( 1.200; 30-40) 
— "Thunderhead" (20th) and "Guest 
in House" (U). Average $1,700. Last 
•week, "Dead End" (FC) (reissue) 
and 'House of Frankenstein" (U) 
split with "National Velvet" (M-G) 
and "Circumstantial Evidence" 
(20th), good $1,800. 

Loew's State (Loew's) (3.300; 40- 
60)— "Without Love" (M-G). Socko 
$20,000. Last week, "Clock" (M-G) 



Chicago, June 19. 

Although there has been lots-of in- 
clement weather, biz is holding a 
steady gait. A trio of new films, in 
addition to those at the combo 
houses, likely will lip the take at 
several houses. 

"The Clock," at the United Artists, 
looks to do a smash $27,000; "Coun- 
ter-Attack" should put . the Garrick 
back in the $15,000 section and 
• Roughly Speaking" will bring the 
Roosevelt around slick $20,000; "Song 
to Remember" is proving surprise 
draw of the Loop with $13,000 in 
sight for its tenth stanza. 

. Estimates tor This Week 

Apollo (B&K) (1,200; 55-95)— 
"Song Remember" (Col) (10th wk). 
Steady $13,000. Last week, $15,000. 

Cbicaco (B&K) (3,900; 55-95)— 
"Murder. He Says" (Par) with 
Sammy Kaye orch on stage. Socko 
$55,000, Last week, "Unseen" (Par) 
with Joan Merrill and Eddie Pea- 
body on stage, $47,000. 

Garrick (B&K) (900; 55-95)— 
' Counter-Attack" (Col), 4 days, and 
"Thunderhead" (20th). 3 davs. Firm 
$15,000. Last week, 'Thunderhead" 
(20th) (3d wk), okay $9,000. 

Gnu* (RKO) (1,150; 55-95)— 
"Patrick the Great" (U) and "See 
My Lawyer" (third week in Loop ). 
Fair $6,000. Last week, "Body 
Snatcher" (RKO) and "Brighton 
Strangler" (RKO) (3d wk), 5 days, 
and "Patrick the Great" «U) and ' 
^See^My La W y er .. (U)> 2 days pert 

Oriental (Iroquois) (3.240; 44-95) 
— G.I. Honeymoon" (Mono) and 
Ted Weems orch on stage. Smart 
$28 000/ Last week, "Jimmy Step* 
Out' (Indie) (reissue) and Willie 
Sb<>r e topping vaude bill, solid $27,- 

,J? U " <RKO) (2,500; 55-95)— 
China Sky" (RKO) and "Swine Out 

Sister" (U) (2d wk). Bright $18,000. 

Last week, strong $21,000. 
Roosevelt (B&K) (1,500: 55-95)— 

$20,000. Last week, "Be Seeing You" 
J£M- (5th . 4.^, and "Roughly , 

Shaking" (WB), 2 days, great $22,- ' 

State-Lake (B&K) (2.700; 55-95)— 
^Salty O'Rourke" (Par) (3d wk). 
Grand $27,000. Last week, $33,000 
o^ iSS Ar *i st » (B&K) (1.700; 55- 
SM*"»- C } ock " <M-G). S.nash 
?S"???- ,££ st 2"?** "Without Love" 
IM-G) ([Sthwk), neat $18,000. 
. , Wo,d » (Essaness) (1,200; 55-95)— 
Earl Carroll Vanities" (Rep) and 
Chicago Kid" (Rep) (3d wk). 
p 'easing $12,000. Last week, $11,000. 

K.C. Blames Rain For 
Slump; mere Go' 15G, 
'PuW Lnsty at 13G 

. ; : » Kansas City, June 19. 

Trade is spotty this week. Inter- 
mittent rains are blamed for holdinu 
grosses down. "Where Do We Go 
*°iS H i rc? '.' 0 Pea«i big day-date 
at the Esquire, Uptown and Fair- 
way and looks leader. "Pillow to 
Post," at~ the— Orpheurii, " fe-sTron*" 
runner-up. 

Estimates far This Week 

Esqaire, .Uptown and Fairway 
in°^; M,d J' est) (82 °. 2.043 and 700; 
?Sn?2. —"Where Go From Here?" 
(20th). Lusty #15,000. Last week, 

$f3O0O B f bary Coast " tRe P>- 
Midlanai (Loew's) (3,500; 45-65)— 
Counter-Attack" (Col) and "Fight- 
ing Guardsman" (Col). Mild $13,000. 
La 5 t 1 .^ eek ' <,Son °f Lassie" (M-G) 
and Blonde Fever" (M-G). $14 000 

Newman (Paramount) (1.900; 46- 
65 >— Salty O'Rourke" (Par) (3d 
£*>• freezy $9,500. Second was 
husky $12,500. 

„~9.!'" hel,,m (HKCO (1,500 ; 46-65)— 
Pillow to Post" (WB) and "Crime 
P^ C ^°i s T Cour »«e" (Col). Brisk 
*i,i,oou. Last week. "Escape in 
Desert" (WB) and "Torrid Zone" 
(WB) (reissue), $10,500. 

Tower (Fox-Joffee) (2,100- 39-60) 
—"Molly and Me" (20th) and "For- 
ever Yours" (Mono) plus vaude. 
Average $10,500. Last week. "Bells 
of Rosanta" (Rep) and "Hollywood 
and Vine" (PRC) with stage revue, 
nice $11,000. 



and "Escape in Fog" (Col) (2d wH, 
neat $12,000 in 6 days. 

Mary Anderson (People's) (1,000; 
40-60)— "Pillow to Post" (WB) (2d 
wk). Fine word-of-mouth helping 
this. Solid $5^00, and may hold an- 
other. Last week, resounding $8,000. 

National (Standard) (2,400: 40-60) 
— "Dillinger" (Mono) (2d wk) and 
"Crazy Knights" (Mono)r Strong -$5i— 
000. Last week, with "Wave, Wac" 
(Mono), hefty $8,500. 

Rialto (Fourth Avenue) (3.400; 40- 
60)— "Royal Scandal" (20th) and 
"Bullfighters" (20th). Mildish $11,- 
000 or slightly better. Last week, 
"It's Pleasure" (RKO),. $16,000. 

Strand (Fourth Avenue) (1.400; 
40-60) — "Tarzan Amazons" (RKO) 
and "Boston Blackie Suspicion" 
(Col). Strong $8,500. Last week, 
"Withering Heights" (FC) (reissue) 
and "Eadie Was Lady" (Col), good 
TO.OOO. 



Wednesday, June 20, 194$ - f^RtEff • IS 



y 




16 



PICTURE GROSSES 



Wednesday, June 20, 1945 



L A. Way Of Except for Holdovers; 
'Escape' 36G. 3 Spots, 'Murder, He Says' 
Nice 34G in 2, 'Vafley' Boff 57i/ 2 G, 2nd 



•-Cos Angeles, June 19. 

First-rim business here is only 
fair for new bills, but two Of hold- 
overs continue doing hefty trade. 
Hot weather over the weekend .hurt 
some houses. . "Escape iir Desert." in 
three theatres, is sighting a fair $36,- 
000. while "Murder, He Says." in two 
spots, shapes a fairly sturdy ,$34,000, 
"Patrick the Great" looks mild $22.- 
800 in three houses. 

"Valley of Decision" likely will hit 
strong $57,500 for second frame in 
two spots, . while "Between Two 
Women" is heading, for steady $41.- 
000 in four houses on its second 
.stanza. ... .. , 

Estimates for This Week 

Carthav Circle (FWC) (1.518; 50- 
$1 (—"Between 2 Women" (M-G I and 
"Main St, After Dark" (M-G I ' (2d 
wk). Smooth $5,000. Last week, 
hefty $8,700. 



Broadway Grosses 



Estimates Total Gross 
This Week '. . ... . . ... $547,109 

(Bused on 15 '.hem res) . 
Total Gross Same Week 

Last Year ... ....... $500,000 

iBnsed on 15 theatres) 



'Conflict' 321/zG 
In Droopy Philiy 

* Philadelphia. June 19. 
Terrific heat wave is knocking 
Philly's biz for a loop this week. 
Chinese (Cr.auman-WC > (2.048: 50- ' °n}y fairly bright spot is Mastbaum 
$1)— "Between 2 Women" (M-G ) and i ^ th . Conflict. . Other mew-comer. 
"After Dark" (M-G) (2d wk ). Okay Picture ot Dorian Gray, is fair at 
$8,500 in 6 days, one out for bond Boyd. One. reason, for sour biz at 
show. Last week, good $14,800 but Aldme is tne lack of an adequate 
below hopes. air-conditioning plant 



Downtown (WB), (1,800: 50-$M— 
"Escape in Desert" (WB). Slow $16.- 
000. Last week, "Pillow to Post" 
(WB) (2d wk-9 days), $16,900. ' 

Egyptian (FWC) (1,538: - 50-S1 >— 
"Valley Decision" ,(M-G) <2d . wk). 
Potent $15,000. Last week, robust 
$17,900. 

Four Star (UA-WC) (900: 50-S1 >— 
"Bernadette" (20th) (2d wk>: Only 
$2,500. Last week, good '$4,700. 
- Guild (FWC) (968; 50-$l )— "Pat- 
rick the Great" (U) and "Strange 
Illusion" (PRC). Modest $5,000. 
Last week. "Flame Barbary Coast" 
(Hep) and "Carroll's Vanities" (Rep) 
<2d wk), nice $4,300. 

Hawaii (G&S) (1,100; 50-$P— "Un- 
seen" (Par) (2d wk). Just S4.500. 
Last week, excellent $7,000. 

Hollywood (WB) (2,756: 50-$l>— 
"Escape Desert'' (WB). Fair $11,000. 
Last week, "Pillow Post" (WB) '2d 
wk-8 days), closed with $11,200. 

Los Angeles (D'town-WO) (2.097: 
60-$l )— "Valley Decision". (M-G) 
(2d wk). Robust $30,000. Last week, 
sock $37,500. ■ 

Orpheum (D'town) (2.200: 65-851— 
"Kid Sister" (PRC) with Andy Kirk I 
oreh and Charioteers on stage. Good 1 
$24,500. Last week, "Scarlet Clue" I 
(Mono! with 'Diosa Costello. Morey j 
Amsterdam on stage; fairish $20,300.' 

Pantages (Pan) (2,812; 50-S1 ) — 
"Salome" (U) and "Booked Suspi- 
sion" <Col) (2d wk). Okay $6,500 in 
4 days. Last week, moderate $14,400. 
. Paramount (F&M) (3,389: 50-$D— 
"Murder. He Says" (Par) and "Chi- 
cago Kid" (Rep). Satisfying $22,000. 
Last week. "Affairs Susan" (Par) 
and "Three's Crowd" (Rep) (3d wk), 
trim $13,400. 

Paramount Hollywood (F&M) (1.- 
• 451: 50-$l) — "Murder, He Says" 
(Par). Neat $12,000. Last week, "Af- 
fairs Susan" (Par) (3d wk). fast 
$8,600. 

Hillstreet (RKO) (2,890; 50-80)— 
"Salome" (U) and "Booked Suspi- 
cion" (Col) (2d wk). Good $8,500 
in 4 days. Last week, fair $17,400. 

Rilz ( FWC) (1.370; "50-$l )— "Val- 
ley Decision" (M-G) (2d wk). 
Steady $12,500. Last week, sturdv 
$14,200. • . 

State (Loew's WC) (2,404: 50-$l)— 
"Between 2 Women" (M-G) and I 
"After Dark" (M-G) (2d wk). Grand j 
$22,000. Last week, sock $30,800. 

United Artists (UA-WC) (2.100: i 
50-$l) — "Patrick Great" (U) arid j 
"Strange Illusion" (PRC). Slow $10,- 
800. Last week, "Flame Barbary 
Coast" (Rep) and "Carroll's Vani- ; 
ties" (Rep) (2d wk), neat $9,600. 

Uptown (FWC) (1.790; 50-$l) — 
"Between 2 Women" (M-G) and 
,. "After Dark" (M-G) (2d wk). Good 
._ $5,500. Last week, robust $9,800. 
Wilshire (FWC) (2,296; 50-$l ) 



Estimates for This Week 
Aldine (WB) 1 1,303; 40-85)— "Em- 
manuel" (UA). No air-cooling sys- 
tem here, and it hurts. Thin $7,000. 
Last week. "3 Caballeros" ' ( RKO ), 
oke.V$8.500 on h.o. 

Arcadia (Sablosky ) (600: 40-95)— 
"Affairs of Susan-" (Par) (2d run). 
Okay $6,500. Last 'week. "Tonight. 
Every Night" (Col), fair $6,000, sec- 
ond run. 

Boyd (WB) (2.560; 40-85)— "Dorian 
Gray" (M-G). Not bad at $18,000. 
Last week. "Without Love" (M-G) 
(3d wk ). trim $15,000. 
. Earle (WB) (2,760: 50-95)— "Zom- 
| bies on Broadway" (RKO) with 
Gene Krupa oreh. Bopped by heat 
.with scant $16,000 likely. Last week. 
"Betrayal from the East" (RKO) and 
Louis Armstrong oreh, strong $26,- 
000 but below hopes. 

Fox (WB) (2.250: 40-85 1— "Where 
Go From Here" (20th) ( 2d wk). Fair 
S 14.500. Opener was hefty $23,500: 

Karllon (Goldman) 11:000; 40-85) 
—"Salty O'Rourke" (Par) (2d run). 
Brisk $7,000 despite long run at. 
Stanley. Last week. "Call of Wild" 
(20th) (reissue) (2d wk). fair $5.f(Q0. 

Keith's (Goldman) (2.200: 40-85)— 
"Flame Barbary Coast" (Rep) (2d 
run). Modest $4,000. Last week, 
"Enchanted Cottage" 1 RKO ) 1 2d 
rim), good $7,500. 

Mastbaum (WB) (4.692; 40-85)— 
"Conflict" (WB). Bangup $28,500 
plus line $4,000 for Earle Sun. show. 
Last week. "Pillow to Post" (WB), 
fair $17,000 on second trip. 

Stanley (WB) (2,760; 40-85)— "The 
Clock" (M-G) (2d wk). Nice $16,000. 
Last week, smash $28,000 plus good 
$4,000 at Earle. Sun. 

Stanton (WB) (1.475: 40-85)— "Dil- 
linger" (Mono) (2d wk). Still fast 
at $10,000 despite big drop from rec- 
ord $22,000 opener. 



'Nob Hill' High $30,000 
Leads Mifdish Frisco; 
'Spirit' Lively at 16G 

San Francisco, June 19. - 
Not much to shout about down- 
town this week as the thermometer 
soared to sweltering height.s. "Nob 
Hill" and "That's the Spirit" look 
best of newcomers^ . 

Estimates for This Week 
Fox (FWC) (4,651; 55-85)— "Nob 
Hill" (20th) and "Caribbean Mys- 
tery" (20th). Solid $30,000. Last 
week, "Clock" (M-G) • and "Eve 
Knew Apples" 1C0I). with one no- 
cash bond show, $24,000. 

Paramount .(FWC) (2,646; 55-85)— 
'Murder. He Says" (par) and "Un- 
IPatrick Great" )U)' and ""Str"ange ? ee jf <p ? r> '2d wk). Good $22,000. 
Illusion" (PRC) Oke $7,000. Last i „ w B ee ,^' e * l '?„ sUong $ 31 - 000 - 
week. "Flame Barbary Coast" ! ,.r. W "- rflel i ,FWC) l2 ' 656: 55 -" 5) ~ 
(Rep) and "Carroll's Vanities ' , Don S" ( M-G) and "Phan 



. "Carroll's Vanities' 
(Rep) (2d wk), good $5,000 

Wiltern .1 WB) (2,400; 50-$D— "Es- 
cape Desert" (WB): Only $9,000 
Last week; "Pillow to Post" (WB) 
(2d wk-9 days), finaled at $10,200., 

SPG-Rep's New 2-Year Deal 

The War Labor Board has ap- 
proved a new contract between the 
Screen Publicists Guild, N. Y„ arid 
Republic calling for increases and 
Job classifications for the publicity 
snd advertising men, plus artists, 
who are employed at the Rep h.o. 
Two-year deal is retroactive to Sep- 
tember last year (1944). 

Philip Ge.rad, in the exploitation 
department at Metro's h. b„ last 
week was elected second v.p. of 
SPG to succeed J. Albert Hirsch, 
freelance publicist. In the voting he 
defeated his opponent for the post, 
Robert Wile, Universal publicity 
writer, 2-1. 



lorn Speaks" (Rep). Okay $26,000. 
Last week, "Salty O'Rourke" (20th) 
and "Chicago Kid" 1 Rep). $20,000 

St. Francis (FWC.) ( 1,400; 55-85 )— 
'Diamond Horseshoe" (20th) and 
"Chicago Kid" (Rep) 1 2d wk) (m.o.) 
Strong $16j000. Last, week, near same 
Slate iFWC) (2.133: 55-85) ' ~i 
'Clock" (M-G) and' "Eve' Knew Ap- 
ples' (Col) i.m.o,), Solid $15,000. Last 
week, "Bring On Girls" (Par) and 
"Great Flamaiion" (Rep), im.o), 
$10,000. ♦ Jf, 

Golden Gate (RKO) 1 2 j 8l4<i60-95) 
—"Brighton Strangler" i RKO) plus 
Frankie Carle oreh and stage show 
Modest $28,000. Last week, "Tarzan 
Amazons" (RKO) and Jack Teagar- 
d«i-John Calvert stage show, strons" 
$32,009. s 
United Artists (Blumenfeld) <] 207- 
40-85)— "Blood on Sun" >UA) (7th 

$i4ooo oocl $13 '- 00, Last week ' £turd y 

Orpheum (Blumenfeld) (2.448- 40- 
85)— "That's Spirit" (U) and "Wild- 
fire" iFC). Solid $16,000. La.st week, 
Patrick the Great" iU) and "See 
My Lawyer" 'U). $10,800. .-- 



Buffalo Way Off; Only 
'O'Rourke/ 19G, Okay 

• Buffalo. June 19. 

Biz is on the skids here, only 
"Salty O'Rourke." at Great Lakes, 
managing to make even half-decent 
showing, : , 

. ; Estimates for This Week 

Buffalo (Shea) (3,500; 40-70)— 
"Where Go From Here" (20th) and 
"Chicago Kid"- (Rep). Thin $12,000. 
Last week. "Clock" (M-G) and 
"Strange Illusion" (PRO, rousing 
$20,000. 

Great Lakes (Shea) (3.000: 40-70) 
—"Salty O'Rourke" (Par). Lofty 
$19,000. Last week, "Dorian Gray" 
1 M-G) and "Let's Go Steady" (Coin 
neat $14,000. 

Lafayette (Basil) (3.300: 40-70) — 
"See My Lawyer" (U) and "Re- 
member April" iU); Drab $5,000. 
Last week. "Imitation of Life" (U) 
and 'East Side of Heaven" (U) (re- 
issuel (2d wk), stout $8,500. 

20th Century (20th Cent.) (3,000: 
40-70) — "Delightfully Dangerous" 
(UA ) and "When .Strangers Marry" 
(Mono). Sluggish $7,500. Last week, 
"China Sky" (RKO) and "Two 
o'Clock Courage" (RKO); dandy 
$14,000. 



Det. Feels Weather But Medal' Fine 



,000; 'Hamarion -Jordan Hot 25G 



'Bedside' Sockeroo 9?G, 
Best Cincy Bet; 'Blood' 
Trim 16G, 'Pillow' 14G 

Cincinnati. June 19. 

Above-par array of fresh product 
is hypoing the biz downtown to 
above seasonal level. Three of four 
houses with newcomers are fatso. 
Belli ingers are "Blood on Sun," "Pil- 
low to Post" and "Bedside Manner." 
last being standout at small Keith's. 
Estimates for This Week . 

Albee (RKO) (3.100: 44-701 — 
'Blood On Sun" (UA). Swell $16,000. 
Last week, "Son of Lassie" (M-G). 
good $13,000, 

Capitol (RKO) (2.000: 44-70)— 
"Valley of Decision" (M-G) (3d wk). 
Smash $10,000 alter sensational $14,- 
500 second round. 

Grand (RKO) ( 1.430;. 44-70)— "Don 
Juan Quilligan'' (20th) and "Bull- 
fighters" (20th). Limp $5,000. Last 
week, "That's Spirit" (U). dull $5,000. 

Keith's (United) (1,500: 44-70)— 
"Bedside Mariner" (UA). Sock $9.- 
■500. Holds. Last week. "Call of 
Wild" (20th) (reissue) (2d wk), 
pleasing $4,000. 

Lyric (RKO) (1.400: 44-70)— "Sa- 
lome" (U) (m.o.). Fair $4'.500. Last 
week, "China Sky" (RKO) (2d run), 
ditto. 

Palace (RKO) (2,600: 44-70)— "Pil- 
low to Post" (WB). Hefty $14,000. 
Last week, "Salome" (U), about 
same. 

Shubert (RKO) (2,100: 44-70)— 
"Son of Lassie" (M-G) (m.o.). Ac- 
ceptable $4,000. Same la.*t week on 
Where Go Here" (20th 1. 2d run: . - 



'BLOOD' TORRID ?:8iG 
IN 3 DENVER SPOTS 

^Denver. June 19, 

"Blood on the Sun," day-date at 
Denver. Webber and Esquire, is get- 
ting the most, coin this week, but 
"Without Love" is the real smash at 
the Orpheum. "Love" holds at the 
biggest'house here. 

Estimates for This Week 

Aladdin (Fox) (1,400; 34-75)— 
"Salome, Where She Danced" (U) 
and "Boston Blackie Suspicion" 
(Col), after week at Denver, Esquire. 
Good $6,500. La.st week. "Where Go 
From Here" (20th) and "Secret Clue" 
(Mono), ditto on m.o, : ': .- 

Henham (Cockrill) d.750: 35-74) 
"Affairs of Susan" (Par) (4th wk) 
and "Dangerous Passage" (Par). 
Okay $8,000 or close. Last week, 
"Affairs." good $9,000. 

Denver (Fox) (2.525; 35-74)— 
"Blood on Sun" (UA) and "Swing 
Out Sister" (U). day-date with 
Esquire and Webber. Big $19,000. 
Last week. "Salome" (U) and 
"Blackie Suspicion" 'Co!), also 
Esquire, big $18,500. 

Esquire (Fox) (742; 35-74)— "Blood 
on Sun" (UA) and "Swing Sister" 
(U), also Denver and Webber. Fine 
$ 3.500. Last week. "Salome" (U) and 
"Blackie Suspicion" (Col ). also Den- 
ver, big $3,800r 

Orpheum (RKO) (2,600- 35-74)— 
"Without Love" (M-G) and "A Guy 
a Gal" 1C0I). Smash $20,000. Last 
week.. "This. Mans Navy" (M-G ) and 
"Gentle Annie" (M-G). big $16000 

Paramount (Fox) (2.200: 35-74)— 
"Wuthering Heights" iFC) and "Sons 
of Desert" iFC) (reissues). Nice 
$10,000. Last, week, "Dillinger" 
(Mono) and "Honeymoon Ahead" 
(Rep), smash $12.500' in 8 days 

Rialto (Fox) (878; 35-74 )—' "Where 
Go From Here" (20th) and "Secret 
Clue (Mono), attcr week at Den- 
ver, Esquire,. Aladdin. Fancy $4,- 
800. Last week. "Sister Eileen" 
(Col) (reissue), after week at Alad- 
din, and "Flame of West" (Mono) 
nice $4,000. 

Webber (Fox) (750; 35-74)— "Blood 
on Sun" (UA) and "Swing Sister" 
(U), also Esquire. Denver. Boff $4 - 
000. Last week, "Dillinger" (Mono) 
and "Honeymoon Ahead" (Rep) 
ditto. 



Key City Grosses 

Estimates Total Gross 

This Week : $2,567,200 

. iBuaed 011 23 cities, 182 ilieo- 
fres, chiefly /i. st runs,, iiicliidiiie 

N. v.) .';. 

Total Gross Same Week 

Last Year ...... . . ', . $2,313,330 

(Based 011 22 cities, 177 f|ieo(rex) 

'Salome' Socko 
$15,000, Seattle 

■• Seattle. June 19. 
Exhibs are plenty happy this 
week. Best . showings are being 
made by "Salome, Where She 
Danced" and "Soli of Lassie." "Af- 
fairs of Susan" still is boffo. though 
in third week, at Fifth Avetvue. 
Estimates for This Week 
Blue Mouse ( H-E) (800; 45-80)-- 
"Without Love" (M-G) (3d wk). 
From Pammount. Big $6,000. Last 
week. "Unseen" (Par) (3d wk) and 
"Three's a Crowd" (UA), solid 
$4,700. . '.. 

Fifth Avenue I H-E) (2,349: 45-80) 
— "Affairs Susan!' (Par) 1 3d wk). 
I Strong $8,000. w ith half-dav. out for 
! bond rally. Last week, smash $13.- 
'500. 

Liberty (J-vH) (1.650; 45-80)— 
"Counter-Attack" (Col) and "LovC 
Mystery" (Col). Stout $10,000. Last, 
week, "Brewster's Millions" (UA) 
(3d wk). big $7,100, 

Music Box 1 H-E) (850: 45-80)— 
"Diamond Horseshoe" i20th). (5th 
wk). Okay S5.500 in 8 days. Last 
week. $6,400. 

Music Hall (H-E) (2.200; 45-80 1— 
"Patrick the Great" (U) and "Swing 
Sister" (U) (2d wk). Fairish $5.- 
000 in 6 days. after grand $11,000 ini- 
tialer. 

Orpheum (H-E) (2,600; -45-80)-*- 
"Salome" (U) and -"Honeymoon 
Ahead" (U). Socko $15,000. Last 
week. "Flame Barbarv Coast" (Rep) 
and "Vanities" (Rep) 1 2d wk >, boffo 
$8,800 in 6 days. 

Palomar (Sterling) (1.350: 30-$l i 
— "Identity Unknown" (Rep) and 
"Lady Confesses" (PRC) plus Bon- 
nie Baker heading stage show. Heftv 
$12,000. Last week. "Enemy of 
Women" (Mono) plus vaude. $9,100. 

Paramount (H-E) r3,039; 45-80)— 
"Son of Lassie" (M-G) and "Forever' 
Yours" (Mono). Great $14.000,, Last 
week. "Without Love" I M-G) '('2d 
wk), great $11,500. 

Roosevelt (Sterling) . (800; 45-80) 

"Barbary Coast" (Rep). £iom Or- 
pheum for third stanza. Okay $5,300 
Last week. "Co-Pilot" (WB) (4th 
wk), big $4,900. 

Winter Garden (Sterling) (800: 25- 
50)— "Tree Grows Brooklyn" (20th) 
and 'Here Come Co-Eds" <U) (3d 



» Detroit, June 19. 
Unfavorable weather, the Seventh 
Loan drive and other conditions are 
getting in their licks this session. 
"•Medal for Benny" looks the best 
bet of new entries. 
;. -". .«' Estimates for This Week' 

Adams (Balaban) (1,700; 60-85)— 
"Diamond Horseshoe" (20lh) and 
"Power of Whistler" (Coll, Okay 
$10,000. Last week. "Call of Wild" 
(20th) (reissue) and "Berlin Corre- 
spondent" (20th). same ; 

Broadway Capitol (United Detroit) 
(2.800; 60 -85i — "Body Snatcher" 
(RKO) and "Brighton Strangler" 
(RKO), Tame $10,000. Last week, 
"Flame Barbarv Coast" (Rep.) and 
"48 Hours" (PRC). $11,000. 

Downtown (Howard Hughes) '2,- 
800; 60-85)- "The Great Flamariun" 
(Rep) (1st wk) and Louis Jordan 
oreh (2d wk 1 on stage. Trim $25,000. 
Last. week. "Wildfire" (Indie), Louis 
Jordan orchi mighty $35,000. 

Fox (Fox-Michigan) (5,000; 60-85) 
—"Patrick the Great" (U) and "See 
My Lawyer" (U). Mild. $21,000. 
Last week, ■ "Diamond Horseshoe" 
(20th) and "Power Whistler" (Col) 

I (2d wk i.' modest $26,000. . 

Madison (United Detroit) (1.800; 

I 60-85')— "Keep Powder Dry" dvl-G) 
and "Dillinger'' (Mono). Only $4,- 

I 500. Last week, "Since Went 'Away" 

i (UA). $5,300. 

Michigan (United Detroit ) 1 4.000; 

i 60-851— "Salty O'Rourke" (Pari and 

I "Forever Yours" (Mono) (2d wk), 

j Nice $23,000. La.st w eek, $30,000. 

I Palms-State (United Detroit) (3,- 
000: 60-85 > — "Medal for Benny" 
(Pari and. "Unseen" (Par). Fine 
$22,000. Last week. "In Bag" (UA) 
and "Brewster's Millions" ill A. V, fair 
$14,000. 

United Artists (United Detroit) 
(2.000: 60-851— "Enchanted Collage" 
(RKO 1 and "Pan-Americana" (RKO) 
(2d wk). Brisk $16,000. Last week, 
big $21,000. . 



run). Big $4,500. Last week. 
St. Louis" (M-G) and "Brazil" 
(3d run), $4,400. 



'Clock' Timely $18,000, 
Mpk; 'Flame' Tall 8G, 
'Murder' $7,500 on 2d 

■\ Minneapolis. June 19. 

"The Clock." at Radio City, is 
showing its heels to the field this 
week. Only other important new- 
comer is "Flame of Barbary Coast," 
at the Orpheum. , 

Estimates for This Week 

Aster (Par-Singer) (900; •15-25)— 
"Great Flamarion" (Rep) and "Eve 
Knew Her Apples" (Col). Okay $2,- 
200 in 8 days. Last week, "Phantom 
Speaks" (Rep) and "10 Cents Dance" 
(Col), good $2,400 in 5 days. 

Cenlurv (P-S)' ( 1,600: 44-60)— 
"Dark Waters" (UA) (2d wk). 
Looks okay $5,000 after good $8,000 
first week. ;", ■ . '■'-' 

Gopher (P-S) (1.000; 40) — "The 
Unseen" (Par). Only fair $3,000. 
Last week, "Youth Aflame" (Indie), 
okay $3,300. 

Lyric (P-S) (1.100: 44-60)— "China 
Sky" (RKO). Moveover from Or- 



'Meet pheum near modest $4,000. Last 



(Rep) 



(3d 
fine 



'CHINA SKY' BRIGHT 
$14,500 IN DULL PROV. 

Providence. June 19. 
Record-breaking heat hit town j 
with a bang and will bop biz all over ! 
this session; Standouts are "China 
Sky' and "See My Lawyer," in the 
order named. . . 

' Estimates for This Week 
Albee (RKO) (2,100: 44-60) — i 
"China Sky" (RKO) and "Zombies ' 
Broadway" (U), Fairly good $14 500 
Last week. "Body Snatcher" (RKO) 
and "Brighton Strangler" (RKO ) 
$14,000. 

„ Carlton (Fay-Loew) 1 1.400- 44-55) 
—"Dorian Gray" (M-G) and "A Guy 
A Gal". (M-G ) (2d nth). Fair $3 500 - 
Last week. "Keep Powder Dry" 
(M-G) and "Booked Suspicion" (Col) 
(2d run). $4,000. . 

Fay's (Fay ) (2,000; 44-55)— "Molly , , 
and Me" (20th) and vaude on stage. ! ,lere 
Steady $6,000. Last week, "Thunder- 
head" (20th) and vaude. good $6 500 
, Majestic (Fay) (2.200; 44-60)— "See 
My Lawyer (U) and "Frisco Sal" 
(U). Good $14,000. Last week, "Royal 
Scandal" (20th) and "Identity Un- 
known" (Rep). $14,500. 

Metropolitan (Snider) (3.100- 44- 
55)— "Brewster's' Millions" (UA) So- 
so $6,000. Last week. "In Bag" (UA) 
| nd "Phantom Speaks" (Mono), wow 

State (Loew) (3,200; 50-60)— "To- , 

m - 0r u. 0 ^ ^°, , ; Id " lUA) "Tahiti 
Nights" (Col). Still good at $14,500. 
Last week. "Dorian Gray" (M-G) I 
IrOOO^ GUy " * Gal" VM-G ), fancy! 

Strand (Silverman) (2.000: 50-60) 
— "Counter - Attack" (Col ) and 
Leave to Blondie" (Col). Started 
Monday (18). Last week. "Affairs 

SL^ usan " ,Pan l2d wki. okay 
$8,000 after great $17,000 ..prner. 



week. "Affairs of Susan" (Par) 
wk). good enough $4,800 alter 
S18,500 at two other houses. 
- Orpheum (P-S) (2.800: 44-60)— 
"Flame Barbary Coast (Rep), Fairly 
] stout $8,000. Last week. "China Sky" 
; (RKO), strong $9,500. 

Radio City (P-S) (4.000; 44-60) — 
: "The Clock" (M-G). Strong $18,000. 
I Last Week. "God Is Co-Pilot" (WB) 
i (2d wk), nice $9 500. < 
j State (P-S) (2,300: 44-60)— "Mur- 
der, He Says" (Par) (2d wk). This 
j one good $7,500 after hangup $13,500 
i first week. 

i Uptown (Par) (350: 44-60)— "Song 
Remember (Col - ). First in nabes. 
Good $3,200. Last week, "Enchanted 
Cottage," (RKO), $3,500. • 



Monroe Lifts 'Vanities' 
20G, Indpls.; lassie' 16G 

~* Indianapolis, June 19. 
Rains for the last two weeks can't 
i depress the rejuvenated boxoffree 
Biz is strong all over. 
Estimates for This Week 
Circle (Katz-Dolle) (2.800; 55-70) 
—"Earl Carroll's Vanities" (Rop) 
with Vaughn Monroe oreh and Guy 
Kibbee on stage. Socko $20,000, 
I largely due to Monroe. Last week. 
I "Where Go From Here" (20th I and 
"Forever Yours" (Mono), nifty $11,- 
! 500 at 32-55c scale, 
j Indiana (Katz-Dolle) (3.300: 32-551 
1 —"Diamond Horseshoe" (20tli); Solid 
| $14,000. Last week, "It's a Pleasure" 
(RKO) and "Escape in Fog" (Col ), 
line $12,000. 
Loew's (Loew's) (2,450; 35-55)— 
| "Son of Lassie" (M-G ). Torrid $16.- 
: 000 but no holdover due to product 
i commitments. Last week. "Without 

Love" (M-G), nice $9;200 on h.o. 
[ Lyric- (Katz-Dolle) (1.600; 32-55)— 
"It's a Pleasure" (RKO) and "Escape 
in Fog" (Col). Above average $6,000 
on m.o. Last week, "Affair* of So- 
wn" (Par), $5,500, also m.o. 



18 



HOUSE REVIEWS 



VARIETY 



Strand. SI. Y. 

Lours Prima Orel) (.16) n-il/i Lily 
Ann Cnwl, Mike Cotton: Dime Clark, 
Carr Bros. <2) Eli nice Healey; "Con- 
flUftt" i\VB), reviewed iu "V«rie;y," 
June 13, 45. 

What with Dane Clark (New Acts) 
for in-the-flesh heart throbs. Bogart 
dittoing ciriemawise and . Louis I 
Prima's consistently . b.o. package on 
hand tor the juvc-jivers, Warners' 
Slrand seems well fortified with: its 
current stage presentation smoothly 
feared to the receipts formula. 

Prima's the same toggy-voiced 
New Orleans trumpeting dynamo 
he's always been, pacing his groove? 
crew through a climactic series of 
proven tunes, most of which he's 
helped up the ladder into "Hit 
Parade'' company. "Bell - Bottom 
"Trousers." "Angelina," "Squeeze da 
Banana,'' etc. meet with instant re- 
sponse from the youngsters, and 
Prima doesn't disappoint them, dish- 
ing out the same infectious treat- 
ment the kids obviously have heard 
before on the jukebox circuit. 

Outfit contains five saxes, three 
trombones, four trumpets (plus 
Prima's) and usual rhythm choir. 
The always welcome Lily- Ann Carol 
and Mike Cotton arc on hand for 
mflder-mannered vocals than those 
dished by the maestro. 

Peppy tapster Eunice Healey looks 
food, flashes expert routines arid, 
•with the acrobatic Carr Bros.', fa- 
miliar hand-balancing comedy tricks, 
rounds it all out strongly. Donn. 

Circle, Indpls. 

Indianapolis, June 17. 
Vniiohi! Monroe Orch, with Ziggy 
Tu(c»it,* Rosemary ■ Calvin, Norton 
Sisters, Bobby Rickey; Guy Kibbee, 
Jeanne Blanche; 'Earl Carroll's 
Vanities "Rep). 



The kids here, starved for jive 
after lapse of a month without a 
name band, are giving Vaughn Mon- 
roe a big welcome at the Circle this 
week. .They go for his slick vocals 
and solixl rhythm numbers. Bobby 
•Rickey';; turn at the drums draws 
cheers. Monroe unquestionably is at 
a new peak of popularity with the 
locals. Guy Kibbee's presence on 
bill helps to sell the show and to 
satisfy the customers, especially 
those past teen age. His quips about 
rationing, Hollywood, politics and 
■women, pay off in laughs. The well- 
paced monologue is short and snappy. 

Monroe opens impressively with a 
*ync version of Victor Herbert's 
"March of the Toys," followed by 
a pair of vocals by Rosemary Cal- 
vin, who shows plenty of class in 
"Talk, Talk. Talk" and "Down at 
Carnegie Hall." The band gives with 
"All the Things You Are" and "War- 
saw Concerto" before Monroe- gets 
down to business and stops the show 
■with a vocal of "There— I've Said It 
Again." assisted by the Norton Sis- 
ters. The singing maestro holds 'em 
tight with "Donkey Serenade," "Tan- 
_ ferine" and "I'll See You in My 
Dreams," ■ the latter mighty sweet 
•with a chorus by four muted trom- 
bones and obbligato by tire girl 
quartet. The Nortons also click' on 
then- own in "Tabby the Cat." After 
Bobby Rickey gets groovy in "I've 
Got Rhythm," accompanied by the 
excited yells of the kids down front. 
Ziggy Talent steps, forward and 
scores heavily with his zany pres- 
entation of two novelty songs, "Sam 
You Made the Pants Too Long" and 
a comedy take-off on radio commer- 
cials. 

It's a smooth layout all the way, 
with Jeanne Blanche, nifty brunet 
sharing the credit. Her taps and 
acrobatic turns are plenty okay. Biz 
food when caught. Corb. 



a show-stopper. Kirk gives the spot- 
light to Ben Thigpen on the drums 
for band's final number, "Indiana." 

Beverly White is band vocalist, 
torching "My Guy," "Somebody's Got 
to Go" and "Ain't Got Nothing But 
the Blues" for a tine hand. 

Added acts are Leon Collins and 
Frank Radeliffc. Former wraps up 
some smooth precision taps to please 
while Radeliffc ties together gags 
and vocals on "There Goes My 
Heart." "Daddy Boy" and "Old Man 
River." Trick voice gives the Irish 
piece a high -tenor' while "River". is 
done in a booming basso. 

Freddy Stewart's early stint in 
front of curtain, with an organ, ac- 
companiment, tenors "I Should 
Care," "The More I See You" and 
"You Belong to My Heart" .'or okay 
returns. . Brog. 



Or:»fieiim, L. A. 

Los Angeles, June 14. 
. Andy Kirk's Orch . ( 15), featuring 
Beverly White, Ben Thigpen, J. D. 
King, Jhnmy Forrest, - LaVerne 
Barker, Johnny Young; The Chariot- 
eers (5), Frank Radeliffc, Leon Col- 
lins, Freddy Stewart; "The Kid Sis- 
ter" (PRC). 



Ciiieago,«€hi 

Chicago, June 16. . 
Sammy Kaue Orch (18) with 
Arthur Wright, 4 Kdydeis, Nancy 
Norman, Billy WJUiiliiis, Bobby Lane 
& Claire, Cy Reeves; "Murder, He 
Says" (Par) •... ..';: . 

Smart showmanship, 'accentuated 
by clever comedy touches and easily 
assimilated melodies by Sammy 
Kayo and his aggregation puts a 
powerful punch in show skedded for 
two weeks. Kaye's booking heralds 
a succession of band-shows for the 
next couple of months. 

Orch tees off with "My Gal Sal" 
with the Four Kaydets on the vo- 
cals, and then Arthur- Wright tenors 
"Sweetheart of All My Dreams" to 
good effect. Bobby Lane and Claire 
click with a nifty dance routine that 
includes a clever stocking-feet num- 
ber and acrobatic stint with a news- 
paper that is different. Nancy Nor- 
man, band's vocalovely. puts over 
"Candy" and ' I'm a Big Girl Now" 
with a bang, but some of the' off- 
color lyrics of the latter definitely 
do not belong in a theatre. Chubby 
Silvers, tenorisjt, contribs a virile 
rendition ot "Caldonia." Billy Wil- 
liams, who does "Scnlimenal Jour- 
ney" and "I Should Care" to click, 
teams with Miss Norman to duct 
"My Dreams Are Getting Better" 
and "Good, Good, Good" for hefty 
returns. 

Cy Reeves, deadpan edmic. a com- 
posite ot most of the comedians 
you've seen around, keeps 'em laugh- 
ing with a glib line of chatter, stories 
and songs, one based on "Ole Man 
River" and another on "'Dark Eyes" 
in which he gives an impression of 
an emotional Russian. Reeves has a 
good delivery and whams over a hit. 

Show winds up, with Kaye's audi- 
ence participation feature. "So You 
Want to Lead a Band" indulged in 
by two men and two women picked 
from audience, with the winner re- 
ceiving a $5 prize. Male member of 
the armed forces won at the show 
caught. Mory. 

Tower, K. C. 

Kansas City. Jime 15. 
Wilkey Dare, Dong Richardson. 
FA:ie R. Brown, Dorothy Dale. 
Bunny Lane, Tower Orch (9) with 
Norma Werner; "Molly and Me" 
(2(3th) and "Forever Yours" (Mono). 

With Wilkey & Dare in. the top 



State, .\. Y. 

Raye & Naldi, Irene Bordoiii. Bar 
(icy Grant, Patterson 
Gautier's Steeplechase; 
Creek" (Par). 



& Jackson, 
'Frenchman's 



With the bill shaved to 52 minutes 
because of the film's length, the State 
has a compact show. Notable is the 
return to vaude of Irene Bordoni, 
who more recently has been. seen at 
the Blue Angel, N. Y., intimate 
nitery. ■ - , 

The former, musicomedy -star still 
knows her way around a song, be it 
ballad, comedy or rhythm number, 
accurately hitting the audience taste 
and doing well enough to warrant 
an encore and several earned bows 
after that. Only sore spot is her 
opener, "Don't Believe What They 
Say About the French." Her Gallic 
version of "My Heart Sings," a med- 
ley of service songs and a parody of 
"I Wanna Get Married" bring her a 
near showstop. 

Raye and Naldi. closing, demon- 
strate they're a top terp pair, start- 
ing off with a slow number to the 
"Moonlight Sonata," following with 
a paso-doble and their standby "Be- 
guine." Duo had a little trouble get- 
ting started, several holds going 
askew, but faultless execution of 
subsequent items got them a salvo. 

Comedy is by Barney Grant, lately 
on the air with the Ballantine and 
Seven-Up programs, who used to do 
a family hillbilly act. He now finds 
it smarter to satirize alfalfa-antics 
with some smart burlesque. He's an 
engaging guy and the deliberately, 
corny material is nicely palmed off. 

Gautier's Steeplechase, with the 
usual assortment of ponies, dogs and 
a monk, give the house a good warm- 
up, followed by the portly colored 
duo, Patterson and Jackson. Their 
tap numbers and impression of the 
Ink Spots get them off to a warm 
palm. 

Fairly good house when caught. 

Jose. 



WfiWsday, June 20, 1945 



Oriental, Chi , 

Chicago, June 15. 
Ted Weems Orch il4) with Larry 
Noble, 4 Macks, Mary Lee, Master & 
Rollins, Whitey Roberts; "G. I. 
Honei/mooii" (Moito). 



With Wilkey & Dare in the top _vn_r. _arry «■ 

spot, socking across their zany an- j baritone, is adequate in "Laura" 
tics, current Tower. layout play's well „ Dreams . but lacks stage presi 



With the Charioteers for close har- 
mony and Andy Kirk's orch for hot 
notes, the Orpheum has an easy-sell- 
ing stage bill this week. As an ad- 
ditional attraction, Freddy Stewart, 
young tenor, is working out the sec- 
ond frame of a four- week booking 
at the house. His stint is separated 
from regular stage show, singer 
working in front of the curtain be- 
fore the all-Negro portion gets under 
•way. ■;- 

Charioteers arc in the closing spot 
and deliver •'Beginning to See the 
Light," "All I Need Is You," "Ride. 
Bed, Ride" and "You Was Right." 
Ride" comes out as best of the num- 
bers, although all are good and 
rate excellent reception. Fifth 
member of group furnishes piano 
backing to the other four voices, and 
tenor spot is featured, in the ar- 
rangements. 

Kirk's crew blows hot brassy 
tunes, aiyl opens with a jivey "Ava- 
lon" arrangement that clicks. Band 
js next out with "Roll 'Em," featur- 
ing boogie woogie work by Johnny 
Young at the piano. Lots of rhythm 
spotlights "Apollo Groove" with La- 
Verne Barker on the bass. Instru- 
mental piece was defied by Ruben 
Phillips, one of the ore'h's saxophon- 
ists. "Gators' Serenade" features the 
cattle of the tenor saxes between 
J. D. King and Jimmy Forrest and is 



and packs plenty of entertainment. 

House orch opens with "Laura," 
Norma Werner warbling the voral 
to good returns. Doug Riehanison, 
puppeteer, doubles as m.c. 

Dorothy Dale, sprightly blonde 
tapper, contribs a breezy routine. 
Elzie R. Brown, mathematical 
wizard, memorizes columns of fig- 
ures and repeats them in regular and 
reverse order. 

Bunny Lane, "Discovery Night" 
winner, vocals a chorus of "Oh 
What a Beautiful Morning" in a 
pleasant soprano. Richardson, next 
to closing, works with puppets. 
Dolls include Uncle Tom, a skeleton 
and a souse. He gives out with gab 
and vocals properly timed. 

Wilkey & Dare tie up show neatly 
with their knockabout comedy rou- 
tine. Both register solidly and gar- 
ner hefty milling. Earl. 

iii»i», naito 

Balliniore, June 16. 
Pat Heaping, Don Zelaya. The 
Grays (5), Lenore Roberts, Felice 
tula House Orch (12); "Counter-At- 
tack" (Col) . 



Nice playing layout that builds in 
mounting climax is smartly paced by 
Pat Henning in hard-working style 
that garners consistent returns in 
both emcee and solo chores. Fast 
opening is provided by Gray family, 
now a quinet of femmes, who ring 
the bell with well-rounded hoofing 
routines, smartly costumed. 

Don Zelaya is solid with piano 
stint sparked by sprightly talk in 
thick south-of-the-border accent. 
Legit versions of Tonight We Love" 
and a medley of service tunes, point 
good patter and earn a begoff. 

Lenore Roberts, singing moppet, 
follows with routine delivery of 
"Candy." "Stuff Like That" and a 
Betty Hutton version of "Rocking 
Horse." Gets over and sets spot for 
Henning to close with nifty gagging 
and general knockabout stuff that 
scores solid hit. Good support 
from pit orch headed by Felice Iula 
Biz okay. Burnt. 



Playing first local theatre date in 
years, after long run at the Stevens 
hotel. Ted Weems and crew, prime 
laves here, should keep turnstiles 
whirling this week. Backed up by a 
talented coterie of featured instru- 
mentalists and supported by a diver- 
sified array of acts, layout is one of 
the best bills in weeks. 

As to the band, it is not as good as 
others Weems had in the past but 
manages to distill enough rhythm 
and stuff from its five saxes, three 
trumpets, two trombones and three 
rhythm, to satisfy the not too-dis- 
cerning jivesters. Band's strength 
lies in its featured instrumentalists. 
Jimmy Simonin, pianist, is a whiz on 
the keyboard and his digiting of 
"Boogie Woogie" meets with general 
approval. Tiny Martin, ro'. md bass 
player, draws generous response with 
his singing of "Rancho Grande." and 
gives the bull fiddle a fast workout 
in ' Flight of the Bumble Bee" for a 
Hit. Russ Bod ine clicks with singing 
and trumpeting of "Tabby the Cat" 
and "Rockin' Chair." Larry Noble. 

and 
,..esence. 

Band's closer, "Old Man Harlem," is 
on the solid side. 

Mary Lee. recently of the films, 
proves a pleasing tune purveyor, 
with a neat repertoire including 
"Sentimental Journey," "Sunny Side 
of the Street," "She'Wore a Yellow 
Ribbon," "Montana'.' and a neat take- 
off of Judy Canova doing "I Ain't 
Got Nobody" for healthy plaudits. 

Master and Rollins are a panic in 
the next to closing due mostly to the 
elongated looseness of Miss Rollins 
and her ability to get in the most 
grotesque postures. Master's eccen- 
tric hoofing including the Karloff, 
skating routine and modern machine 
movements is classy stuff, and team 
chalks up a hit. 

Earlier on the bill the Four Macks, 
femme roller-skaters working on 
small circular platform, thrill with 
fast line of tricks working in pairs, 
as a trio and as a quartet, with iron- 
jaw closer sending them off to heavy 
mitling, Whitey Roberts is show- 
stopper with his droll line of com- 
edy, dancing and juggling. Morg. 

Earlc, Philly 

•"'•:•.. Philadelphia, June 15. ■'"••. 
Gene Krupa Orch (17) with the 
Song Birds and Buddy Stewart; Bob 
Du Pont, James 6 Evelyn Paysee; 
"Zombies on Broadway" RKO. 

It's .a grea,t show that Gene Krupa 
puts on at the Earle. Despite a swel- 
tering house Uir-conditioning unit 
KO'd as usual), it's a short 55 min- 
utes of solid entertainment high- 
lighted by the genius of the drum- 
mer boy and the top grade talent of 
his soloists, especially Charlie Ven- 
tura, tenor-sax artist. 
■'A , springy opening number by 
the band, "LeaVe Us Leas," introes 
the well-blended pieces— five sax, 
four trumpet, three trombone, gui- 
tar, bass and piano; spare drummer 
is_on hand to take the skins over 
when Krupa solos up front on the 
kettle drums. Mixed quartet does a 
smooth job on vocals of "Paper 
Moon" and "Sentimental Journey" 
Mercury spouts over at Trio Time 
when Krupa, Charlie Ventura and 



George Walters, piano, let go on 
such specialties as "Wire Brush No. 
69" and a smouldering jazzman's 
version of "Dark Eyes." Trio has as 
much tone and body as a full orch, 
minus the formality. It's all defi- 
nitely groovy. . 

Buddy Stewart, looking not much 
older than, a boy bobby-soxer, 
croons "Laura" into the mike with 
lilting larynx, but stiff torso. "Sum- 
mertime'' has a trick duo chorus 
with Venturers tenor-sax and Ste- 
wart's voice harmonizing to make a 
very, special thing. 

"Blue Rhythm Fantasy" rings in 
all the bandsmen as drummers for 
a background beat on small, individ- 
ual trap at each stand. 

Tommy Pederson. 1st trombonist, 
varies the tempo of the program 
"with mellow solo tooting of "Caprice 
Viennuis." 

Dramatic staging, relying On lights 
and shadows for effects, adds glamor 
touch. Small drums at stands hide 
blue lights that go on for new opus, 
"Bolero in the Jungle"— -discordant, 
symphonic and terrific. "Drum 
Boogie" encore gives Krupa another 
chance to thrill the fans. 

Topping oil the cake is Bob Do 
Pont, comic juggler, who can sell a 
ticket in his own right anytime. 
Routine brings. laughs from stroll-on 
to walk-off. His standard gags, like 
the medal for performance and the 
toss-around of the apple, plate and 
napkin are good. For skill with the 
ten-pins and the pellets, plus talent 
as a gagster, there's none like vet- 
eran Du Pont. :- .-■•■-.'•. :;■.■--•- 

Hoofer pair, James and Evelyn 
Paysee, coine on early for adagio 
tap and fast jitterbug turns. 

House about three-fourths filled 
for opening show iFri. afternoon) 
with excessive heat apparently rea- 

-°"' ______ Sh " 1 ' 

Apollo, IS. V* 

_ Lucky Millinder Orch (17) with 
Leo Ketchum, Bullnioose Jackson 
Panama Frances; Sister Rosetta 
Tharpe, 3 Tops, Steeple Chasers (4) 
Joyner & Foster,. McGinn/ & Hughes- 
"Cisco Kid's Return" i Mono) . 



RKO, Iloston 

Boston, June 15, 
Johnny Richards Orch U5) 
Rochester, Nan Wynn, Karen Rich* 
Tommy Trent, Pat Russo and Kim! 
Murray;" Two O'clock Couruiie" 
(RKO). 



Its old home week again at the 
Apollo, with Lucky Millinder's crew 
back, for its seasonal semester 
flanked by Sister Rosatta Tharpe 
swinging the spirituals. Several other 
acts round out a zippy 70-minute 
stanza that has them jiimpin'. 



Despite our great love for human 
nature, we must report that the stars 
of this week's RKO Boston show are 
two puppets made of wood and paint 
manipulated by Tommy Trent. They 
arouse screams of genuine laughter 
with slapstick antics, and a few hu- 
morous animal characters step up 
the fun. - 

Rochester (Eddie Anderson), how- 
ever, is a complete washout except 
when he. reverts to some shuffling, 
strutting and prancing. His patter is 
unoriginal and corny, studded with 
borrowed jokes. What's worse, he 
gives over half his act to Kitty Mur- 
ray, sepia comedienne, who relies 
upon noise and hefty stature for 
laughs that never come off. If Roch- 
ester is to enhance his radio reputa- 
tion on the stage, he'll have to get a 
better act than present one: 

Karen Rich, chirper, has more per- 
sonality than, singing voice for "I 
Wanta Get Married." Pat Russo, 
crooner, puts over "You Belong 16 
My Heart"" and "Laura." Nan-Wynn, -' 
another chirper, excels on 'Senti- 
mental Journey." 

'Johnny Richards' orch does its best 
to overcome the handicap of a poor 
show largely saved by nimhle Tom- 
my Trent's aforesaid puppets. 

Dame. 



'Boss and I' 

Continued from page I 



stingy, that's the convincer, Inci- 
dentally that's a character he created 
in vaudeville 25 years ago, as fhe 
somewhat milquetoast character who 
is constantly on the defensive. 

What doesn't do radio in general 
any. good, Benny thinks, is when 
they start copying. He doesn't mind 
if they simulate him, because he in- 
terprets that as the sincerest flattery, 
as witness that bit about the man 
who hasn't been out of the vault for 
30 years, doing nothing but watch- 
ing Benny's hoard. But when lesser 
programs lift the idea, even unto fhe 



Millinder's crew, comprising three I .", 
rhythm, five sax, three trumpets and ,h . e Same S0Und effecfs ' lie aRI0, ' s 
five trombones, with three doubling I wltn various diatribes in •Va- 
pn licorice stick, give out with their I v,e \y" that radio is shortsighted, 
standard repertoire of jump tunes, Benny observes that "no Hooper 
urn b a nd S vl e =iU 0 K dl ' y ,' Leo ,Ketdi-|or Crossloy is necessary to tell any 

I Knew 4 ' ^SS W i Nomedian if he fouls up the airwaves. 

Can. You Imagme and | lt T havc a bad show .f lh ^ j 



Laura to satisfactory returns Joy- 
ner and Foster, comedy team garbed 
as GI and ol fleer, tickle 'em with 
crossfire gab about Army life, topped 
off with some nifty hoofing. 

Three Tops, two gals and guy. reg- 
ister with some thrill stuff on rolle 



know it. And I agree thoroughly 
with Fred Allen that only by dint of 
veteranship in show business, com- . 
ing up the hard way, as in vaude- 
ville and _the like, can a comedy star 
know what is good and what is bad 



skates atnn i ,„ „• I ' " Km>w wnac 1S 800(1 and what is bad 

Btd%atToverri! a n l iT, e y rendition H 0 "T^: A hand£l " 0f ^ 
of "Warsaw Concerto "' spotli''htin_ ev ? ry - Sunda y »» a studio audience is 
the pianist, after which Geor«o Mat- 110 critei ' lon . jusf like' a GT audience 



the pianist, after which George Mat 
thews trombone-solos "My Heart 
Stood Still," giving way to Millinder 
and gang for "Who Threw The Whis- 
key in the Well?-, with leader vocal- 
mg and Panama Frances giving the 
skins a neat workout. McGinty and 
Hughes femme comedy team (New 
Acts) keep them tickled in next 
niche. Bullmoose Jackson, bespecta- 
cled sideman, gets an inning on vocal 
of 'Baby. Hurry Home." which sets 
, for the Steeple Chasers, 
•youthful quartet of male dancers 
with Dlenty on the hoofing ball to 
practically sew things up. 

Sister Tharpe comes on to the 
usual hefty reception in closing spot 
l ° w ai 'ble "Sin Is to Blame for It 
All, "Two Little Fishes and Five 
Loaves of Bread" and "That's All." 
Encores with '"Strange Things Hap- 
pen Every Day" for sock returns, 
i-an ies most of accomp on guitar 
and mixes with Millinder for some 
neat clowning. £ d |,„ 



Capitol, Wash. 

Washington, June 14. 
Mary Beth Hughes, Happy Felton, 
Tim. Herbert, Jordan & Porm*, Sam 
Jack Kaufman's House Orcti, Milton 
Slosser; "Brewster's Millions" (UA) 

Milton Slosser, at console, opens 
show with audience song fest. Happy 
telton doubles as emcee. Mary Beth 
Hughes, songstress, follows with "I'm 
Beginning to See the Light." "Was 
It a Dream?" and "Sentimental Jour- 
ney ; returns for an encore, swap- 
ping patter with Felton. topped off 
by an eccentric dance. Then the hat 
giveaway bit, wherein males from 
audience narade in girl friends' mil- 
linery. All adds iip to lots of fun 
with guy getting most applause win- 
ning hat for his lady. It's a show- 
stopper. 

. Felton warbles "Alleghany Al"and 
is smooth in mtroing the acts. Tim 
Herbert (recently out of "Follow the 
L»nls ) whams with monologue and 

Hani 5 T P , With , ?, ni "y Acentric 
dance Jordan & Parvis do several 
attractive s.ong and tap routines to 
open the show. . Arke. 

grace Mcdonald to p a, 

Grace McDonald of Universal 
Films is set to do a series of per- 
sonals in vaude. 

No dates set so far. 



ion, jus. . 
doesn't tell the whole story, except- 
ing that he agrees with Eddie Can- 
tor that the at-home listener is more 
than willing to have missed any vis- 
ible values if the GIs at camp at 
least got a little plus entertainment 
out of it. 

As regards his Hoopcrating, C. E. 
Hooper has agreed to "average" the 
Pacific Coast ratings, since Benny 
gets such a sizable repeat audience 
at 9 p. m. on the Coast as against the 
4 p. m. live show, which hits the 
east at 7 p. m . That's why he . and 
his sponsor, American Tobacco, think 
the audience payoff is there. 



Film Reviews 

; Continued from page 11 



The Way to the .Stars 

more understanding. For 'instance, 
when closing time comes and they're 
yelling for one last drink, 1he way 
she handles them is a caution. From 
her earlier muted-string pianissimo 
she ^suddenly tops the bedlam with 
' Get the hell out of here." And one 
never has a moment's doubt about 
their getting out. 

Several sequences .showing the 
British aces imitating the Yanks, and 
the Yanks imitating the Englishmen, 
are guaranteed belly laughs on both 
sides of the ocean. 

Direction by Anthony Asquith is 
underlined with sincerity and im- 
agination. Production is unostenta- 
tious but .redolent of English village 
lite. Cooperation of officers of the 
RAF and the AAF gives the film au- 
thenticity in all the sequences on 
Halfpenny Airfield. The ending is 
the best in ages here. Script by Ter- 
ence Rattigan is strong, and 'up to 
the high standard set by his "Love 
in Idleness," which the Lunts" fue- 
taking to New York at the end of 
their long London season in that 
smash hit. 

Not in any way comparable with 
any earlier flying pictures, this one 
rates tops as a gripping drama of 
British and American fighters in 
(heir hours on the ground. Its great 
virtue is its simple reproduction of 
exactly, what boys from all over the 
States have experienced on this side 
during the past two years. Tulb. 



•VARIETY'S' LONDON OFFICB 
t St. Martin'* ristce. Trafalgar Sqaar* 



INTERNATIONAL 



19 



Literati 



Chi Dally News' Ciano Diary 

One of (lie great newsbeals of this 
war, a historical document straight 
from the pen of one of the Axis 
leaders, has been pulled by the Chi- 
cago Daily News foreign service, and 
and is being sold by the Des Moines 



would ha ye received final discharge 
papers in August. 

Miley sports gossip was a column 
feature in the N. Y. Daily News and 
N. Y. Pbsl for --years and he- also 
worked on the Mirror. Telegraph 
and Graphic in New York as well 



Register and Tribune syndicate. It is as the Philly Public Ledger and 
the 500.000-word diary of the late Baltimore American after breaking 
Count Galeazzo Ciano, son-in-law of I into the newspaper biz in Milwau- 
the nnlamented Benito Mussolini. kee. Miley. a Marine in World War 
Before Ciano was executed on T, saw action in four major en- 
Mussolini's say-so, early in 1944. he gagements. 

had ordered his wife, Benito's He was to. have reported for work 
daughter Edda, to" have his diary at the American Weekly in, N. Y. 
published through the Chicago I Monday (18>. His widow, Norma 
Daily News. Foreign correspondents | Abrams. of the Daily News . staff, 
lor that paper have said that they survives! 
knew Ciano was "anti-fascist," al- 
though not many newspapermen 
agree this was so. 

Nevertheless, on Ciano's own 
orders, the document was smuggled 
to Switzerland, and finally sold to 
the Chicago Daily News. Charles E. 
Lounsbury, m.e. of the syndicate, has 
refused to reveal the price. 

The diary has been edited down to 
installments which are now appear- 
ing in 100 newspapers, with more 
outlets expected. In N. Y., the Times 
is publishing the series, instead of 
the Post ttitoich usually buys the Chi- 
cago Daily News foreign features*. 



r.VI Out of Red on 5th Anni 

PM. New York's tabloid-size ad- 
less newspaper, celebrated its fifth 
anniversary Monday (18), with the 
announcement that the paper is out 
of the red and has been so for a full 
year's operation, "For the first time 
in American journalism," says John 
P. Lewis, managing editor, "a news- 
paper now is supported entirely by 
its readers— and not by advertisers, 
and not by benefit of losses made up 
by the owners." (Marshall Field 
has been paying deficits the first 
four years'*. Paper's success, Lewis 
stated, could be more marked, but 
for the shortage of newsprint. "It 
(PM'l is the first that has been able 
to demonstrate, over a conclusive 
period, that a newspaper can be sup- 
ported solely by the people for 
whom it is written, and so free it- 
self completely from all oilier in- 
fluences, real or implied." 



Press Club Backs Pyle Fund 

National Press Club, Washington, 
is planning to support the new Ernie 
Pyle foundation at the U of Indiana, 
as a memorial to the late war corre- 
spondent. Plans for the foundation, 
to help traiiryoung merr-and women 
to become working reporters, were 
worked out with Pyle before he left 
for the Pacific last November. 

Press Club will round up funds 
from working newspapermen to es- 
tablish scholarships at the univer- I 
sity. with veterans of the war being I 
given preference in the awards. Club 
is now soliciting contributions from 
its membership. 



Rep to Set Up Cameras 
For Six Pix in Mexico 

Hollywood, June 19. 
Republic will produce six Span- 
ish-language films during the earn- 
ing season for distribution in Mexico 
and Central and South America. 
Pictures will be made in Mexico 
City. 

Herbert J. Yates, chairman of the 
Republic board, recently returned 
from conferences with government 
officials and' theatre chain operators 
south of the border, and predicted 
an increased exchange of pictures 
and talent between Mexico and the 
U.S.A. 



Bilateral Tax Aids 
itish-U.S. Stars 



Bob' Condon Joins Liberty 

Liberty motion picture section 
will be edited by Robert Condon, 
formerly with This Week mag 
and the Richard Condon flackery. 
He' was assistant to Francis Harmon 
at the War Activities Committee in 
1944. • 

Condon replaces Eve Stanley on 
the Liberty assignment. 



Sid Mercer Dies 

Sid Mercer, around 65, one of Ihe 
best liked sports reporters, died a! 
his home in New York early yester- 
day ( 19 1 . He was operated on for 
cancer last winter. 

Mercer was an authoritative com- 
mentator on all sports and a Hearst 
veteran - on- the staff of the N. Y. 
Journal-American, having been as- 
sociated with that daily for 25 years. 
Baseball and boxing were Mercer's 
forte and in both fields he was 
highly regarded, as indicated when 
invariably asked to be master of 
ceremonies at the annual dinners of 
both associations of sports experts 
who covered those events. 

As a member of the Friars club. 
Mercer was on intimate terms with 
well knowns in show business, and 
two daughters. Frances and Eleanor, 
have been on the stage. Three years 



Life Story'i New Eds 

Ralph Daigh. editorial director of 
Fawcett Publications, announces that 
Ann Mosher and Goodwin Murrav 
have joined Life Story mag. as 
associate editors. 

Miss Mosher. formerly with Wom- 
an's Home Companion, replaces 
associate editor Margery Wilding, 
who is headed for Washington. D. C, 
to become Mrs. Sam J. Papich. Miss 
Murray, who was with Coronet, will 
take over duties formerly handled by 
Theresa Brakeley. who leaves Faw- 
cett to do advertising-promotion for 
G. Lynn Summer agency. New York. 



2«lh-Fox Buys Missionary's Book 

Twentieth Century-Fox Films has 
bought the picture rights to "Those 
Two Hands." by Rev. Edward J. 
Edwards, of the Society of Divine 
Visitation. Father Edwards wrote 
"Hands." with "Thy People, My 
People." while convalescing from an 
attack of malaria suffered during 
his missionary labors in China and 
the Philippines. 



West End Cinemas Big; In Bag' Sock 
14G, 6th Wk.- 30GJth/Pirate 
Record at 22G, 'Canteen Great 20G 



David, Rose., Paramount . Interna- 
ii2.na.Ks_; hianagnig director_in Great. 
Britain, is more optimistic over" be- 
ing able to line up American screen 
players for roles in the quota pic- 
ture he. plans to produce in London, 
as a result of the bilateral tax agree- 
ment between the U. S. and Britain. 
He, explained in N. Y. last week 
that actual ratification of this agree- 
ment is likely to spur the exchange 
of screen talent between America 
and the British Isles. Rose, who j 
goes to the Coast today (Wed.), feels 
that the situation for Hollywood 
players, desiring to appear in Brit- 
ish productions, is considerably 
eased, and that he will be able to, 
line up a strong cast for hisas-yet 
untitled production. 

This agreement, known as the 
Double Taxation Treaty, when, 
okayed in England and by Con- 
gress, makes it possible, in effect; for 
producers, directors, writers and 
stars. Rose stated, to write oft one 
tax against the other by crediting 
the foreign tax against the home tax 
when earnings abroad come as a re- 
sult of an exchange of talent be- 
tween the U. S. and British film 
industries: 



London, May 31, 
London's West End is packed with 
strong pictures currently and, with 
Londoners in a victory mood, busi- 
ness is soaring. Biggest smash to 
play United Artists' London Pavilion 
is "It's in the Bag," called "The 
Fifth Chair," here. "Princess -aud- 
the Pirate" is doing turnaway biz at 
the Leicester Square. 

"The Picture of Dorian Gray," at 
Metro's Empire, also has proved a 
big moneytaker. In fifth week it's 
still doing big. ■ . - 

Grosses (at $4 to pound) 
Carlton (Pari "Brjhg On Girls" 
(Par). Opened fairly, with crix not 

Barney Balaban and other top ex- £ a !; ng :._ ll D r T J . ^SS^t^HSSt 
-eeutives of- -,-P a ramounfc_honored. .-^l^K^L^._ a P pro8clr * 10 ' 080 ' 



What's in a Name? 

Hollywood. June 19. 

Although commonly * spelled 
"Tschaikowsky." the Hal Wallis 
film biography of the Russian 
composer will be titled "The 
Life of Tschaikbvsky." 

Walter Abbott, screen" play- 
wright, in the course of research, 
found eight different "official" 
spellings. 



Balaban, Others Honor 
Weltner at Luncheon 



George Weltner. new 7 Par Interna- j 
tional prexy, last week at a luncheon 
in the Astor hotel, N. Y. Members 
of Par International present were 
David Rose, managing director in 
Great Britain; J. E. Perkins, division 
manager for Far East -Australia; 



"good for thiifspot. — - — 

Empire (Metro) "Dorian Gray" 
(M-G.) (4th wk>. Oscar Wilde's mur- 
der story created plenty of interest 
here, with average intake around 
$30,000 weekly, nice for this top 
West ( End spot. Being replaced by 



Fred W. Lange, and C. S.. Crystal. "Without Love'' (M-G ), set to run at 
head of Par International theatre de- least four weeks. 



Bob Burkner the Gen.'s Nephew 

Robert Buckner. Warner Bros, 
writer-producer who made "Yankee 
Doodle Dandy." is a nephew of 
; Lieut. Gen. Simon Bolivar Buckner, 
ago he was cited by sports writers commander of the 10th Army who 
for meritorious service to baseball. ! was <»■»">' wounded by a Jap shell 



Mercer was a contemporary of Ring 
Lardner'. Heywood Broun. Sam 
Crane and W. O. (Bill) McGechari. 
all deceased. 



on Okinawa. Monday (18). 

CHATTER 

| J. P. McEvoy writing a piece on 
| the later Gil's Kahn. lyricist. 
I Bill Treadway. syndicate column- 
ist, in Hollywood to peddle his- new 
book. "Give It To Me Easy." 

Harold W. Cohen, of the Pitts- 
burgh Post-Gazette and "Variety" 
mugg there, to Hollywood for a 
month on his annual hegira. 
Revealed that "September, Remem- 
author's. are Gregory Mason 



PERKINS ON 0.0. OF 
AUSTRALIA FOR PAR 

J. E. .Perkins. Paramount Interna- 
tional division manager for Far East. 
Australia, New Zealand and South 
Africa, starts on tour of inspection 
in Australia and New Zealand next 
month, leaving N. Y.. June 22. He 
is the second division manager to 
start out in his. newly created ter- 
ritory. A. L, Pratchetl. Latin-Ameri- 
can chief, starting on 12-weck tour 
last week. . 

Robert Schless. Par's general man- 
ager of Europe. North Africa and 
Middle East, is due "in N. Y. some- 
time this month, after about two 
months checking his. territory and 
re-establishing distribution in Eu- 
rope. 

George Elmo, who had huddled 
with Pratchetl for several weeks 
prior to his departure south, has 
been named Par International man- 
ager for Central America. Ecuador 
and Panama, relieving H. B. Gordon. 



partment. 

Weltner revealed that William 
Piper, before the war Par manager 
in Japan, soon will become his per- 
sonal assistant in N: Y. Piper has 
been doing confidential work for tne 
U. S. on the Coast. 

Weltner was elected president of 
Par International on June 7 to fill 
the vacancy caused by the death of 
John W. Hicks. Jr. 



Phil Reisman Confirms 
Vladimir Lissim's RKO 
Post; Bev Lion in N. Y. 

Phil Reisman, v.p. in charge of 
foreign distribution for RKO. last 
Thursday (14) announced the ap- 
pointment of Vladimir Lissim as 
European general manager at a din- 
ner given the latter at the Warwick 
i hotel. N. Y. 

Lissim. who left N. Y. for France 
over the' past weekend, was pre- 
sented with a gold watch by RKO 
and other gilts from staff and the 
Walt Disney office. 

Beverly Lion, who has returned to 
RKO after honorable discharge from 
the Army's Psychological Warfare 
Division, will take over Europe' and 
other foreign territory out of the 
N. Y. office w'hich Lissim had been 
handling. Lion formerly in this 
division. ... 



Gaumont (GB) "They Were Sis- 
ters" (Gainsborough) (2d wk). Do- 
ing nicely at near $12,000. Easily 
good for two more weeks. 

Leicester Square (GFD) "Princess 
Pirate" (RKO) (2d wk). Broke all 
house records at $22,000 in first 
week. Still paekin' "em in. and looks 
good for months, although contract 
calls for only 6 weeks. 

London Pavilion <UA) "Fifth 
Chair" (UA) (6th wk). Smash from 
word go. with no sign of letup. Do- 
ing steady $14,000 weekly, or nearly 
capacity at most shows, a new high 
for this spot. This is Fred Allen's 
"In the Bag." • 

Marble Arch Pavilion (GB) "Hen- 
ry V" (Two-Cities) (10th wk). Here 
after 16 weeks at Carlton (Par), with 
no sign of biz falling off. Figures 
never below $12,000 per week. May_ 
run for -monthsr- * 

New Gallery (GB) "3 Caballeros* 
(RKO) (3d wk). Response exceed- 
ingly good, with three weeks' aver- 
age around $7,000 per, fairly good 
for . spot. In for three ' months and 
should have no difficulty. 

Odeon (Odeon) "Czarina" (20th) 
(3d wk). Failed to come up 
to hopes, and just managed to last 
the three weeks, averaging around 
$12,000 per, not so good for this big 
house. "Enchanted Cottage" (RKO) 
in next. 

Plasa (Par) "A Medal for Benny" 
(Par) (2d wk). Response is only- 
fair, never exceeding $3,000 weekly, 
below house's recent average. "Mur- 
der, He Says" (Par) replaces, for 
one week, with "Salty O'Rourke" 
(Par) coming in English Derby 



New Brooklyn Daily Postwar 

Brooklyn. N. Y., will get a new 
daily newspaper postwar ' . unless 
present plans go awry. New syndi- 
cate has set up a sizable sum in 
escrow with a Brooklyn Trust Co.. 
but will await ease up on paper sit- 
uation before setting up machinery. t 

Topping the syndicate is William I ue 
Leonard, hardware tycoon, who has '< ancl ? lltn Fil - ch Mason, the pen 
had a yen to enter publishing field I name. Eliot Taintor. being derjved 



for some lime. Understood to have 
earmarked $150,000 for initial ex- 
penses, with group of other influen- 
tial Brook lynites also pooling coin 
"'• "ew syndicate. 
Format will be a tab giving thor- 



from the maiden names of their 
mothers. 

Screen Actors Guild launched a 
monthly ne_ws letter to be sent to 
drama editors and columnists 
throughout the land. First edition 



°MSh. coverage to local news", and' was' signed • by George Murphy 
said to be negotiating for INS ancl ; prexy. Subsequent letters will be 
AP. services for outside news. Sheet I signatured by top thesps. 
Will probably be called Borough! Hobe Morrison i:x-"Variety") of 
News. ... [the Young & Rubicam radio talent- 

Wilh entranqe of the newcomer. ■ production .staff, inaugurates a cbl- 
Brooklyn will have three dailies in junl.n on all phases of American show 
operation, others being Brooklyn biz for Bandwagon. English mag 

published in London, effective' July 
1. He, also continued his :N. ■ Y." legit 
column for the Boston Post. ; . . 

Jami.s S. Thompson, president of 
McGraw-Hill Bonks, to London, on 
a national interest . priority. His 
tourney is designed to facilitate 
postwar development of a program 
for global expansion of the circula 



"aily Eagle and The Citizen. 



LI. Jack Miley Dies al 46 

Lieut. Jack Miley, USNR. in pre- 
war clays one of the Fourth Estate's 
wore facile phrase coiners and type- 
writer humorists, died Sundav ll7i 
? h j* New York home following a 
n«an attack. He was. 46. Veteran.. 

oi both World Wars. Lieut. Mllev tiun of industrial and technical liter - 
was injured in New Guinea, re- 1 attire originating in the United 
wined home on medical leave and 1 Slates. 



Of Europe" prior to its production 
of "The Mortal Storm." in 1939, 
Federal Judge Samuel Mandelbaum 
on Tuesday (19) dismissed the 
Pa'hama manager, who gets a new plagiarism suit brought by Al Rosen, 
assignment. Elmo has been on sales which had charged copyright in- 
staff of Par in Philadelphia recently. I fnngement of "Mad Dog." Judge 
but before joining Paramount had ; Mandelbaum held that Rosen lost 
been with First National in Mexico j tne ,. jghts to hjs CO p v) i gri ted script 
City and that company's branch because of the distribution of a 



Court Kayoes Al Rosen's 
'Mad Dog' Suit Vs. Metro j wVeV 

Ruling that although Loew's had j -BiU '(Metro) "Master Race" (RKO) 
access to the script or'The Mad Dog ! (2 d wk). Did ordinary fortnights 



manager in Havana. Elmo takes his 
new post in July. '•>:'■'" 



Current London Shows 

London, June 19. 

"Arsenic <S Old Lace," Strand. 
"Blithe Spirit," Duchess. 
"Gaieties," Saville. 
"Gay Rosalinda," Palace. 
"Happy & Glorious," Palladium 
"Honeymoon," York's. . 
"Irene," His Majesty's. ';';.;. 
"Jacobowsky-Col.," Piccadilly.- 
"Lady Edinburgh." Playhouse. 
"Laiigh Town Laugh," Stoll. 
"Madame Louise," Garrick. 
"Night and Music." Coliseum. 
"Nighl Venice," Camb.idge 
"No. Medals," Vaudeville. 
"Peek-A-Boo Parents," Whitehall. 
"Perchance to Dream," Hipp. 
'^Private "Lives." Apollo . 
"See How They Run," Comedy. 
"Shop Sly Corner," St. Martins. 
"Skin of Our Teeth." Phoenix. 
"Strike It Again," Wales. 
"Sweeter Lower." Ambassadors 
"Three's Family," Winter Gdn 
"Three Waltzes," Prince;;. 
"Tomorrow World." Aldwych 
"While Sim Shines." Globe. 
"Wiud of Heaven." St. James 
"Years Between," Wyndttams 



large number of the synopsis of the 
script without the required copy- 
right notice, when he sought to raise 
funds for the independent produc- 
tion of "Mad Dog." 

The court further stated that even 
if Rosen's script had received pro- 
tection by copyright there would 
still have been no infringement be- 
cause, while there was some simi- 
larities, they were either matters of 
history, which are in . the public- 
domain or merely ideas, which are 
not protected by copyright.' . . 

RKO Will Still Use Tramp' 

Hollywood. June 19. 

Cantinflas starrer. 'The Magnifi- 
cent Tramp." recently shelved by 
RKO. wil| be dusted off and pro- 
duced- without Cantinflas. •/ • . 

Story, originally slated for pro- 
duction in two languages, will be 
rewritten in English to fit a Hol- 
lywood comic, still unnamed. 



trade, with first week around $4,400, 
and less on second. "Dorian Gray" 
(M-G) is being pulled in from Em- 
pire (Metro) for indefinite run. 

Tivoji (GB) "Sudan" (U) (2d wk). 
Moderate $8,000 is all. mild even for 
this spot. Second week not likely to 
touch even that. 

Warner (WB) "Hollywood Can- 
teen'; (WB) (2d wk). Picture not 
universally praised, but despite this 
is pulling good. First week easily 
topped $20,000. Second week will be 
near that figure. In for two more 
weeks, with "To Have, Have Not" 
(WB) in next: 



WB's Conga (B.O.) Line 

Warner Bros, 'expects- to have a 
Cuban show-window for its product 
in Havana within the next few 
months. While no official announce- 
ment has been made, the recent visit 
of Joseph Bernhard, Warner Theatres 
general manager, and Karl Macdon- 
ald. Warner International v.p. in 
Havana; js reported to have been to 
give a once-over to possible situa- 
tions. They returned to N. Y. over 
the weekend. . 

Decision on a site or already com- 
pleted theatre will be made hi N. Y., 
it's understood. 



GRANT'S HAY RIDES 

Hollywood. June 19. 

Universal inked Kirby Grant to 
star in a series of four gallopers, 
starling late this month. 

Flirt of the quartet will be "Down 
by the Border " v 



Yank Dancer to Central America 

Mexico City, June 12. 

Dale Hall. U. S. specialty dancer 
who has been in Mexico for two 
years, goes to Guatemala and other 
Central American countries before 
returning to the U. S. 

She was featured at the Follies 
theatre, El Patio night club, and with 
the Poco Miller revue here. 




ELLIOTT. 




RED RYDER 

TEXAS 
MANHUNT 



mat BOBBY BLAKE I ALICE FLEMING 

IAN KEITH • WILLIAM HAADE • VIRGINIA CHRISTINE 

Vi*uttd4* LESLEY SELANDER 

ORIGINAL SCREEN PLAY BY EARLE SNELL AND 
CHARLES KENYON 



GOING GREAT GUNS! 

Mors thrills from the thrillmaster 
who has built up tremendous following 
of impatient ians. Two-gun hero, made 
famous in newspaper cartoon strip, 

A REPUBLIC PICTURE burns up trail with one of best to date! 

Box office records prove Elliott heading 
for top... hut fasti 



W«daesday, June 20, 1945 



PICTURES 



21 



RKO Mgrs. to Meet in N.Y. June 27-29; 
Briefs From the Distribution Keys 



Sol A. Schwartz, general manager* 
of RKO out-of-town- theatres, has' 
Called a fhree-day New York home- 
ofliee meeting for operators from 
various cities. Sessions. June 27-29. 
Will be addressed by homeoffice de- 
partment heads. - 

Among those slated to attend the 
•cohtabs "are E. G. Groth, Boston divi- 
sion manager; Arthur Frudenfeld, 
Cincinnati division manager, and as- 
sistant Hardie Meakin; Frank Smith. 
Chicago division manager, and John 
■Redmond, of Omaha. . 

Others include Benjamin Domingo. 
Boston: Millroy A. Anderson, Los 
Angeles: Robert P. Corbin. San 
Francisco; Jay Golden, Rochester: H. 
H: Unterfort, Syracuse; Harry Schrei- 
ber. Cleveland. 



Sign of the Times? 

Worcester, June 19. 

Nearby theatre In its ads last 
week featured chocolate bars, 
with the films secondary. '■- : 

Sign 61' Z/iose returning days? 



N. Y. Mayfalr's 10th Anni 

The Mayfair, on Broadway, built 
by Walter Reade and now under [ 
lease to Loew's, will celebrate its | 
10th year of operation Friday July i 
6? when "The Clock'' and "Genye i 
Annie." both made by Metro, Willi 
be on the screen. 

A birthday party will be held . the 
evening of .July 6 at 10 p.m., when a I 
huge birthday cake, adorned with 10 j 
candles, will be presented to Mrs. f 
Louise Leonard, house manager. ! 
Ten servicemen and women will be 
honored guests that night. Corsages 
will be presented to the first 10 wo- 
men .who come into the Mayfair at 
10 p.m. each evening tor the week 
Ot July 6. 

('apt. Everett Callow Bark 

Philadelphia. June 19. 

Cap!. Everett Callow has received 
an honorable discharge from the 
Marine Corps and takes over his old 
post as director of public relations 
and advertising for the Stanley- 
Warner Circuit, beginning this week. 
Irving Blumberg. who has been fill- 
ing in Callow's old post, will be sec- 
ond in command. 

Pfc. Abe Zayiin. former manager 
of Colonial, has been commended by 
Con. Leonard Wing for .meritorious 
service in Aitape. 

Sy Friedman, former member of 
the 20th-Fox exploitation department 
at the local exchange, shifted to 
midwest. 

Andy Schechtman new manager of 
Astor. 

William Cohen, former office man- 
ager of 20th-Fox. named sales man- 
ager March of Time dept. 

David Supowitz. theatre architect, 
awarded contract to draw plans for 
Stanley-Warner's new 1,200-seater in 
Northeast Phillv. 



New Shorts Producer in Chi 

Chicago. June .19. 

New picture-producing company 
formed here by H. A. Spanuth. pio- 
neer film man; and G, L. Reasor, lo- 
cal manufacturer, to be called the 
Film Studios of Chicago: Initial ef- 
forts will be the production of a bi- 
monthly one-reeler series to be 
.called "Woman Speaks." done along 
the lines of the Telene\vs Theatre in- 
terview shorts and using newsreel 
technique. Joan MerrilJ. conductor 
pi a femme program over W.IJD 
here., is rea'nred in the first short. 
.'Womanpower." She will be heard 
and seen in all films of the series 
following, but succeeding issues will 
feature other women. 

While releasing facilities have not 
beet: set. Spanuth is going ahead 
with his production staff. Shooting 
is expected to start in two weeks. 
May produce the pictures not onlv 
here but in Hollywood and New 
York. Spanuth. recently with Ideal 
Picture Corp. here, and for years 
with Bell & Howell, produced a fea- 
ture in 1911 when he filmed Nat C. 
Goodwin as Pagan in "Oliver Twist." 
Later he originated Vod-a-Vil mov- 
ies, a weekly release using three to 
nve vaudeville acts, and did the Billv 
Whiskers series in the silent day's, .' 



Biddle Acts to Have 
3 Judges Named In 
Divorcement Suit 

One of the last acts of Attorney 
General Francis Biddle. designed to 
»peed up the coming trial of the 
Government case against the distrib- 
utors, resulted Monday (18) in the 
appointment of three Federal judges 
to hear and decide the suit. Biddle 
will be succeeded on July 1 by Tom 
C. Clark, assistant attorney general 
in charge of the criminal division of 
the Department of Justice 

Outgoing cabinet member, who has 
been adamant in his insistence that 
the Big Five be divorced from their 
theatre chains and other reforms be 
invoked, last week filed what is 
known as an expediting certificate 
with Judge Learned Hand.. presiding 
justice of the circuit court ;n N. Y., 
asking him to name three judges to 
sit on the Government anti-trust 
case. It is slated to go on trial Oct. 8. 

Judge Hand on Monday designated 
a circuit court associate. Judge Au- 
gustus Hand, and two district court 
judges. Henry W. Goddarcl. who has 
had jurisdiction of the case from the 
start as well as the decree, and John 
Bright. 

. "Expediting Court" 

Washington. June 19. 
Word that a special "expediting 
court" has been created in New York 
to speed up the trial of the Big Five 
motion picture case was hailed here 
by the Anti-Trust Division of the 
Justice Department. It was the di- 
vision which asked the 2nd Circuit 
Court to appoint the "expediting 
court." 

The speciaV three-man tribunal 
will not start the trial any sooner, 
but will move it faster when it gets 
under way. In addition, such courts 
almost always speed up the process 
of handing down a decision. 



National Screen Co. Maps 
Plays for Exhib Service 

- Improved methods by which to 
service exhibitions with materials, in 
the most efficient manner, in the im- 
mediate future and postwar, were 
discussed at the regional three-day 
National Screen confab at the Black- 
stone hotel here last week. 

Among those attending were Her- 
man Robbins, pre?.: George Dembow. 
general sales manager; William 
Brenner, veepee, and various branch 
managers and salesmen from mid- 
west and western offices. 



McClintic Awarded 
$70,000 in Suit Vs. 
'Dishonored' Scribes 

• In a decision establishing a vital 
principle in the relationship between 
authors and producers of plays in 
respect to motion picture rights, 
Guthrie McClintic. legit producer 
and husband of Katharine Cornell, 
won a reversal of a N. Y. supreme 
court decision last week in the 
appellate division and a judgment 
for nearly $70,000. including interest. 
The appellate division made it a 
unanimous decision, holding that, if 
the authors recovered damages, 
against a film company for infringe- 
ment of their play, the producer of 
such play is entitled to 50% of the 
damages so recovered. Louis Nizer 
appeared for McClintic. . (Differ- 
ence between total . award and the 
actual 50';v of $172,413 is accounted 
for by money paid in counsel fees). 

The suit involved the Edward 
Sheldon-Margaret Ayer Barnes play. 
"Dishonored Lady." McClintic. in 
collaboration with Gilbert Miller, 
produced the play, in which Miss 
Cornell starred.'.,; Later. Metro pro- 
duced the picture, "Letty Lynton". 
starring Joan Crawford, which al- 
legedly was patterned after the play. 
Authors: of "Lady"- .sued Metro, 
claiming copyright infr'ingment, ulti- 
mately recovering $172,413. McClin- 
tic claimed he was entitled to 50% 
of this sum as producer of the stage 
play while the authors contended 
their recovery was not for film 
rights but in a copyright infringe- 
ment action. :■' , ■ ..'"'--.' 

The five judges of the appellate 
division unanimously held that "the 
recovery from the Metro-Goldwyn 
company was not, as defendant 
Sheldon urges, in the nature of a 
penalty imposed upon the fringer . . . 
which recovery . defendants alone 
might- retain. On the contrary, it 
was just compensation for the wrong 
perpetrated; upon those who owned 
the motion picture rights of the 
play . .-. Plaintiff was 'entitled to his 
one-half .share of that compensa- 
tion." - '. .- 

The authors claimed McClintic had 
breached the contract by producing 
the play in England with a cast not 
okayed by the authors. They also 
contended that the script had been 
changed and that the plaintiff had 
broken his contract in other respects, 
and hence was not entitled to 
recover. The appellate division ruled 
that none of these defenses had merit. 

In analyzing the nature of damages 
recovered, in the copyright infringe- 
ment action, the court referred to 
the opinion of Chief Justice Hughes, 
rendered in the suit in which the 
autfiors had sued Metro, in which he 
said: "When such an apportionment 
has been fairly made, the copyright 
proprietor receives all the profits 
which have been gained through the 
use of the infringing material and 
that is all that the statute authorizes 
and equity sanctions . . . The con- 
trolling fact in the determination 
of the apportionment was that the 
profits had been derived, not from 
the mere performance of a copy- 
righted play, but from the exhibition 
of a motion picture '.. . . " 

The appellate division therefore 
held that the monies recovered by 
the authors were really for the value 
of the motion picture rights, of which 
McClintic was a coowner. 



Equipment Mfgrs. See Large Postwar 
Market; Say World Is Undefeated 



f- Sharp upbeat in the popularity of 
American film product plus the fact 
that new theatre construction has 
been limited during the war period 
is likely to produce a highly under- 
seated condition in the w-orld market 
postwar, according to equipment 
people in N. Y. This group, covering 
not only seat manufacturers, theatre 
sound manufacturers, projection 
booth equipment companies and 
builders, envision the greatest the- 
atre expansion outside of the U. S. 
. _ ever experienced. Only the credit sit- 

YatPS Sl01iall7PC AMI C nation and instability of certain gov- 

i du» iMgudiioa i\cp a er , lments wll ,. slow up this va8t thc . 

atre expansion, they believe. ■'. 

Equipment company of ficials and. 
industry leaders see the screen play- 
ing an ever-increasingly" important 
Stressing that Republic is still a j role in education and propaganda ' 
little but friendly company, Herbert | after the war. These factors-are like- 



Premium Streets 

Hollywood. June 19, 
RKO started a traffic jam at 
20th-Fox when it borrowed that 
studio's' street set for "Deadline 
at Dawn." 

Home lot's "Fallen Angel" 
troupe had to move over to Cul- 
ver" City and borrow a street set 
from Metro. . •:.- ..• ';;. , . 



An Optimistic Outlook 



J. Yates, Republic and Consolidated 
Film Industries head, last • week 
told the trade press at a luncheon at 
the-.N. Y. Athletic Club that ground 
work had been 'laid for a tremen- 
dous push forward by the corpora- 
tion,] .He lauded the fine help of ex- 
hibitors generally who. he said, Had 
stood by the company. Rep' is at 
the peak ol its 10th anni drive which 
winds up next July 27, with the 
records made- during the campaign 
expected to exceed even the most 
optimistic * expectations of Jimmy 
Grainger, Republic prexy and sales 
chief. ' , 

Yates said that "Song of Mexico," 
first bi-liiigcial feature the company 



ly to speed theatre expansion for 
American companies because of tha 
obvious need of having U. S. picture 
fare on the greatest number of for- 
eign screens. '•■■••. . .. 

While not fully appreciated by 
some in this country, the U. S. pic- 
ture has grown to great heights of 
popularity in nearly every foreign 
land during the five years of war. 
Theatre construction and equipment 
by American companies will go far 
in overcoming the need for greater 
seating capacity in many of these 
nations as soon as materials are 
available after the war. 

Indicative of how film theatre at- 
tendance has grown are reports from 



has made in Mexico, is ; finished and j La tm-American countries, where the 
that plans are being laid to turn | . lheatre .g oing . is almost a rlt ua1. In 



over the proposed six features ther. 
on the basis of one every two 
months. He expects this program to 
get under way as soon as the RKO 
new studio is finished. AH will be 
made first in Spanish and then in 
English, as was done with "Mexico." 

Speaking about production costs, 
Yates estimated they had gone up 
35.-40**; in the last three years, but 



one city in this territory, where two 
cinemas now are located, a siren in' 
the community's plaza blows at noon 
to herald the start of the picture 

shows. 



Gulden's Report on Chile 

. Washington. June 19. 
Chile offers a wide-open market 



he believed wages and perhaps costs for American manufacturers of mo- 
would be lower a year from now.- tion picture equipment, providing 
Theatre boxoftice is off nearly all terins. Can be arranged and prices ar« 



not out of line, Nathan D. Golden, 
chief of the Motion picture Unit ol 
the Department of Commerce, re- 
ported tonight (19>. / 

Golden's report/ -of the Chilean 
equipment market "brings out the in- 



over the country, especially in big 
cities, according to Yates, who said 
that it was natural that where thou- 
sands of workers are let out of war 
jobs there will be a dislocation in 
theatre biz. 

However, he was optimistic of the formation that there is a. good field 
future pointing out that an increased for theatre airconditioning, projec- 
number of theatres in the U. S. tiorl Md sound equipment, as well as 
seemed certain postwar. He believed arc lamps and screens. There is also 
the majority of them would be 1,000- ? good opportunity' for the manufac- 
1.200-seaters, Yates saw this theatre I turers of sub-standard equipment for 
expansion as a good thing for the ' school use. 

industry. Importers claim that American 

With all film companies having a | manufacturers of 16 mm. equipment 
backlog of products, as a result of J do not appear sufficiently interested, 
the European market being closed to ; in the Latin-American market, even 
them for several years by the war, ; -to send thc printed directions in 
U. S. film business should expand | Spanish, and they insist on cash on 
rapidly overseas, Yates thought, [ the barrelhead, while the local dis- 



This expansion should continue un- 
til various countries restored their 
studios to operation. It would be 
held back only by the lack of thea- 
tres lost during the war. 



Henry Kahn Spl. 20th Sales Kep 

t , * Chicago. June 19. 

Henry Kahn. who has been 11 ; 
years with 20th-Fox. returned to the i 
company this week as special home- j 
e-nice representatives, with head- ! 
Quarters in N. Y. Kahn^tarled with I 
Metro in 1915 as salesman, graduat- 
ing to branch manager in various' 
exchange centers over the U. S. He ! 
switched, to Fox in 1928. when named I 
general manager for central Europe. j 
wilh headquarters in Berlin. In 1939 : 
he joi ned Metro as sales manager in ' 
1 1 e (. In office. No one named to re- I 
Place him as yet. 

'referred Sets Up in x ew Orleans 

',. Now Orleans. . Time 19.' 
National distribution of Preferred . 
pictures will l, e handled from Ne 



Hal Elias Upped at MUG 

Hollywood. June 19. 

Hal Elias. who has been with 
Metro 20 year-,, -11 ot it in publicity 
department, has been promoted as 
assistant to Fred Quimby. supervis- 
ing executive in charge of shorts and 
cartoons. ;-..'•' 

Elias lias been attached to the stu- 
dio publicity department most of this 
time and during past few years has 
been assigned to cartoon division by 
Howard Strickhng. handling public- 
ity and exploitation. 



O'-'eans. Jack 
st ated . here. 



Auslet, manager 



Pitt. Managerial Moves 

V , D , Pittsburgh. June !!). 

■ VVB, has shifted' Charlie Comar 
onager Strand, to thc Etna. 11. 
replace. Eddie Sellette when lattei 
" Air Realise of ill health.. 
rhV. ■ , V -V' "tiniagcr Columbia ex- 
t ion ^ K' ln ! i,s niwl >' after .an opera- 
in 0 ";, Ourine; his absence, office i> 
mati W 0f Gcor S e Tree' city salcv- 

"arold Zcltner made' Metro sales- 



man. Came from M-G office in 
Buffalo, Which lie joined after hon- 
orable discharge from Army re- 
cehflv, He is a brother of Irwin 
/.eltn'cr. who' formerly (lid exploita-. 
(ion in this district for several major 
studios. ' , '.'■'■-. 

WPB approval of salary increases 
for members of Filihrow Employees 
Union ■ here w ill ' . mean a boost to 
more than ISO : exchange -men and; 
women. Hike 'amounted to 10'/ or 
over, according to 20th'-Fox's Sam 
Bovlo. union representative, and is 
retroactive to Dec. 1, 11148, 

t'apt. Frederick J. llachiele. im- 
nounc.'il as (lie lender of the first 
Allied troops ii.tn Berehtc.sgadeii, is 
niic of the three service sous of 
Harry Rawhide, local exhib who 
owns I heat res in Sluirpsburg, Blaw- 
iiox and Derry. 



PAR STARS, PARTIES SET 
DURING 3D-0F-CENTURY 

In connection with its Third-of-a- 
Cetitury celebration from Aug. 26 to 
Sept. 29. Paramount is laying plans 
to have stars and others visit ex- 
changes in advance to attend sales 
sessions and put in a pitch on Par 
pictures. 

Up to yesterday afternoon (Tues- 
day) the homeofl'ice had not been 
able to clear on stars or others who 
might be free to visit , some of the 
exchange points but father certain 
at this point that Cecil B. DeMille 
will make some spots and. Ray Mil- 
iaria! others. Sonny Tufts is also 
among possibilities. .Adolph Zukor, 
chairlnan of the Par board, is also 
In' ill in cl to attend some of the sales 
meetings, probably in the east. 
. Par is also toying with the idea 
Q(' holding a cocktail parly in .each 
oxciiange center at which flic vldesl 
local branch employee in point .of 
service and the oldest exhibitor 
cusUinier. would be In nored. 

Preliminary exchange lours by 
Allen Usher and Duke Clark, dis- 
trict managers who are drive cap- 
tains, wound up In H. Y. yesterrlay 
i Tuesday" when Clark held a meet- 
ing, at the local exchange w hich was 
also attended by h.o. distribution 
execs. ... 



Metro's Pre-Production 
Deal for New Musical; 

Metro is negotiating a pre-produc- j 
tion deal with John C. Wilson for 
the film rights to "The Day Before j 
I Spring," a miisical by Alaii Leriier 
and Fred Loewe. 

Metro would pay $100,000 against j 
a percentage of the gross during the i 
legit run in N.Y. up to a ceiling of I 
$250,000. 



tributors have to provide from 12 to 
18 months' credit. 

French, German and Chilean . 
equipment have been the principal 
competitors in the past, and one ot 
the chief hurdles for the Americans 
has been "the price factor, particu- 
larly in small towns or small thea- 
tres." 



Tom Waller's UA Post 

Barry Buchanan, United Artists [ 
advertising-publicity chief, has ap- ! 
pointed Tom Waller national pub- I 
licitv manager for UA, effective Mon- ' 
day (18). \ ' :- :.| 

Walter, ex-"Vari.ety," previously | 
handled Paramount newspaper syn- j 
dicate and wire service publicity, for 
OVer nine years. He succeeds James t 
Dunn. ' who resigned over the past ! 
weekend.-. . - : I 

Fl ank Cruikshank was last week I 
added lo the UA publicity staff to j 
handle special events. ' 



O'DONNELL, HARRIS TO 
TOP VARIETY CLUB SESH 

A general committee including big 
names in the picture industry has 
been set up to steer the activities of 
the 10th national .meeting of the 
Variety Clubs of America, to be held 
at the Waldorf-Astoria hotel, N. Y, 
Aug. 16-18. R. J. O'Donnell. Inter- 
state circuit exec, and John H. Har-' 
ris. Pittsburgh exhibitor, are execu- 
tive chairman. >'\ 

At a banquet to be held Aug. 17 
the annual humanitarian award will 
be presented to an outstanding per- 
sonality, whose identity is being 
withheld meantime. Last year it 
went to former Secretary of State 
Cordell Hull. 

At the Aug. 16-18 sessions each 
of the Variety Clubs will be repre- 
sented by two delegates, the chief 
barker, and canyassman. Anticipated 
that between 750 and 1.000 persons 
will attend the banquet. - 



RKO Preps 'Radio' Serie* 



LANDERS MEGS 'LIE' 

.. .- Hollywood. June 19. Hollywood. June 19. 

'■ ..RKO -inked Leu Landers to direct I RKO's "Radio Stars on Parade,' 
'The Lie Deleclor." a psychological ! recently completed, .will be turned 
whodunit sweeiipjayed by Lawrence | into a series for annual production. 
Kimble. After a. glimpse at the product, 

Filming starts July. 9. with Her- studio execs started a movement for- 
mal! Seldom producing. I a followup film. 



Wednesday, Jane 20, 1945 



Radio's Special Eventers 



Continued from page 1 



announcers would not be pushed 
around by the 15,000 people who 
crowded the field. Dave Driscoll re- 
ported the arrival of the general and 
= lili p a rty nify rjHiivrs fot WV S; K t m 
Banghart did the job for NBC; Fred 
Cole and John Bryson for the Blue; 
and Robert Trout for CBS. The 
N. V. indies were fed by the city's 
own station, WNYC, which had 
borrowed from the Army two ex- 
radioites, Sgt. Joe Hasel and. Cpl. 
Dick Pack. 

WNYC had a mobile unit in the 
parade that followed, as well as 
NBC, CBS, Blue, and BBC. In addi- 
tion, CBS and NBC video crews took 
film shots for screening on special 
night shows. 

In addition to stationary radio 
spots at the airport, City Hall Park, 
the Polo Grounds, and the Waldorf- 
Astoria, hotel, there were also micro- 
phones set up at many strategic 
street spots along the official pa- 
rade route. NBC put its parade de- 
scriptions on the air over the Fred 
Waring show, and that web's Mary 
Margaret McBride stanza was aired 
out of" the balcony of the Hotel 
Astor." 

Lineup 

MBS had, in addition to Driscoll. 
announcers Hugh Sanders, Don 
Frederick, and Bob Dickson; CBS 
used Trout, John Daly, Bob Hite, 
Harry Clarke. NBC's crew included 
Banghart. Clyde Kittell, Ben Grauer, 
and Bob Denton. The Blue's staff, in 
addition to Cole and Bryson, in- 
cluded George Hicks, Gordon Fraser, 
Taylor Grant, Douglas Browning, 
Walter Kieran, Dorian St." George, 
and Roger Krupp. - 

There were some snafus. WNYC's 
mobile truck broke its antennae pole 
and had to drop out of the motor- 
cade for a while. NBC's truck' was 
shoved back by the police for a time. 
BBC's Douglas Willis, a war cor- 
respondent who stopped off to cover 
the parade while on the way from 
London to the Pacific, found himself 
for a time following some beautiful 
but unwelcome police horses at one 
end of the show. But things got 
straightened out by the time the 
procession reached City Hall. 

The official reception at City Hall 
opened with, the singing of the "Star 
Spangled Banner" by Marian Ander- 
son. The Mayor spoke seriously and 
did some wisecracking in" typical 
LaGuairdia fashion; Die Eisenhower 
was very modest, visibly moved, and 
seemed exactly like "the simple boy 
from Kansas," which he called him- 
self. , . . • '* : 

Newspaper reporters, photogs and 
others covered th* big show in spots 
and bits and managed to do a good 
all-around job. But the most thor- 
ough coverage was given by radio. 

When the parade was over, Broad- 
way film houses were crowded, and 
bistro operators were prepared for 
big biz from the overflow crowds. 
All in and around Times Sq., as well 
as in radio row, agreed that New 
*orks Ike Day had been boff. To 
emphasize radio's important part in 
the day's work, LaGuardia and 
Novik had arranged for recording of 
the entire reception on platters that 
will be given to Eisenhower in a 
souvenir album. 

Film Cos.' Gala 
In. honor of General Dwight D. 
Eisenhower and with a view to giv- 
ing employees a .chance to see the 
famed "Ike," all film companies 
closed down yesterday (Tues.) 
for a part of the day, except- 
ing 20th-Fox. This company de- 
clined in view of the fact it is closed 



all day today (Wed.) for its annual 
boat outing up the Hudson river. 

Universal and RKO were closed 
all morning up to 1 o'clock. Warn- 
ejs.„.Uflited_^ let 
their employees off from 11 to 2 
p. m., while Paramount, Metro and 
Republic were out of action from 12 
noon until 2 o'clock. 

Theatres were appropriately de- 
corated with flags, bunting, pictures 
of Eisenhower and the like. 

Firemen to the Rescue .. 
Washington, June 19. 
•Loew> division manager here; 
Carter Barron, • w.as chairman of 
the decorations committee for the 
welcoming-home celebration of Gen. 
Eisenhower. , But the committee 
was given no appropriation, had 
to promote everything. Fire 
dept. cooperated^ arid the the 
triumphal arch" was two ex- 
tension ladders hooked, together to 
form a "V" under which the line of 
procession passed. It's a home-made 
arch with the stands decorated in 
red. white and blue. Every lamp 
post on Pennsylvania Avenue had a 
picture of "Gen. Ike," and posters 
commemorating his feats, were dis- 
played along the line of march. 



Chi Still Feels 



Continued from page 2 



cally be interested in putting on a 
big show in Chi (the only city in 
the country, incidentally, where a 
Fair has ever ended up in the black) 
are too busy with war activities 
right now to bother too much about 
it. - ■■ .■ . • .. 

Many Confabs 
Despite their wartime activities, 
however, industry leaders are defi- 
nitely confabbing right . along, and 
on very concrete lines, to wit; 

1. The public should be advised as 
quickly as possible after the war 
about the great strides American 
technology has been making during 
the war but which, because of war 
censorship, have been soft-pedalled. 

2. Gargantuan advances made in 
engineering and designing especially, 
which center here, should be 
brought forward, for reasons of na- 
tional defense and security. 

3. Chi is leading the world in ra- 
dar output. . Up to date the industry 
here has supplied the armed forces 
with half of their electronic com- 
munications equipment, amounting to 
$2,500,000,000 worth, and radio-radar 
interests are anxious to blow their 
horn about it. 

.4. The cost of forging ahead in the 
fields of chemistry, electronics, ma- 
chinery and suchlike, which have 
advanced further in the last five 
years than they normally would in 
a generation, should also be played 
up. 

5. A Fair will be the best gimmick 
through which producers can tell 
consumers about things they want to 
know, and which manufacturers will 
very much want to tell them. Fairs 
are also proving grounds for new 
industries (as witness- Masonite's 
pressed wood board, Marnes & Rei- 
neckes designed products, Burling- 
ton Railroads Diesel engine, etc.— 
all of which had their beginnings in 
the \'13-'34 Exposition). 

6. Besides business funds, the pub- 
lic itself will have over- 100 billions 
to spend— and what better place to 
blow it than Chi? 

7. Along with being railroad cen- 
ter of the country, Chi also has a 



P&RMETY 



PICTURES 



23 



perfect site for a Fair: the same 
grounds used last time, overlooking 
Lake Michigan. 

These points plus a few others, 
such as employment angles, showbiz 
(Hi, Mike Todd!), etc., are what 
Chi's industrial leaders are talking 
about, and it's all much further 
along than an "exploring the idea" 
stage:. •-- -, ; 



Expect Pix Shortage in Fall 



Continued from page 1 




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I WmL fa e^eMU oH RADIANT 

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Pars Peak Fix 

Par's backlog of j» product has 
reached an all-time high for any 
company in the industry in its long 
history, at present having 29 pic- 
tures in the can awaiting release. 
It is probable that a few of these 
completed productions will not see 
release until two seasons from now 
(1946-47) if the company doesn't 
speed up availability of product dur* 
ing. 1945-46, / 

So far this season (1944-45) Par 
has released only 16 pictures, in- 
cluding reissue of "Sign of the 
Cross" with a specially produced 
prolog. Dates ahead have been set 
up on eight others and on two re- 
issues. One of these, however, will 
not be available until the start of 
the coming (1945-46) season, being 
"You Came Along," which is set for 
Sept. 14. 

Among the pictures which have 
release dates are five which will be 
pushed in connection with Par's 
Third-of-a-Century celebration from 
Aug. 26 to Sept. 29. They are 
"Incendiary Blonde," to be sold 
separately; "Out of This World" and 
"One Exciting- Night,'' in addition to 
the two reissues, "Northwest Mount- 
ed Police" and "This Gun For Hire." 

Par at present has three pictures 
in production and four others com- 
ing up in the near future. 

Home-Office Ops Focus 
On Coll; July 2 Deadline 

Seeking to negotiate deals individ- 
ually with distributors covering op- 
erators in N. Y. screening rooms, and 
going to Columbia first but getting a- 
turndown, Local 306, Moving Picture 
Machine Operators of N. Y., has ad- 
vised all its members not to run any 
Col pictures starting July 2 next. At 
the same time Herman Gel ber, 306's 
president, who sent out the letters 
to members Monday (18), also wrote 
circuits and exhibitors to suggest 
they prepare against booking of Col 
product so as not to tie themselves 
up. 

For a long time Local 306 has been 
meeting with distributors as a group 
but getting nowhere. As 'a result, a 
few weeks ago the membership of 
the union empowered Gelber to take 
whatever actipn__he deemed advis- 
able. Following that movie, he de- 
cided to try to reach deals individu- 
ally with the distribs and first ap- 
proached Col. Company proposed 
more group meetings, but Gelber ad- 
vised them that this was pointless, 
and on Monday (18) sent out the 
letters with regard to Col pix. 

Local 306 is asking for a two-year 
contract for the preview room pro- 
jections and an increase from $77 to 
$100 weekly, plus, improvement in 
working conditions. 



the second week when a gross ; has 
been chalked up which would have 
been considered good for a first 
week in previous yfears. "Exhibi- 
-tbrs,"_ said _one_j»mj>any_ rep, "will 
soon be looking for. those pictures 
they are now cutting short." • 
Costs Up 

"Aside from the slowdown in pro- 
duction, cost of negatives has sky- 
rocketed. While no estimate has 
been made available, believed that 
its costing studios around $1,000,000 
. weekly more than previously. Point- 
ed out. that operating costs, over- 
head and miscellaneous fixed 
charges, are virtually the same for 
a larger as for a smaller production 
slate. (Cost to the strikers, in lost 
salaries, is estimated at around $3,- 
000,000.) : 

At the same time usefulness of 
old sets, which the producers have 
been revamping, and re-using for va- 
rious pictures, has been about ex- 
hausted. _ / 

Independent producers, caught 
without stockpiles of sets such as 
are to be found on the major lots, 
have been, hit hardest: One leading 
indie, who recently stopped produc- 
tion, has continued with an oper- 
ating nut of around $50,000 weekly 
as a result of studio space and other 
commitments. ' . 

Production of around 15 indepen- 
dent pictures has been held up as a 
result of the studio strike. Even a 
settlement of the strike, major execs 
contend, will not likely improve 
product availability for the autumn 
months unless several major com- 
panies are prepared to revamp cur- 
rent policies and dig deeply in stock- 
pile of completed negatives which 
have been held in reserve. 

If the. strike continues into July; 
it is contended, the shortage will be 
felt into December or later. "Exhib- 
itors don't yet realize," stated one 
company rep, "that the curtailment 
in production this, past spring and 



summer must affect our fall releas- 
ing schedules. They've been cutting 
short runs which in some cases , 
should be extended." 

Anticipated that • any product 
shortage would chiefly affect subse- 
quent runs at the beginning. If there 
should be any radical decline in b.o. 
attendance figures calling for more 1 
frequent program changes, first runs 
would also be affected in time.' 



How It Reacts in Mpls. 

Minneapolis. June 19. 

With seven first-run and one hold- 
over houses downtown to service, 
Minnesota Amus. Co. (Par) so far 
hasn't been troubled by the de- 
creased Hollywood film production 
that has caused shortages in some 
of the other larger centers, accord- 
ing to John J. Friedl, president of 
the Paramount circuit. 

Although it , appears to indepen- 
dent neighborhood exhibitors - here 
that Minnesota Amus. is going over- 
board with holdovers and that runs 
are being stretched out longer than 
business . warrants, Friedl. asserts 
there has been no policy change. He 
does not foresee any shortage diffi- 
culties necessitating such a change. 



Paul MacNamara New 
Selznick PA on Coast 

Paul. MacNamara is David O. Selz- 
nick's new publicity chief on the 
Coast. Contracts are being formal- 
ized this week. He succeeds Don 
King. MacNamara, 11 years with 
Hearst Magazine in charge of Cos- 
mopolitan promotion and a feature 
editor of the mag, leaves for Holly- 
wood next week. It's his first film 
post. 

Jack Goldstein is Selznick's east- 
ern publicity chief. 



New York Theatres 



"OUT OF THIS WORLD" 

A Paramount Ticture' 
Jn Person 
ALLAN .lONKS . C». IAMB 
KHJKKN BARTON 
JVRKY K AMI aa« »*»4 '- 
BtlY aONPS HERE ' 



KAMI KI. COI.mi lN pmtlll 

DANNY KAYE 

"WONDEK MAN" 



jn TeclinicoTor 



IV-WHjr - . — CTAD C'OUliMUWHB 

it 45th St. AOlUJtl Popular Prices 



Strong Pix Biz 



Continued from 'page 9 sss 

have about $5,000,000 more cash and 
government securities than is needed 
tq meet all current liabilities. Since 
last Jan. 1 cash has increased by 
about $4,000,000, while consolidated 
debt and film' inventory each has de- 
creased about the same amount. ■"■ 

One stockholder suggested that the 
company directors consider chang- 
ing.^ ts< conservative policy to a bold 
one by borrowing to the limit, ex- 
panding in the theatre field and in- 
creasing its inventory. His idea was 
that Paramount would be able to 
repay in kind via expansion of busi- 
ness. Not all stockholders agreed, 
but Keough said the suggestion 
would be considered. 

Directors re-elected are Balaban. 
Leonard Goldenson, Stephen Cal- 
laghan, Harvey Gibson. A. Conger 
Goodyear. Stanton Griff is. Reagan, 
Duncan G. Harris, Edwin L. Weisl, 
John D. Hertz. Keough, Earl I. Mc- 
Clintock. Maurice Newton, E. V. 
Richards. Adolph. Zukor and Y. 
Frank Freeman. 




Humphrey ROOART. Akxn SMITH 
SydMy 6REEMSTREET . 
h Wmmt *•*. Hit! 
"CONFLICT" 

In PerMiti .,. '. 

LOUIS PRIMA 

ANB HIS ORCHESTRA 

* AIM in rmo* 

DANE CLARK 
B' way ot 47tfc St. STRAND 



ON .SCREEN 
Thurs., .lane 21 
*V fitly. 
G.tRUXD 
Koht-ri 

Th« Clock' 



IN r-EHSON 
Virginia 

WEIDLER 

ROSS * 
La PIERRE 



B WAY & 

4 7tb St 



PALACE 



Robert YOUNG • Lorain* DAY 

"Those Endearing 
Young Charms" 

All HKO-KADIQ PICTUriK 



M-Gto Clef f 'Huckleberry 

Mark Twain's old Mississippi River 
tale, "Huckleberry Finn."' will be 
filmed as a musical by Metro with 
Arthur Freed as producer. 

Freed, currently in New York, will 
start preparation when he returns to 
Culver City next week. Story treat- 
ment has been turned in by Sally 
Benson. 



cA'v" MUSIC HALL 

'THE VALLEY 
OF DECISION" 

Spectacular Stage Production! 



DAVID 



t«ft*CM 



two A ciws 

MM 



VICTORIA 




2nd WEEK 




[ 



SPOTLIGHT 
ON CONGRESS 




AT ROXT 



~0 *20*c«*«y-r«rv>«» ~ 



«>MA.W. 



24 



RADIO 



Wednesday, June 20, 1045 



01 DX Setup May Yet Be Saved, 
But No Thanks to Radio's Static 
Performance; Execs Tight-Lipped 



[ New Civilians 



Washington, June 19. 

The sub-committee of the Sen- 
ate Appropriations . Committee 
considering the war agencies 
bill, which includes OWI, today 
(Tues.) wrote back into the OWI 
1945-46 budget almost all the 
money for next year that Elmer 
Davis had asked for. 

The sub-committee voted $39,- 
■550,000 for OWI for the next 
fiscal year. That's $2,500,000 
more than the House Appropria- 
tions Committee gave Davis, and 
$21,500,000 more than the House 
voted. Davis had asked origi- 
nally for $42,000,000, and the 
House cut him down $18,000,000. 



Commercial Radio Silent 

OWI overseas . operations in 
Europe may yet be saved, and the 
organization may even get its full 
1945-46 budget of $42,000,000. But if 
1his happens, it won't be the fault of 
the U. S. radio industry. • 

For. aside from a statement by 
Harold Ryan, prez of NAB, about 
1he OWI's domestic operations, the 
radio industry has been unanimous 
in its silence. Not a word toward 
saving OWI trans- Atlantic broad- 
casts and psychological warfare 
work in Europe has been spoken by 
a single large commercial radio in- 
terest in the country. 

Radio commentators by the drove, 
newspaper editorial writers by the 
dozen, columnists, and even "trained 
seals" for some of the very news- 
papers that had in the past attacked 
OWI— all these have, come to the de- 
fense of Elmer Davis' organization. 

Ryan's statement before the Sen- 
ate Appropriations Committee last 
week was devoted solely to a de- 
fense of OWI's domestic operations 
—which are important. At the same 
time, WAC Coordinator * Francis 
Harmon made a plea for money for 
the OWI's motion picture bureau. 

But both these bureaus could be 
restored by adding small sums to the 
budget which the House of Repre- 
sentatives lacerated the week before, 
when its appropriations committee 
slashed the $42,000,000 figure to $35,- 
000,000, and the House itself cut this 
down by nearly half, to $17,000,000. 

That figure, as pointed out by 
"Variety" last week, would mean 
that. OWI could continue operating 
only in the Pacific, but would have 
to close down all its European o p- 
erations while other Allied govern- 
ments are continuing or increasing 
their propaganda in Europe. 

Generals Marshall and Eisenhower 
came to the defense of OWI over- 
seas branch, as did editorials in the 
N. Y. Times, N. Y. Herald Tribune, 
Christian Science Monitor, and 
Washington Post. ' 

Radio commentators who pleaded 
for OWI included William L. Shirer, 
Major George Fielding Eliot, Dr. A. 
L. Sachar, John Vandercook, Ray- 
mond Gram Swing, George Hamil- 
ton . Combs, Johannes Steele, Dr. 
Frank Kingdon, Max Hill, and many 
others. 

But the NBC and CBS interna- 
tional divisions, which have been 
working closely with OWI overseas 
branch during the. war, and other 
owners of DX transmitters, have not 
taken a position. • ■ ' 

It's anybody's guess why the radio 
execs have been silent on this issue. 

Reports in N. Y. and Washington 
were hopeful about the chances that 
the Senate Appropriations Commit- 
tee may give Elmer Davis back the 
entire $42,000,000 for, which he asked 
for 1945-46. Then," if the matter 
comes to conference between the 
House and Senate, it is possible that 
President Truman's influence, which 
Is behind OWI, may pull the fat out 
of the fire by lining up Administra- 
tion Congressmen to vote the entire 
$42,000,000. On the day the House 
slashed OWI's budget to the death- 
point, many of the staunch Admin- 
istration men were absent. 



Marx Loeb Takes Over 
CBS* 'Report To Nation' 

With Earle McGill checking out 
of his CBS production berth on July 
1 to go freelance, Marx Loeb is tak- 
ing over direction of "Report to the 
Nation," the CBS-produced show 
sponsored by Continental Can, effec- 
tive July 8. That gives Loeb his 
second commercial program (he also 
has the Colgate "Theatre of Ro- 
mance" Tuesday night show), in ad- 
dition to his CBS sustainers. 

McGill will continue to produce 
the "Radio Reader's Digest" show 
for Campbell's Soups until Bill Rob- 
son resumes. 



A lot of guvs from radio are 
getting out of uniform and returning 
to the fold. Because of the industry- 
wide interest in the "uilio-how- 
when-where" status of these "new 
civilians," "Variety" will try to bring 
their movements up to date and to 
show how the industry is responding 
in taking care of its own, "Variety" 
will welcome any week-to-week ad- 
ditions to the list. 



Sgt, Joe Franklin, who has been 
released from the Army, has re- 
sumed his "Vaudeville Echoes" pro- 
gram on WHOM, N. Y., Saturdays 
from 7 to 7:30 p. m. While in serv 
ice he served as head disc jockey at 
Camp Hood Rehabilitation hospital, 
Temple, Texas. 



Jack Gordon, former script writer 
for the CBS Workshop, just re' 
leased from Army, has segued into 
playwrighting. He's, author of the 
new Ida Lupino play skedded for 
Broadway, ".Sweet City." . 



CBS Digs Down for 200G to Spark 
Summer Hiatus Sked With 'Names' 



Blue Open Door 
To Bring P&G In 
On Ground Floor 



The Blue network . is making jl 
strong pitch to hitch on to some of 
those Procter & Gamble network 
billings. Although the P&G splurge 
tops the whole commercial radio pic- 
ture, with its $12,000,000 annual out- 
lay, the bulk of it is channelled 
NBC and CBS-ward, with only P&G 
representation on the Blue being the 
daytime "Glamor Manor" show. Fac- 
tor, of course, is P&G's heavy in- 
vestment in the soap opera field, 
with NBC and CBS sharing it all 
between them. 

Move by Chet LaRoche & Co. to 
woo more P&G coin into the Blue 
fold is cued to the web's long-range 
schedule in nighttime programming, 
with P&G of late manifesting more 
and more interest in the after-dark 
network segments and the Blue's 
pitch themed to a "come in on the 
ground floor stance" stance. 



Don't Fence Me In' 
Cues WCOP Land Buy 

Boston, June 19. 

WCOP has purchased 60 acres of 
land in nearby Lexington to build a 
tiew transmitting station as soon as 
FCC regulations permit. 

Plans call for an attractive build- 
ing of Colonial design, appropriate 
to the architectural traditions of the 
historic town. The new location al- 
lows for future power increase. 



Leader, Off NBC, 
On Mutual s Told 

Tony Leader, director of NBC's 
prize-winning "Words at War" pro 
gram, has resigned from the web 
effective Friday (22). He will free- 
lance, hit first assignment being the 
new Mutual five-a-weeker,"Now It 
Can Be Told," which will fill the 
web's 8:15-8:30 p.m. slot, starting 
Monday (25). 

Director recently returned from a 
30-day tour of the European war 
zone. He had been unhappy at NBC 
for a long time during his four and 
one-half year stay at the web. Con 
sidered in the trade by many ob 
servers as one of the better directors 
at the network, he reportedly was 
"inadvertently" overlooked by web 
program execs when commercial 
assignments were handed out. Too, 
his career as pilot of the "Words 
at War" stanza was a stormy one, 
the network .program mahouts re 
fusing on many occasions to permit 
the interpretive airing of many of 
the more liberal- books which Leader 
felt were the type listeners to the 
series wished to hear. As a result, 
it's reported, he was in disfavor 
among the more conservative chief- 
tains at NBC. His decision to "make 
the break," and go freelance, came 
after the web gave him the direc- 
torial assignment on an innocuous 
Saturday morning kid-show on his 
return from overseas. . 

"Told" is a package owned by 
announcer Dan Seymour, which he 
peddled to Mutual. It reportedly has 
strong commercial possibilities, be- 
ing capsule tales of espionage and 
other undercover activities coming 
out of this war. 



Allen Parker, just discharged from 
Army Air Force, has joined the 
WIND, Chicago, announcing staff. 



Guy Robertson, the legit,' radio, 
screen star, who was recently dis- 
charged from the Navy after serving 
two years as a specialist, joins KWK, 
Mutual outlet in St. Louis, as pro- 
duction director. He had produced 
or played in radio shows emanating 
in Chicago and the Great Lakes 
Naval Training Station. His most 
recent production was "Meet Your 
Navy" for the Hallmark Greeting 
Card Co. 



Only 8 by Corwin 
Plus Super Jobs 

What originally started out to be a 
26-week program schedule by Nor- 
man Corwin for his "Columbia Pre- 
sents Corwin" series and was later 
reduced to 13 has now resolved it- 
self into an eight-week series, with 
the teebff set for Tuesday, July 3. 
The Corwin broadcasts were origin- 
ally slated to preem last Sunday (17) 
in the 7-7: 30 time slot vacated by 
Kate Smith, but, when CBS had an 
opportunity at the last minute to 
grab that Bendix Aviation biz for 
the spot, it switched Corwin to the 
Tuesday night 9-9:30 segment. All of 
which got C.orwin's blessing and 
tied in with his desire .to lop off 
several of his skedded shows, spend 
more time in prepartion before the 
curtain-raiser and prevent risk of 
"hit or miss" productions. And he 
prefers that Tuesday night slot; feels 
the hot weather outdoor lure will 
snafu any audience buildup in the 
early evening Sabbath time. 

The Corwin contract with CBS 
calling for 26 weeks of work (thus 
allowing him the other half-year for 
freelancing) has practically become 
a mere formality. Idea of network 
now is to allow Corwin to do as 
many or as few shows as he wishes 
so that he could have full scope and 
time on "special features" such as 
the V-E "Note of Triumph" show 
which is probably the high water 
mark in Corwin's career. And CBS 
isn't forgetting the prestige that re- 
dounded to the network. 

. First of the Corwin series, "Unity 
Fair," a musical with Alfred Drake 
and Peggy Ryan, originates on the 
Coast, with subsequent programs, in- 
cluding a second musical, "The Jeff- 
erson Plough," coming from New 
York. 



'Counterspy' Gets New 
Sponsor and rime Slot 

Phillip Lord's "Counterspy," the 
Wednesday night Blue network 
show, which Mail Pouch is dropping, 
picked up a new bankroller last 
week, with Pharmacraft purchasing 
the $3,750 a week package to plug 
its Fresh deodorant. Show remains 
on the Blue Wednesday nights, but 
switches over from the 8:30 to 10 
p. m. segment. Young & Rubicam, 
agency on the account, takes over 
production reins, with Ed Downes 
assigned as producer. 

Show is Skedded to bow in on new 
time for Fresh on June 27,, but Lord 
has served he'd like a two-Week va- 
cation before resuming which may 
put the starting date back. 

Arthur Godfrey 
CBS Entry For 
AM. Sweepstakes 

CBS is so confident it has a good 
thing in Arthur Godfrey (his cross- 
the-board morning network sustain- 
ing show, originally designed as a 
summertime filler, stays on perma- 
nently now that "School of the Air" 
is being switched folate afternoon), 
that the web has attached a $4,000 
sponsor tag on the guy. CBS. tried 
to sell him at approximately the 
same figure as hot weather fare, but 
there were no takers. With 99 sta- 
tions thus far coming in under the 
permanent setup, the web now sees 
in Godfrey one of its pivotal guys 
in the hypoing of its a.m. program- 
ming structure. 

The Godfrey morning buildup, in 
fact, accents a three-cornered battle 
for morning time supremacy among 
NBC, CBS and Blue, with the latter 
long in the driver's seat with its 
Tom Breneman show. When NBC 
went to work in. an effort to win 
over those "Breakfast" audiences by 
spotting Fred Waring in his cross- 
the-board musical show for what is 
probably the. most expensive layout 
in morning programming history, 
CBS decided to get busy, too. The 
web thinks it's got the answer in 
Godfrey. 



CHIC & OLE AVAILABLE 

Deal is on again to put comics 
Olsen & Johnson into a regular 
once-weekly half-hour program. 

Batten, Barton, Durstine & Os- 
born are currently wrapping up a 
show built around the duo and will 
make an audition record sometime 
next week. B. F. Goodrich Co. is re- 
ported interested. 



Blue Eyes Cresta Blanca 
'Best' for Ex-Waring Slot, 
No Opposish From 'Fibber' 

There's a possibility that the 
Cresta .Blanca "This Is My Best" 
show/heard Tuesday nights (»n CBS 
(it's currently off for the summer 
with "The Doctor Fights" in as a 
replacement) may wind up on the 
Blue network next season. The Blue 
is making a pitch for the business, 
offering the sponsor the 10 o'clock 
Thursday night " spot vacaaled by 
Owens-Illinois (Fred Waring). 

Apparently in the Blue's favor is 
the Fibber McGee & Molly opposi- 
tion encountered by "Best" in its 
present 9:30-10 o'clock niche on CBS, 
but thus far it hasn't gone beyond 
a "mildly interested" commitai on 
the part of Cresta Blanca. r 



Quick, Watson, The 
Needle for Petri 



The raw material situation now 
threatens another network bank- 
roller's show. Unsteady condition of 
the grape market has cued some in- 
ner-sanctum huddling between Petri 
Wine and. Young & Rubicam execs, 
with strong likelihood existing of 
Petri- bowing out from sponsorship 
of the "Sherlock Holmes" show. 
Client has sponsored the Basil Rath- 
bone-Nigel Bruce program (it's a 
William Morris package) for the 
past three years and it's built into, 
one of the strongest of Mutual's 
airers^ It has a current talent-pro- 
duction weekly nut of $7,000. 

The Petri adv. account adds up to 
an approximate $1,000,000 budget, 
with the bulk of it— $750,000— going 
into billings and talent on the. "Sher- 
lock" show; .. . ■ 



4- The CBS summer replacement 
schedule of sustainers, which was 
whipped into final shape last week 
by the network programming dept. 
after a long- aspirin diet routine, 
represents the most ambitious pro- 
gramming attempt and coin outlay 
to date for the purpose of spanning 
hiatus time. A check of the varie- 
gated programming lineup which of- 
ficially got under way last Sunday 
(17) reveals that the network dug 
into its pockets to the extent of ap- 
proximately $200,000 for the collcc 
tion of package shows and network- 
produced programs that will occupy 
commercial hiatus time for periods 
ranging from' eight to 13 weeks. Sev- 
eral of the shows, headed up by 
name pix personalities, will originate 
from the Coast. Minimum weekly 
talent nut for any of the shows is 
$2,500. 

Here's the complete sustainer line- 
up: 

Sundays: The Hugh Herbert show, 
"That's My Pop" Milt Gross series, 
which_prcemed this week (17). 

Monday - through - Thursday. Ted 
Husing's first cross-the-board pro- 
gram, "On Your Toes," occupying 
the 7-7:15 niche. The sports strip 
bows in July 2: 

Mondays: The new Mary Astor 
show, "The Adventures of Mary 
Christmas," a ■ situation comedy, 
which goes into the 8:30-8:55 p.m. 
slot, effective July 2; "Listen- to a 
Story of the Sea," new series with 
Pat O'Brien as the weekly lead, into 
the 9:30-10 p.m. niche. It'll cull from 
the classics . and modern sea sagn.s, 
with "Moby Dick" as the opener on 
July 2 and the story of the carrier 
Franklin following. \ 

Tuesdays - Thursdays' - Fridays: 
Danny O'Neil in the 7:15-7:30 p.m. 
slot starting June 26. 

Tuesdays: Norman Corwin scries 
in the 9 to 9:30 p.m. slot starting 
July 3. 

Wednesdays: "Casey Press, Pho- 
tographer" with an expanded format 
and new title "Crime Photographer," 
in the 9-9:30 p.m. segment. 

Thursdays: "GI Laffs," audience 
participation show geared to what 
GI Joe likes, with William Gargan 
emceeing the package. Guestar pol- 
icy, will have Tom Breneman on the 
imtialer, set for June 28. It goes in- 
to the 8:30-8:55 slot. 

Saturdays: St. Louis Municipal 
Opera Co. in special radio-built 
shows emanating from rtMOX, St. 
Louis, studios, with Edwin Mc- 
Arthur as director.. Starts June 23 
in the 7-7:30 slot; "The Land Is 
Bright," currently heard Saturday 
afternoons at 3, moves.into the 8-8:30 
niche effective July 21; "Viva 
America," the Latino show currently 
in the Saturday afternoon 5:30 seg- 
ment, moves into the pre-"Hit Pa- 
rade" 8:30-3:55 segment starting 
July 7; "Assignment Home" on same 
date moves into the 10:15-10:45 p.m. 
slot for a 10-week repeat of the top 
programs. 

The Saturday afternoon sked is 
still being worked out, with the 4 to 
5 segment remaining open for horse 
racing, 3 to 3:30 still to be filled; the 
WCAU (Phila.) originating "Listen 
to Lawrence" musical show going 
into the 1:30-2 time and "Barnyard 
Follies," the KMOX show, displacing 
"Carolina Hayride" in the 2:30-3 
o'clock slot. 



Niles, Prindle Dropped 
For Musical by Hires, 
Sugar Cut Cues Economy 

Hollywood, June 19. 

Hires (root beer) is dropping "Ice 
Box Follies" with Wendell Niles and 
Don Prindle at the close of the 26- 
week period July 22. Reason for the 
cancellation, according to Herb San- 
ford of N. W. Ayer, is that output of 
the beverage will be sharply cur- 
tailed due to the recent sugar cut. 

. "Follies" will be replaced by a 
lower budgeted program, presum- 
ably 
east. 



'Double or Zero' Accepts 
Sunday Slot Next Month, 
Coke in Friday on MBS 

After weeks of dickering Mutual 
and the Feen-a-Mint Co., sponsor of 
"Double Or Nothing," have reached 
an agreement to switch the quizzer 
to Sunday night instead of Friday 
night: Show Will continue to be 
heard in the 9:30-10 spot and trans r 
fer gives clearance for Coca-Cola's 
"Spotlight Bands" program to go on 
a three-times-a-week basis. "Dou- 
ble" switch goes in July 15. 

Latter production switched over 
from the Blue this week (18) and 
Will be heard Mondays and Wed- 
nesday only until July 13 when Fri- 
day will become a regular broadcast 
night. "Spotlight" was a six-nights- 
a-wcek show on the Blue. 

Moving day for "Double" will re- 
move $250 each week from emcee 
John Reed King's purse inasmuch 
as he'll have to bow out from Tex- 
aco's "Star Theatre" which will be 
"Double's" CBS opposition come 



July. 

Oil company is scanning the field 
a musical, to originate back | for a likely replacement for King, 

I with no decision reached as yet. 



Wednesday, June 20, 1945 



RADIO 



25 



LEGIT WOOS FENCED-IN WRITERS 



Cause for Concern 

Broadcasters would perhaps do well to devote a bit ol 
thought, to the Implications raised by the recent arrest, at the 
insistence of the State Department, of six persons who stand 
charged with the publication in Amerasia magazine of "re- 
stricted" material. Many newspapermen are now pointing out 
there Is hardly a speculative story published nowadays that 
does not in some degree "violate" such restrictions. Substitute 
the phrase "broadcast" for "publish" and it's plain that the 
air is full of news commentators and even news dramatizations 
that could also be brought within the same interpretations. 

The courts will decide the guilt or innocence of the six 
arrested persons. Meanwhile, the grounds for their arrest are 
being more and more deplored by thoughtful journalists and 
broadcasters. It is being argued that whatever the faults or 
shortcomings of our American news gathering systems they 
function best when their right to get news isn't being suffo-. 
cated by brasshat penalties on "sources." or intimidation of re- 
porters. An attempt to scare news sources into silence and a 
punishment of critics of official policy is seen in this State 
Department action. The Washington press corps is whisper- 
ing, that the State Department personages who caused the 
arrest of the six persons who published "leak" material are 
themselves incessantly "tipping off." The argument here is 
that when the material published or broadcast is favorable to 
the point of view of policies of the insiders they do not com- 
plain that the material is "restricted," but when the comment 
is critical in tone the cry of violation of privilege is raised and 
a vengeful attitude assumed. 

Radio men, "much' as newspapermen, have an all-important 
stake in the freedom of their news personnel from unwar- 
ranted crackdowns. If the State Department action in the 
Amerasia case is as dubious as reported, if the arrests were 
made, as averred by reporters, against the advtce of many 
high officials, then the whole situation is loaded with danger 
for everybody who deals in current events. 

The law provides redress through slander and libel and con- 
spiracy statutes against improper publication or broadcast. If 
these laws are weak, as in some states they probably are, the 
democratic course is to strengthen them. The undemocratic 
and dangerous course is to single out vulnerable (and usually 
weak or unpopular) periodicals to "make an example." 

Men of high position in Government, business and the profes- 
sions are sometimes unfairly criticized in print J less often on 
the air) and they would not be human if they did not resent 
what they consider an injustice visited upon them in the name 
of freedom of the press. But the cure for abuse is not counter- 
abuse and many persons strongly believe that the recent ar- 
rests for use of "restricted" material represent an evil omen 
of a peevish and autocratic attitude, a "we'll get even with our 
critics" stance. . That's the German way. It has not usually 
been the American way. 

Radio will do well to keep itself well posted on the implicit 
threat of the Amerasia case. 



AVCO Buys Crosley (WLW, WINS) 
Interests at Reported 




The Crosley Corp. radio interests.-f 
including WLW in Cincinnati and ' 
WINS in N. Y., have been purchased 
by . the Aviation Corp. (Avco), 
manufacturers ol airplanes, battle- 
ships, precision instruments and 
heating units. 

Total sale price may go as high 
as $22,000,000, on basis of $39 a share. 
Powell Crosley, Jr., and his family, 
which owned 545,800 shares of 
Crosley -Corp., -will receive- 64 of- 
tlie total sum, the remainder being 
held for minority stockholders if 
latter choose to cash in at the $39 
rate. 

WLW, with its 50,000-watt clear 
. channel transmitter, is one of the 
most valuable radio stations in the 
country. Crosley five months ago 
bought the N. Y. indie, WINS, from 
the Hearst interests for $1,700,000 plus 
$400,000 worth of free airtime to the 
Hearst papers over a 10-year period. 

The WINS deal has not yet been 
approved by the FCC, and now both 
that transaction as well as the trans- 
fer of WLW ownership must get the 
ICC okay, before they become final. 

Avco's deal was announced by 
Victor Emanuel, chairman, and 
Irving B. Babcock, president. They 
said that Powel Crosley, Jr., and 
Lewis Crosley will remain with the 
Crosley Corp., as well as" the latter 
organization's execs, Raymond C. 
Losgroye and James D. Shouse. 

The Crosley automobile, and the 
Cincinnati Reds baseball team, both 
also owned by the Crosley family, 
*>* not involved in the Avco deal. 

in a statement issued yesterday 
uues.) Crosley said one of the 
"asons he sold out was his desire 
t° concentrate on the postwar lhanu- 
wcture of a new light automobile. 



Diz Off Air But Snares 
100G Contract Even So 

St. Louis. June 19. 

Jerome "Dizzy" Dean, former hur- 
ler for the Cardinals and who was a 
baseball commentator for two years, 
is working "under a five-year con- 
tract that calls for a total of $100,000 
for tlie~Falslaff -Brewing- Go.-,-a local 
suds maker. Previously Dean was 
working on a year-to-year basis. His 
spot at the b.b. mike, for the current 
season, has been taken over by John 
O'Hara of KWK and France Laux of 
KMOX by another sponsor. Dean 
has been entertaining servicemen in 
military hospitals in the southwest 
with stories of his diamond experi- 
ences and exhibiting pix of the last 
world's series. 

Last week Dean, by absentia, was 
awarded the Sporting News plaque 
as the No. 1 baseball announcer for 
the 1944 season. Dean was bumped 
from a plane at Dallas and did not 
arrive for the ceremony at which 
Christy Walsh, co-director of ''Cap- 
tain Eddie," was the principal 
speaker. ■■.■,■■}... ' 

"STORK CLUB" RADIO IDEA 

Ken Lyons, writer of "Boston 
Blackie," has been signed to write 
and direct the new Lee Segall radio 
program package, 'Stork Club," in 
which several sponsors have shown 
interest. . . 

Stanza will have an in time motif, 
guesters each week sitting around 
tables at the N. Y. boite and doing 
their turns off-the-cuff. It has a half 
hour, once- weekly format. 



TOP SCRIPTING 
TALENT EXODUS 



By GEORGE ROSEN 

Radio script writers are turning 
in increasing numbers to the legit 
field. Current activity among radio 
writers turned playwrights, it's 
agreed, is without precedence. What 
is ' particularly significant, however, 
is the motive behind the wholesale 
transfer of allegiance of the script- 
ers from radio to Broadway. For 
some time the feeling has been 
mounting among many of the serious 
writers for radio that they've been, 
retarded by a lack of freedom of 
expression, that their, opportunities 
are limited as long as they confine 
themselves to the medium and that 
as long as radio remains more or 
less of a " "duplicating machine" 
without encouraging creative ex- 
pression and without establishing an 
identity of its own it's inevitable 
that the guy who has something to 
say will seek'other outlets. 

Continuance of the trend, it's felt, 
will create a serious stumbling block 
for radio and although this will 
doubtless provide an opening for 
new blood in the radio scripting 
ranks it '3 conceded that radio is 
bound to suffer during the transition 
period if the exodus becomes too 
marked. 

Even a partial list of the radio-to- 
legit migrants reveals that some of 
the top scripters are Broadway- 
conscious today. Among them are 
Sgt. Arthur Laurents, who has been 
writing the multiple-award winning 
"Assignment Home" series for CBS 
and has also been identified with 
the writing end of the Jerry Devine- 
directed FBI series on the Blue net- 
work. Similarly, Sgt. Millard Lam- 
pell, of radio, who collaborated with 
Earl Robinson in the Norman Cor- 
win-produced "Lonesome Train" 
show for CBS, is currently overseas 
preparing material for a book and 
to do the libretto for a GI musical 
with Americana lore and back- 
ground. Vincent McConner, the CBS 
staff writer, has turned to legit with 
the play, "A Joy Forever" scheduled 
for fall production by Gilbert Miller, 
with Frank Morgan slated for the 
lead role. Joseph Liss, of the Co- 
ordinator of Inter-American Affairs 
office, who is script editor of "The 
Doctor Fights" CBS show, has also 
turned playwright, as has Alan 
Lerner. Latter is currently en- 
gaged in two musicals, one of which, 
"Day Before Spring," is to be pro- 
duced by-John C. Wilson, with Me- 
tro backing, and with Anthony Tu- 
dor engaged for the ballet choreog- 
raphy. Milt Lazarus, the radio 
scripter who collaborated on "Song 
of Norway," is currently at work 
on another Broadway production, 
and Jack Gordon, who was identi- 
fied with the CBS Workshop, has 
authored the new Ida Lupino play, 
"Sweet City." Gordon has just been 
released from the Army. 

Similarly, Clifford Goldsmith has 
abandoned his writing chore on his 
"Aldrich. _Family'i_ package _ and__'? 
putting the finishing touches to his 
new Broadway production, and Al- 
bert Barker, scripter of "Terry and 
the Pirates," who collaborated on 
"Memphis Bound," has a new one 
coming up. 



Ford Reshuffle 
Starts in July 

Ford Motor is reshuffling its night- 
time programming setup as the first 
move in what is generally believed 
to. be an ambitious realignment look- 
ing toward bigtime production as 
reconversion to civilian production 
nears. , [ ,. : 

On July 14 the Ford Early Amer 
ican Music 30-minute Saturday show 
goes off the Blue, and on the fol- 
lowing day the same sponsor's" 
Greenfield Village Choir 15-minute 
program scrams off the same web. 
On the other hand the Blue gets 
the 60-minute Sunday night Detroit 
Symphony program In the 8 to 9 
p.m. slot, with the auto manufacturer 
also reported blueprinting plans for 
additional hypoed nighttime shows. 



Blue News Shakeup Touted With 
Johnstone Out; Hicks to Succeed? 



■'.-,:;'■■' Just Skeered 

Hollywood, Juiie 19. 

Recent "guest producer" on 
the Lux Radio Theatre Monday 
night CBS show .(.he's one of the 
top pix writer-directors), despite 
his apparent nervousness the first 
time up, was invited by the 
sponsor to do a reprise on his 
Demilleing at a later date, be- 
cause of the guy's name draw. 
He accepted — but as. the date 
drew near he developed a bad 
case of fright. 

It was a case of the guy bow- 
ing out without betraying his 
nervous _plight, so he called the 
".J. Walter Thompson agency and 
laid down the law— if it meant 
mentioning the name of the 
product, which he considered 
beneath his dignity, the deal 
was "off. Which naturally 'meant 
the end of his association with 
the Lux show. His sigh of relief 
could be heard all the way to 
New York. 

Now the guy's going around 
telling people he could have 
Demilled the job permanently, 
but sacrificed it because of the 
undignified commercials. 



Kate Smith Back 
To Fri. CBS Spot, 
Cut to 25 Mins. 

Kate Smith moves back to the 
Friday night time on CBS in the 
fall, only this time the show cuts 
from a full hour to 25 minutes. In a 
reshuffling of General Foods pro- 
grams on CBS, the Smith-Ted Col- 
lins package goes into the 8:30-8:55 
p. m. slot (last five minutes of the 
half -hour segment is occupied by 
the Johns Manville news program), 
with the GF "Thin Man" program 
moving over from the 8:30-8:55 Fri- 
day spot to Sunday night at 7 o'clock 
opposite Benny. The Fannie Brice 
show moves from 6:30 to 7:30 Sun- 
day night, leaving the former spot 
available for sale. 

Thus ends the Great Experiment 
in Sunday night programming which 
found the Smith show last season 
competing with the Jack Benny pro- 
gram on NBC. What happened was 
inscribed in those succession of 
Hooper reports which not only dis- 
closed Miss Smith's inability to woo 
over the Benny fans but also found 
Benny parting company with the 
Top Fifteen boys for the first time 
in nearly a decade. Actually the guy 
who benefitted from the competition 
Was Drew Pearson on the Blue, who 
garnered an increasing audience pull 
in' his 7-7":15"s'egme"nt as "the" "season 
progressed. • ' . . 

Unusual angle 'in the GF reshuffle 
is the fact that the Kate Smith show 
is now parlayed back-to-back with 
the 8-8:30; "Aldrich Family" pro- 
gram, which gives Miss Smith an 
opportunity to pick up the "Aldrich" 
audience under the GF sequencing 
of programs that's cued to a "stay 
tuned" technique. The trade re- 
calls that this is the "Aldrich" show 
whose ascendancy dates back to the 
days when it was a part of the Kate 
Smith package. , 

Ted Collins says the segue back to 
Friday will now give him a chance 
to catch up with the pro-football 
team in which he's invested a lot of 
coin; also a chance to take in the 
games. But many in the trade are 
doing some head shaking over that 
35-minute lop off. 



■f Long-expected reshuffle of the 
Blue network's news and special 
events department is reported immi- 
nent with fireworks expected to start 
sputtering soon after the return from 
the Coast of G, W. "Johnny" John- 
stone, present director of the setup. 
Johnstone's reported on his way out 
with choice of his successor in the 
hand's of veepee Bob Kintner and 
the network high command. 

One version of the revision has 
Blue's crack European correspondent 
George Hicks in line for the top 
berth. This, not only in the nature 
of a reward for his overseas service, 
but because he's, well-grounded in 
network procedure, news coverage 
and handling of special events. Hicks, 
it's pointed out, has a practical engi- 
neering background for the post and, 
addition/ knows acutely the prob- 
lems facing radio newsmen out in 
the field. 

Then, too, the likelihood 1 that Hicks 
might be wooed away from the Blue 
has been mentioned. Recent appoint- 
ment of former Lt. Col. Abe Schech- 
ter to head up Mutual's news and 
special events division, was immedi- 
ately followed by reports that Hicks 
might soon windup in the MBS fold. 
Schechter and Hicks, ^of course, 
teamed up on many occasions when 
both were active in NBC's news 
coverage operations. Mutual prexy 
Edgar Kobak, of course/also worked 
with the pair while at NBC. 

Incidentally, reports likewise have 
been circulated that Blue correspon- . 
dent Artftur Feldman might join 
Schechter at Mutual but, if Hicks 
succeeds to Johnstone's post, this 
possibility probably would wane in- 
asmuch as Hicks and Feldman team- 
ed for months in London before and 
after D-Day. 

Hicks Writing Book 
Another factor pointing to Hicks 
as a logical choice for the Blue spot 
is his present inclination to "take 
things a bit easy" after his European 
experiences. He's asked to stay , on 
the sidelines for a while-rduring 
which time he'll work on a book — 
and it's been uncertain whether or 
not he would 1 eventually accept a 
Pacific assignment for the Blue. His 
appointment as top man, of course, 
would solve any such difficulties and, 
in addition, wo.uld enable the net- 
work to offer financial inducements 
so attractive that bids for Hicks (as 
a correspondent) by rival webs prob- 
ably would fall far short, as far. as 
the coin angle's concerned. 

It's reported that ex-N. Y. Herald 
Tribune writer-editgr Dick Tobin, 
now with the Blue working on . 
'Headline Edition" and other news 
programs, would be receptive to the 
Johnstone post, but it's thought such 
an appointment would go against the 
recommendations of Kintner. Since 
latter is v.p. in charge of the news 
setup it's reasonable to assume new 
director of the department will have 
to get Kin tner's unqualified okay.__.__._ 

Johnstone has been absent from 
Blue's N. Y. headquarters for past 
several weeks doing an on-the-spot 
directional job for the web's cover- 
age of the San Francisco conference. 
With confab in final stages, John- 
stone's return is expected shortly. 
Projected reshuffle, of course, will 
be delayed until he gets back. 



GF Agency Reshuffle 

General Foods is currently in the 
process of reshuffling its product 
plugging via radio, with result that 
the Fannie Brice show is scheduled 
to move over from Benton & Bowles 
to Young & Rubicam. 

On the other hand the "Thin Man" 
program segues from Y & R to 
B &.B. 



Tony Stanford Leaves 
Thompson After 11 Yrs. 

Hollywood, June 19. 

Tony Stanford's 11 years as pro-, 
ducer with J. Walter Thompson 
comes to an end July 1> He sub- 
mitted his resignation to John U. 
Reber last Thursday (14) but agreed 
to remain as director on the Tommy 
Dorsey (Standard. Brands) for re- 
mainder of the month. In addition 
to beinj» one of JWT's top producers, 
handling most of the firm's special 
shows, he headed up the television 
department. ' 

Future plans include taking over 
production of the new "Maizie" air 
package headed by Ann Sothern, 
which takes over July 4 as replace- 
ment for Milton Berle show. 



26 



RADIO 



Wednesday, June 20; IMS 



Supreme Court s WOW Decish Has Vital 
Bearing on Status of State Courts 
Over Stations; Neb. Decree Stayed 



Washington, June 19. ♦ 
In a decision which goes a long 
way toward clarifying the status 
of state courts over radio stations, 
the U. Si! Supreme Court yesterday 
(18) temporarily vacated a Nebraska 
Supreme Court decision affecting 
WOW, Omaha,. 

The Nebraska tribunal had ruled 
that the lease from the Woodmen 
of the World Life Insurance Society 
to other operators be cancelled and 
that profits of the station be re- 
turned to the insurance company. 

The suit for the return of the 
property was brought by Homer H. 
Johnson, a member of the insur- 
ance society, who had contended 
that there Was fraud in the transfer. 
In its 6-2 decision the U. S. high 
" court ordered' the Nebraska, court tp 
stay its decree pending action by 
FCC. on the grounds that the state' 
ruling might interfere with the FCC 
licensing powers. . 

License Defined 

One interesting sentence in the 
Supreme court ruling yesterday, 
which may bob up in the future in 
connection with the rights and 
duties of stations said: "a license is 
merely a permit to serve the pub- 
lic, and not a duty to do so." . 

Case was also interesting in that 
It brought former FCC chairman, 
James "Lawrence Fly. into the pic- 
ture as one of the attorneys. 

Supreme court decision said in 
part: 

"We have no doubt of the power 
of the Nebraska court to adjudicate, 
and conclusively, the claim of fraud 
in the transfer of the station, and, 
upon finding fraud, to. direct a re- 
. conveyance of the lease to the so- 
ciety. The communications act does 
not explicitly deal with this prob- 
lem, and we find nothing in its in- 
terstices that dislodges the power of 
the state to deal with fraud merely 
because licensed facilities are in- 
volved. 

"On the other hand, if the state's 
power over fraud can be effectively 

» respected while at the same time 
reasonable opportunity is- afforded 
for the protection of that public in- 

. terest which led to the granting of 
a license, the principle of fair ac- 
commodation between state and 
federal authority should be ob- 
served. ' \ 

G'ommish Criticizes 

. "Severance of .the licensed facili- 
ties from the license so precipitously 
that FCC is deprived of the oppor- 
tunity of enabling the two to be 
kept together, needlessly disables 
the commission from protecting the 
public interest committed to its 
charge. To, carry out abruptly 
. state decree separating licensed 
facilities from the license deprives 
the public of those advantages of 
broadcasting which presumably led 
the commission to grant a license. 

"Therefore the state' has not been 
deprived by federal legislation of 
— the practical power to.terrninatethe^ 
broadcasting service by a proper ad- 
judication separating the physical 
property from the license. We think 
that state power is amply respected 
if it is qualified merely to the ex- 
tent of requiring to withhold execu- 
tion of that portion' of its decree re- 
quiring retransfer of the physical 
properties until steps are ordered to 
be taken to enable the commission 
to deal with new applications in 
connection with the station. - ' 

. The difficulty referred to in the 
- decision is that FCC approved the 
tranfser of the WOW license from 
the insurance company on a 15-yeav 
lease. 



Robson, Shayon Back, 
Former Off to Coast 

Bob Shayon and William Robson, 
the CBS producers, arrived back in 
N. Y., Sunday night (17), following 
their overseas junket for a first-hand 
study of the European war front as 
a blueprint for future radio produc 
tion. 

Robson. currently working out of 
the Ward Wheelock agency (he had 
been producing the Campbell's Soup 
"Radio Reader's Digest" before his 
overseas jaunt) left immediately for 
the Coast to take over production 
reins on "The Saint," the Campbell's 
Soup replacement for the Jack Car- 
son show. V - 



Ed East Nicks Bhe 
On 'Ladies Be Seated' 

Ed East, of Ed East and Polly, 
who are now doing the Fun and 
Folly show on NBC, has been paid 
off by the Blue net for his claimed 
right to the title "Ladies Be Seated." 

According ^to his attorney, East 
owned the title to the "Ladies Be 
Seated" program which he did with 
his wife on the Blue but which the 
net -Is now using with Johnny Olsen. 
East threatened suit, and a settle- 
ment was reached. Arthur Fishbein, 
East's lawyer, refused to reveal the 
amount involved in the settlement. 



Chi News Rooms 
Have New Ideas 

Chicago, June 19 
With a view to combatting any 
possible slump in news interest and 
to conform with the gradual shift of 
new values* some stations here have 
already begun to tighten up their 
news departments for postwar op- 
eration. Switching of Everett- Hol- 
ies from New York to head the 
WBBM-CBS setup here and signing 
of Robert Hurleigh by WGN is seen 
as preliminary moves in the newly 
designed pattern.. Recent ruling by 
NBC that all their commetators 
would henceforth be staff members 
is another indication along this line. 

Current leaders of the movement 
to change the tone of commentaries; 
is WLS. With no intentions of side 
tracking coverage of the Japanese 
Pacific situation, the station is in. 
augurating a series of news com- 
mentaries based on the rediscovery 
of America, feeling that thousands 
of troops, back from the European 
sector, and their families have a new 
love and appreciation for America 
and a new interest in their native 
land, as world peace approaches. 

Series called "Rounding Up_the 
World" will make its debut on July 
2 under the editorial direction of 
Julian T. Bentley and will be the 
first of a schedule of commentaries 
produced by the WLS news depart- 
ment, which has heretofore concen- 
trated entirely on direct news re 
porting. Bentley will be assisted by 
Ervin Lewis, and Gil Hix and such 
subjects as "Britain Chooses a New 
Government," "The Japanese Mind," 
"Independence Day," "'Whys and 
Wherefores of Mandates" and "The 
Road Back." which will concentrate 
on the subject of reconversion, have 
been selected among the first items. 
Series will be broadcast daily, Mon- 
day through Saturday over WLS. 
from 2:30 to 2:45 p. m. (CWT) with 
assignments made by Bentley and 
each script to be aired by its au 
thor, any of the three mentioned* 
radio newsmen. 
- - Perusal of Hooper ratings ..onjnews 
programs on the 50 kw stations here 
from 8 a. m. to 10 p. m., combined 
with some special Hooper surveys 
covering the 10 to 10:30 p. m. period 
shows WMAQ leading with an aver- 
age of 4:54 and WBBM second with 
3.71. WGN takes third place with 
3:36 and WENR-WLS trails with 
2.53; - '..- . ■'- 



Renard Claims Vs. Fenton 
Tossed Out by A FM 

N. Y. Local 802, American Federa- 
tion of Musicians, gave Mildred Fen- 
ton, radio program package producer, 
. a clean bill of heafth last week 
■against claim brought by orch leader 
Jacques Renard on the "Detect and 
Collect" program. 

Renard claimed he had a verbal 
contract to play the show. Local 802, 
after hearing witnesses for both 
sides, dismissed Reward's claim. 



Straus Lukewarm 
To Fifth Network 
Tie for WMCA 



While there's no doubt that a new 
net,, the Associated Broadcasting- 
Corp., is in the works, it became 
apparent last week that the fifth 
web may have difficulty obtaining 
the kind of. outlet it would like to 
have in the N. Y. area. 

For a week, since it became 
known that ABC has given A.T.&T. 
orders for permanent transconti- 
nental wire facilities, there has been 
speculation about where the new net 
will have its N. Y. key. There were 
rumors that the people behind ABC 
were hoping that the FCC will 
throw out the Mester Bros, offer for 
WOV— so they could buy that. Other 
reports had it that the new web was 
possibly interested in WHOM, which 
the Cowles interests are willing to 
sell i£ terms are met. 

But most of the rumors have cen- 
tered on WMCA, owned by Nathan 
Straus. 

. "Variety" verified, last week, the 
fact that the ABC group has been 
angling to interest WMCA for sev- 
eral months. But neither Straus nor 
anyone else in an exec spot in his 
organization would discuss the mat- 
ter. 

From AFRA. AFM and " other 
union sources it did become known 
that negotiations between WMCA 
and the new net had taken place, 
at least to. the extent of ironing out 
certain possible union wrinkles that 
might have stood in the way. 

But Straus would say only that 
"under no circumstances is this sta- 
tion for sale" and "this station is 
not at present becoming part of any 
network." " - ;. - - 

Straus said also that ABC had 
been told it coigd (1) use WMCA's 
studio facilities; (2) buy time on the 
station, when such time is available 
in the station management's opinion; 
(3) could air some programs over 
WMCA— if, in each instance, WMCA 
agreed to accept the program and 
could clear the time. 

"That," said one prominent radio 
net exec who heard about the deal, 
"is scarcely a network arrange- 
ment:" 



'GANGBUSTERS' TO BLUE 
FOR WATERMAN PENS 

Cangbusters which returns to the 
air under Waterman Pen sponsor- 
ship, heads for the Blue network 
with the starting date set for Sep- 
tember. It goes into the" Saturday 
night 8 o'clock slot. For a while 
there was some doubt whether the 
show would go to the Blue or 
Mutual, with the latter also in there 
making a strong pitch. Charles 
Dallas Reach is the agency on the 
account, its initial network pro- 
gramming venture. 

With the. Blue also retaining 
"Counterspy" under the Pharmacraf t 
banner, the web plans huddling with 
the agencies and sponsors involved 
in a move to program "Counterspy" 
and "Gangbusters" back-to-back, 
which will probably entail moving 
both shows to another nigh?. 



Coin Lack Blocks 
Off'Road Ahead' 

After" seven" weeks on the- air over 
the Blue, "The Road Ahead" folded. 
Stanza was all ready for broadcast 
tonight (20) from Camp Upton, 
N. Y., couldn't find a bankroller, and 
died. 

"Road" has been backed by the 
Army, Navy and Red Cross as a 
show to tell America about the 
wounded and crippled servicemen, 
their problems, and how to meet the 
situation — all wrapped in good en- 
tertainment originating each week 
from a different Army or Navy hos- 
pital. But. after seven weeks. Henry 
Souvaine agency couldn't find any- 
one to meet the nut (about $25,000). 

According to agency execs, Army- 
Navy-Red Cross combine has agreed 
to let show be sponsored permanent- 
ly, instead of by a different purser 
holder each week. All that's needed 
now is a business angel with enough 
coin to finance "Road" on that basis. 



Boston Ad Men Elect Fellows 

Boston. June 19. 
Harold E. Fellows, general man- 
ager of. WEEI, in , charge of . CBS 
operations in ' New England, was 
elected second vice-president of the 
Boston Ad Club in the annual elec- 
tion. 

His election also places him on the 
board of directors of the club. 



If Yon Only Had Sane Credits' 

The following letter, the author of which prefers anonymity, is being 
published because it is so typical of the many others received by 
"Variety" in recent weeks that spotlight the well-known brusheroo 
potentially able writers have been getting in the face of radio's 
"closed door policy." For this guy it was-no dice because he didn't 
have any "comedy credits" to his name. The letter to the editor of 
"Variety" follows: ■ — v 

I want to compliment you on your tenacious fight to open the ! 
doors for new radio talent, especially comedians and comedy 
writers. .-,'•' . . .Y \ ' 

This is what I experienced: I thought that I would make a pretty 
good radio writer. I had a good sense of humor, studied the pro- 
grams carefully for character slant and after writing several 
sample scripts showed them to a topnotch comedy writer who has 
been heading top programs for 10 years. In my infancy I already 
knew that I. wanted no part of a gag-show but that if ever I got bij 
a situation comedy show I could probably make it a career. This 
writer liked my work enough to recommend to the biggest radio 
agent on the strip who, in turn, told me that as a sample it was 
one of the best he had ever read—that it was just like reading one 

of— -s scripts. I thought my name was Flynn. (The agent 

told me this after I severed relations with him.) 

No dice, nothing happens. The routine went: "If you only had 
some comedy credits, etc." Unbelievable. Yes, the comedian 
liked the stuff, the adv. agency liked it; the comedian's agent liked 
it— but no job. 

Months passed. Then, against my better judgment, I took a job 
on a gag-show, a show that was so bad the comedian drank himself 
Out of his contract just to get away from it all. With my first (and 
last) week's contribution went a letter of gentle advice and sugges- 
. tion: "This man (.the comedian) is a terrific personality — make this, 
a situation show. "The public is well aware, of his unusual back- 
ground — exploit it by weaving situations around him -each- week." \.: 
And I exampled. Naturally, my agent called me up and told me 
not to submit the next week's show, . 
• Well, this same show went through 30 writers in 15 weeks plus 
four or five comedians. So I became an actor— stage — and forgot 
about radio writing until one fine day I was happy indeed to 
pick up a "Variety" and see that the agency had lost this account 
to another agency, a monetary loss of $1,500,000 a year! And in . 
the past year this same agency has lost five other accounts. 

My name and the names of all the above on request. Mr. Allen 
and Mr. Cantor both pointed to the new writer with new ideas as 
the only possible saviour of radio comedy. I wonder how many 
new writers they are going to hire this fall? 



CoL McCormick s WGN Lone Chi ^ 
Station Favoring E libel Bill 



JOHN MASON BROWN SOLD 



Oauiibook Pub. Co. To Bankroll— 

Levlne Stays 



Omnibook, mag and book publish- 
ing company, starts sponsorship of 
John Mason Brown's "Of Men and 
Books" st&nza on CBS Sept. 18.' 

Leon Levine will produce the pro- 
gram, which is on sustaining at the 
present time in the 2-2:15 p.m. niche 
Saturdays, and will continue in that 
slot when it. goes commercial. 



Winchell Wins Battle, 
Sponsor, Agency Accept 
Dr. Kingdon as Aug. Sub 

Dr. Frank Kingdon. N. Y. indie 
station news commentator, and Ray 
Henle, Blue Washington analyst, are 
set as the one-month hiatus replace- 
ments for Walter Winchell, when lat- 
ter knocks off his Sunday night Blue 
airer for four weeks, starting Aug. 5. 

Acceptance of Kingdon by Jer- 
gen's, Winchell's sponsor and the 
bankroller's agency, Lennen & Mit- 
chell, is a hands-down "victory" 
for the Broadway columnistrwho led 
all radio programs in ratings with 
the latest CAB report. Winchell had 
threatened to stay on the air all 
through August, if necessary* rather 
than have some one not of his choice 
pinch-hit for him .during his" annual 
sojourn away from the microphone. 

Background of Kingdon, who is 
comparatively little-known 'outside 
N. Y., except among lecture-goers in 
several key cities, is interesting. He 
is a former college professor, and 
was originally signed by WMCA, 
N. Y., several years ago as a com- 
mentator. His analyses of current 
happenings, and forthright presenta- 
tion, soon won for him a wide audi- 
ence in the metropolitan area. Win- 
chell soon became one of his most 
ardent dialers, and plugged Kingdon 
in his nationally-syndicated column 
at every opportunity. ' \ 

Henle is a former newspaperman, 
and last reason succeeded Earl God- 
win on the 8-8:15 p. m. hews shot 
over the Blue for Ford when latter 
was dropped. Prior to that he 
worked.in the. Blue's Washington 
news bureau, airing events on the 
wiX)'s roundup stanzas. 

Although neither the sponsor nor 
agency would reveal salary to be 
paid either .commentator as Winchell 
sub, it was reliably learned that 



Chicago, June 19. 

Illinois_radio libel bill reached the 
Senate floor Thursday (14), with ac- 
tion expected sometime this week. 
Reps of 16 downstate stations and 
one in Chi put themselves oh record 
in Springfield, the" state capitol, as 
being satisfied with most of the bill's 
provisions, but 11 other Chi stations 
and some networks declared the bill 
too stringent. 

The words "maliciously and know- 
ingly," which have been urged for 
incorporation into the bill by Col. 
Robert R. McCormick of WGN (the 
one Chi station favoring the bill as 
is) because of blasts made against 
him by Drew Pearson, Walter Win- 
chell and other commentators, were 
challenged by Sen. Mac Downing, 
who said he'll ask removal of the 
malice provisions when the bill is 
considered. 

Other senators said they'll ask for 
elimination of the possibility of con- 
viction for defamatory statements 
"when there is no advance knowl- 
edge or right to prevent," and for 
libelous remarks by political candi- 
dates. Bill as it stands provides 
maximum penalties of a $500 fine 
and a year in jail for malicious libel. 

Those appearing for the bill be- 
fore the committee were Andrew 
Hamilton, attorney for WGN, and 
Leslie Johnson, station manager ot 
WHBF, Rock Island, 111., with latter 
claiming -he represented . 16 down-, 
state stations. Opponents were Wil- 
liam J. Friedman, attorney for Chi 
indie stations; Walter Emmerson, 
representing American Broadcasting 
Co., and Maurice Lynch of WCFL, 
Chi. 

Opposition to She malice clause was 
based on theories advanced that it's 
difficult to prove malice even on the 
part of a person who utters libel on 
the radio, because such a person 
might later defend himself by say- 
ing he meant no libel, or. "I was 
smiling when I said it." 

Basic disagreement on the bill, 
which was introduced several weeks 
ago, remains the question of whether 
or not an Illinois station which is a 
member of a network should be re- 
sponsible for anything uttered on a 
program originating outside of the 
state. WGN and Mutual (Johnson s 
station is the Mutual outlet in Rock 
Island), which feature less news 
analysts than other stations involved, 
claim stations should be held liable, 
just as newspapers are: the others 
say not. 



Kingdon will get $1,000 pef airing. 
Henle couple of hundred less. They 
will sit in for the Broadway com- 
mentator Aug. 5, 12, 19 and 26, Win- 
chell returning to the air on Sept. 2. 



Ever hear of a mystery with 260 solutions ? 




-As-AWLE, a mystery can have just one solution. So Mutual breaks program and airs the name of somebody in every community on 

the rule. the line. That, gentlemen, is businesslike showmanship, with no 

Being die network dial lakes ils showmanship seriously, we now false whiskers, 
dramatize mysteries that can have as many as 260 solutions apiece. To a sponsor, this new show offers a local solution to every con- 
Add new story-telling techniques and nationwide lislener-partiei- ceivable marketing problem*. There's no better time for a shot of 
^■patiou and gripping, original whodunit material, and you have sales-adrenalin than when the customers are poised to cheer the 
"Calling All Detectives'! It keeps people on the edge of their chairs local Hawkshaw. (If you distribute through franchised, one-outlet • 
every Saturday night from 9:30-10 EWT dealers, you can take special advantage of the program's unique 
It works like this. Sparkling dramatization carries the story up operation.) Here, at your nearest Mutual office, is showmanship 
- lo-lhepoint where all the clues and suspects are clearly revealed. ready to work for you... 

Then local announcers telephone to a listener in every market on ' - 

, , , , , , , ., . , . ' ,. HERE ARE MORE MUTUAL SHOWS DESIGNED TO SOLVE YOUR RADIO MOILEMS 

the hookup to ; sk for the answer, while the rest of the audience — -— — — ; : — 

eavesdrops on the phone call. Each station rejoins the network for Queen for a Day . ; , . ..... how to make any woman happy 

the dramatic wirtdup, and a final cut-in presents a prize to the neigh- Arch Oboler's Plays . . * . > . . . . original tops in radio drama 

borhood criminologist who came up with the right solution to Between Us Girls . . .... . mere man faces glamor ensemble 

the mystery. ; ^ Leave It to Mike . . . . .... . , .■ a son of the sod to rely upon 

To the listener, "Calling All Detectives" more than meets the \ • . • • * / ,.„.- . ,„ 

• Mxexulives uho d hkt ito hear these ami other new MBS programs at any given hour mil 

universal yen to be a sleuth— it makes every family a part of the- /' /• promptly. prmded wiik.reietdmes on request, : : ■•■ ' ■ 

• • . ...... • * . • • • • • • . . . . . •••••••« . « . • • »;•;• •••••••••• 

The Mutual Broadcasting System 

WHKRE SHOWMANSHIP MEANS BUSINESS 



2ft 



RADIO 



Wednesday, Juue 20, 1915 



From the Production Centres 1 



fjV /VEFT YORK CITY . . . 

' Aiidv Russell gets billing when he steps into Hip Joan Davis show in 
the fall . -That flarry A^ckerman-directod "Report on the Negro" war 
bond show on CBS Sunday OT) has occasioned lots ol trade talk, with 
the Y & R radio topper still proving himself one of the Jjjp directors in 
the business , : ' ■ ■ ■•' 

Dan Kainpel. .formerly assistant radio director of Gale Associates, has 
joined the Bernard L. Schubert office where he will concentrate on crea- 
tive programming and talent./. .-.Han's Jacob, WOV commentator, cele- 
brates "his third anni with station on July 1. ... !,.;-'-.- ',-. 

Jim Kane out ot the hospital and back to CBS press dept. desk but tak- 
ing it easy Ben Polih. CBS photbg on Coast, in New York office for 

middle 'with -staff chief Izssy Siegei .... CBS has just brought out' a 320-page 
/olume "From D-Day Through Victory in Europe." a collection of 160 high 
ipot broadcasts made by the .web's European, war correspondents. It's a 

.dick job Eddie Dunn will replace Clif Arquette -as the quizmaster on 

ihe Blue's (P.&C) cross-the-board "Glamor Manor" for the summer. 
Dunn starts July 2. 

Ed and Potty East playing York. Pa., this Weekend and doing a special 
service benefit in Orlando. Fla;, next weekend , . . .Jeanne Meyer, promoted 
last week from secretary to apprentice writer at CBS program writing 
division, .swooning froni having a private window, . . . Paul Kesten again 
Inaugurating those 3:30 afternoon layoffs for all hdqs. personnel on very 
hot days. First one last Friday :.. .Hub Robinson to Boston.. Mark Woods 
to Baltimore and Keith Kiggins to Pittsburgh to welcome those new 
iffiliales into the Blue fold.. ..Bob Shaw has been picked to do the 
scripting on- the Philo Vaiice series which is going on coast-to-coast oyer 
NBC July 5: Stanza' is- Slimmer replacement for Bob Burns slot; Thurs- 
days, at 7: '.0 p.m. . . . . In for a couple of days from Europe last week was 
l<t, tj.g. i Bernard Dreyer, radio writer. He's been representing the Navy 
In joint Navy ••Army picture making in Germany. . 

WiTtuir ..Stark, vet WMCA , salesman, wed scripter Kathleen J. Norris in 
Elmsford, N. Y., last Friday (15), They're honeymooning at Fred Waring'.s 

hostel at Shawnee-btl-the-Delaware LI. (j.g, > Hal Seller, former CBS 

announcer (Hal Sawyer >. has been assigned as Navy representative and 
liaison officer to the CBS show, "Builders of Victory." He recently re- 
turned from South Paefiic. ' 

Roger DeKoven and Doris Dalton join "Evelyn Winters". .. .Irene Hub- 
bard added to cast of "Voting Widder Brown". .V.Guy Sorel newcomer on 
"Lora -Law-ton". .. Colleen Waid. Edwin Bvuce and Robert Laekay are 



\ 



additions to respective casts of "Tlte Soldier Who Came Home," "Stella 
Dallas" and "Amanda." '..-■■' 

Gertrude Corey going into thu 'Dark Eyes" legiter at Newport Casino, 
R; I. week starting July 2. . . .Milton Robertson, head writer at WNEW, has 
resigned and shifts over to Transamericun. His first assignment is the 
new' Bendix Aviation CBS airer, "Men of Vision". .. .Ray Ives is (lie new 
Ilenrv Aid! ich, kid winning out over host of other auditioners. Dickie 
I .tones, 'who w ; as the third Henry Atdrich since .Ezra Stone went into the 
! Amy; now in Armv. ton. Ives in for six weeks and . if okayed, stays on 

1 permanently lames Connolly, -vet station- relations exec at Blue head. 

i quarters in N. Y.. shifts -'to Chicago shortly to. head the network midwest 
; stations relations setup. He'ttroport directly to v.p. Keith Kiggins.-. 

\iis chwago -. . v i — 

I John Barnes has been appointed assistant to Ted Robertson, WBBM-CBS 
' producer, who took over production chore on Wrigley's "First Line," and 
"A Service to the Front" two weeks ago. .. .Murray Forbes, of the "Ma 
Perkins" show, marries Peggy Weslerfiold of Los Angeles July 20.... 
Four new members were inducted into the NBC ten-year club at the 
dub's third annual cocktail, party at the Tavern club last week. Inducted 
were Everett Mitchell, central division agriculture director: Bill Drips, 
director of agriculture: Arthur Pearson, central division purchasing agent, 
and Harry Maule. Frank Mullen, net's general manager, and his wife. 

were guests o£ honor at affair M: R. Tennerstedt resigned from NBC's 

central division spot sales staff to join the Chi staff of Paul Raymei . . . . 
Ray Morgan, head of Coast office of Goodkind Joico & Morgan, in town 
for a 'few days. .. .Major General John V. Clihnln started a new news I 
Commentary .series oh W.IJD Sunday (17 > . .Myron Golden. NBC central 
division assistant continuity editor, leaves the net June 23 to become script 
editor of the Grant Asency. No replacement named. .. .KSTP announcers 
attending a special course in Japanese at Fort Snelling getting ready for 
the months ahead. .. .Bill Drips, NBC director of agriculture, has been 
named as consultant in radio agriculture broadcasting by the OPA. 
Don McNeill getting a citation from the Treasury Dept. this. week for his 
I work in trie. 7th war loan drive. :. ,A1 Collins, formerly .with WIOD, Miami, 
! has joined the. WIND announcing staff . .Fritz Siegal.. concextmaser for 
j Caesar Petrillo's CBS orchestra, will be concertmaster for the Grant Park 
Symphony orchestra which opens its summer season of broadcasts June 27 
l ... .Everett Hollis, WBBM news editor, in New York for series of- infer-' 
j views with Illinois troops returning from European thoatre, 

/\ HOLLYWOOD . . . 

! Erskine "Skinny" Johnson lost his sponsor (jergens'i and Hedda Hopper 
| her Armour time when CBS started clearing the strip following Jack Kirk- 
I wood for the new Procter- & Gamble across-the-border. Johnson is in his 
j third cycle for Lenner & Mitchell and posted a better rating than most of 
i Hollywood's glib gabbers. Armour may .spot Hopper in a half -hour show 
l it any decent time opens up. ... .Mark Hettinger gels another chance to 
| impress the Lever crowd at Cambridge with his microphone personality. 
■ He'll be "guest producer" on Lux finale of "Woman in the Window" June 
. 25. If it were up to the J. Waller Thompsonites. Hettinger would be the 
(permanent C. B. DeMille successor. .. .Fox Case motored to Washington 
! with his trail to assume his new post as assistant to Earl Gammons for 
j CBS in Washington. ...Sid Strotz back from • hist New' York call and Joe 
i Alvin heading that way for parleys with his NBC bosses. .. .Li. Vick' 
i Knight around on leave:... Don Searle in from a swing around the Blue 
J circuit. .. .It's a losslip between Evelyn Keyes and Constance Moore for 
the femme lead opposite Dennis O'Keefe in the new shuffle of Woodbury's 
•Hollywood Mystery Time". .. .It's almost impossible for a dialer to avoid 
i Tommy Dorsey on Sundays. His Iwo commercials and four remotes make 
j him the busiest broadcaster in town. .. .Max Factor Sales Builders like 
. i the current Ray Noble interim sesh so well they may stay on through 
j the summer and cancel an eight-week hiatus until Frankie comes march- 
; ing homo. . . .Ed Cashman now doing the Hoagy Carmichael show as a 
freelance. .. .John Guedel to Chicago to renegotiate "People Are Funny" 
contract with the moola almost doubled ... .Craig Maudsley making a new 
! agency connection now that Dancer. Sample & Fitzgerald haven't enough 
Coast billing to maintain a full staff here. . . .Virginia Cooke doing script 
! duty for Elsa Maxwell and may accompany her east.... Jack Gross bought 
: out Ted Taylor's half interest in KFMB. San Diego, for $170,000. Gross 
l is onetime sales managers of KFWB, . . Don Fedder.son finds himself in 
| the peculiar position of running KMTR for the owners who are setting out 
| to Ted and Dorothy Thackery's new radio setup, which he represents, 
I while. FCC mulls approval of the deal; - ...... 



KLZ SHIHES IN 
FOUR NATIONAL COMPETITIONS! 

., tiv . », plaque 

KLZ wa. not only ehown by V«I«V U> ' t 

c».d i- •*? BO,1 T .""'J he Ci.V tf N«« • 



White Owl Considering 
Half-Hour Fall Program 

Although White Owl is dropping 
the Earl Wilson Sunday night 15- 

I minute show on Mutual, it is now 

j mulling the idea of sponsoring a 

; new program in (lie fall and ex- 

j painting to a half-hour. 

j Whether White Owl will remain 
on Mutual, however, is slill a matter 

I of doubt. There's talk 'that the cigar 
outfit' may . seek a CBS or Blue spot 

I for the proposed show. 



; JWT Writer Assignments 
i. For Lang ford, T. Dorsey 

• With Ben Friedman added to the 
j list of w riters on the Standard 
! Brands-Tommy Dorsey Sunday night 
; show- on NBC. the writer assign- 
Iments on both the TD and the Fran - 
j cc.s Langford-Spike Jones Standard 
i Brands back -to-back, summer shows 
j have now been whipped into final 
! shape. --J : 
| Head writer 
I Jones p'rograiv 
| with an assist 
;an'cl Roland MacLane. On 
■ show- head* .. writer for' 3. 



on the Langford- 
is Howard Blake, 
from Al Johansen 
the .TD 
Walter 



+7 



•-■ithh.Ht ! i'i Man ai'f on »: :vilh the OkUhimm 
1'nblnhiiii In. <in, I //'A), Oklahoma City 

HEPRESEMT ED N ATf ONALLY BT THE KAtZ AGENCY 



Thompson (they're both JWT pro 
grams i is Saiiford PaganVtcci along 
with John Murray, Leo Shtirln an'a 
Friedman. •'■•,'-,' . 



GEORGE CASE SHIFTS TO KABC 

. .-'-'. . -.Chicago. June 10. 

George \ Case, assistant program 
director at:'W"BBM. moves, lo pro- 
gram director's. post at KABC,; Blue 

.Network . outlet ' at Sail Antonio. 

■ starting July 9. 

Case has been assistant to Waller 

; Preston, .midwest CBS exec, for the 

, I'ast year. His move to an exec post 
at' KABC Coincides with latter stu- 

! lion's plans to . build new plant in 

i San Antonio.- conditions permitting. 

I Nobody appointed as vet to suc- 

I cced him at WBBM. 



BERT WHEELER RENEWED 

Apparently Seven-Up is satisfied 
that its Mutual show has been given 
the necessary hypo now that Bert 
Wheeler has stepped. into the comedy 
lead. The sponsor last week renewed 
for another 13 weeks. 

Wheeler took over the lead spot 
from Barney Grant several weeks 



'Meet Your Navy' Sponsor 
Bankrolls Film Version 
Of Show for Overseas 

— -- Chicago, June 19. 

Possibility of n trend toward the 
filming of popular musical radio 
shows, for showing to men in our 
armed forces, is seen in the prepa- 
rations being made here for Ihe pie- 
ftirtzation of the "Meet Your Navy" 
show, • heard Saturday nights over 
the Blue network. Pic production is 
expected to gel underway at' the 
Great Lakes Naval Training Station, 
Great Lakes. 111.; riext month. With 
bills being footed by the- 'Raytheon 
Mfg. Co.. sponsors of the show, 
prints will be distributed primarily 
to men overseas and on board ships, 
with public showings to lie worked 
out later by J', M. Matties, Inc., N. Y., 
the linn's advertising agency. 

Roland Reed, of Roland Reed Pro- 
ductions. Hollywood, is here with his 
scenarist Arthur Hoerl, setting up a 
shooting schedule. Pre-scoring will 
be started July 1 with actual shoot- 
ing to begin July 9. Short, to be 
completed in about three weeks, will 
be directed . by William Clemens 
with Arthur Martinelli at the cam- 
era and Bernet Lamo.nt in. charge .of 
production. This is- the second air- 
show to be filmed by the Reed out- 
fit, having just completed a short for 
Westinghoiise, based on their Sun- 
day afternoon show, and featuring 
John Charles Thomas. John Nesbitt 
and the Victor Young orchestra, for 
similar distribution. 



Allen Pacts Al Goodman 

Fred Allen, who bows in on NBC 
Oct. 7 'for Standard Brands, last 
week gave Al Goodman the nod on 
the orchestral end of the show.- - — 




w tvesrs createst mowwotw 

National ioltt Rt prtteflmlivt, * foul tl lo,r..,i ton.pAn/ 




The Throe Suns 



for good talk 
for good music 



¥r*4k \ H»i and 4»«*rge llavex 

for good announcing 

\\ U*st and Ikou Marlln 

for good directing 

Ted Merberl and 188 Blue Stations 

; for good broadcasting 

The M, H. Ilaekell Company 

' for good agency ing 



frmm 



Mariin € of Ivn 

and the Chatham Mfg. € o. 

who make good blankets 



LaBrum and Hanson 



a n r. e & t i s t ,v t . r v si re h k i Art o .v .< 



* If IS SI HA ON ,:. 



June 1, 1945 



WCAU Broadcasting Company, 
1623 Chestnut Street, 
Philadelphia 3, Pa. . - . 

Oontleisen: 

Forty weeks ago, Thomas Wriggins, President 
of B. Dewees, Inc. dec idea to sponsor Bease Howard'; 
"World i-'anorma" program over your station to test the 
productivity of radio advertising. Deweeg, as you know, 
has hwn 8 leading specialty store in Philadelphia for 
almost 100 years; it;; alientle representing all incame 
.groups. 

The results have b«ea extremely gratifying. On 
quite, a few occasions the merchandise offered has been 
a old out the same day; Recently 1,206 pairs of stockings 
(no, MOT Hylons) were sold between the oioae of the 
program and 4;00 o'clock that afternoon. 

I thought you would li tee to know of this evidence 
of measurable sales results, for : what started as a test 
campaign is now a profitable merchandising policy. 

Cordially your 




HiCH/fab 



vovax&xjzr yours, 



H, hfcnt Sanson 



BESSE HOWARD interpret* 
World Affairs with the authority ... 
and the listenable personal angle . : i I 
gleaned in Iter lifetime of ivorld travel. 



-Qnotk 




[RU 



SALESUCCESS 



Si 



Besse Howard's "World Panorama" is broadcast 
9:45 - 10 A. M. Monday through Friday, opposite a popular network 
show. Proof again that tit Philadelphia it's WCAU for listener response. 



COVERAGE + PROGRAM = SALES 

WCAU 

50,000 WATTS . CBS AFFILIATE 



PHILADELPHIA'S LEADING RADIO INSTITUTION 



30 



RADIO REVIEWS 



P^RIEff 



Wednesday. June 20, 1945 



"AN EVENING WITH ROMBERG" j 
With Sigmund Romberg orch, Robert ; 
Merrill,- -Frank Gallop, .lime Forest | 
(guest) 
Producer: Don Gillis 
Writers: Jack Simpson. Flora Bash 
30 Mins.: Tues., 10:30 pmi. 
RALEIGH C1GARETS 
WEAF-NBC, N. Y. 

• (Riissei M. Seeds) 
Summer replacement for Hilde- 
garde's '"Raleigh Room" packs plenty 
of listenable music under Sigmiind 
Romberg's baton plus the baritoning 
of Robert Merrill, recent winner of 
the Metropolitan Opera auditions. 
There'll be a guest each week; with 
soprano June Forest fitting in nicely 
on. opener (12 I. Chief . attraction, 
though, is the Romberg organization 
of 45 men and it shapes up as well 
equipped':. to hold down the "torrid 
zone"' assignment. Frank Gallop's a 
help. too. handling his chatter se- 
quences brightly and with his cus- 
tomary aplomb. •.' :'/'-.',:•'.-'■ 

High spot on the preem was a 
medley of Edward Grieg melodies by 
the orch. featuring the Piano Con- 
certo in A Minor and excerpts from 
the Peer Gynl suite. Musickers also 
paraded the French national march. 
Empress Waltz" and used Rom- 
berg's "Desert Song" for theme to 
open and close. 

Merrill drew' "The Open Road'" as 
his solo and then teamed' With Miss 
Forest for "Will: You Remember?" 
from maestro's "Maytime" imme- 
diately following her solo. "Road to 
Paradise." from the same operetta. 
Both vocalists scored . with ease. 
Romberg came on for a brief dialog 
bit with Gallop, explaining that Miss 
Forest bad been "discovered" by the 
maestro during a recent concert tour. 

Plugs were sprinkled liberally 
throughout the 30 minutes cued to 
angle that Romberg means ''perfec- 
tion in music" and the. sponsor's cig- 
gies mean the same thing in smokes. 
Then, near close, there's a reminder 
that sponsor also bankrolls Billie 
Burke and "People Are Funny." 
Close-out is a hitch-hike for Sic Wal- 
ter Raleigh pipe fuel. Dpmi. . 



"MEN OF VISION" 
Cast: VIcki Vola. Cameron F 
hmmne. Michael Artist; Don Mc- 
Laughlin, Spencer Benlley, .lames 
Roles, Don Morrison, .lames Van 
Dvke, Warren Parker 
Narrator: Edwin C. IUH 
Announcer: Tony Marvin 
Music: William Stoess 
Director: Bob Nolan . 
30 Mins.: Sun, 7 p. m. 
BENDIX AVIATION CORP. 
WABC-CBS, N. Y. 

... (Grand 
After clearing the Sunday 7 p. m. 
slot bv shifting the Norman Corwin 
suslainers to Tuesday nights. CBS 
put Bendix' new show, "Men of Vi- 
sion." on that time. That may be 
a break for Corwin, but not for the 
net s Sunday evening listeners. For 
what the latter have drawn instead 
is certainly no bargain. 

For the preem (17 T,: the show, 
which will be a weekly tribute to 
leaders in aviation, chose to drama- 
tize the life of Glenn L. Martin. 
Certainly no one who is not too fa- 
miliar with the life of Martin will 
quarrel with the writers, producers, 
directors and narrator about the 
facts of Martin's life. These may 
have been presented with perfect 
truth. But what came out of the 
show was an over-written, stridently 
narrated piece that could have made 
few friends for Martin— if he needs 
any among people who don't happen 
to be in the. business of buying 
bombers. g 

For a moment, during the middle 
commercial, there was relief when 
Tony Marvin's voice as announcer 
took the mike away from Ed-win C. 
Hill's shouting, melodramatic ora- 
tiojis that seemed hellbent on fight- 
ing doubters' flack. 

The producers of the show (Trans- 
American) refused to identify them- 
selves publicly, or to mention the 
writers. That's just as well. There 
isn't much credit to any of them for 
this exhibition. Martin's life sotry. 
as told here, evidently has some 
drama ill it. But if the creator of 
some of bur best fighting ships has 
to»be spoken of as a "Yankee Doodle 
with a Martin bomber accent" — it's 
better that his story stay in the en- 
cyclopedia. The show "wasn't a com 
plimenl to anyone. Cars. 



clean fun, nothing weightily cerebral 
ud- 1 about it. but, on the other hand, 
nothing wherewith to insult the lis- 
tener's intelligence. Mother's Day is 
just toil and trouble keeping her 
brood out of hot water and . her 
household above water. 

Conrad Nagel. as emcee, had liltle 
to do this time but act as intro- 
ducer of Miss Astor. But he was 
promised an acting role lor next 
week's show. Rest of the cast sup- 
ported Miss Astor capably. Direc- 
tion was smooth, well paced 
throughout. Curs. 



Connecticut^- 

Lad. the 48 »»«»•» "•" 
*WUetW« »«¥•"" l»e 0,n • 
with $5,920 per f"" 11 *'-* 
Connect in Connecticut 
by usinq WORC. Basic 
CBS, Hartford. 



• From Saler^f mo- 
ment's Surrey 0) Buy- 
ing. Power. 



"SILVER THEATRE" 
Cast: Mary Astor, Frank Martin, Ed- 
win Mills, Norman Wilnor. Ralph 
Fretto, Henry Blair. Mary Lan- 
sing, Joel Davis, Ruth Rickaby. 
Writer: George Wells 
Producers: Edna Best, Ted Bliss 
Director-Emcee: Conrad Nagel 
Announcer: Jack Bailey : 
Music: Felix Mils 
30 Mins.: Sun., 6 p. in. 
INTERNATIONAL SILVER 
WABC-CBS. N.Y. 

" <Yotm0 & Rubicoin) 
One of radio's old dramatic stand- 
bys. "Silver Theatre." came back to 
the air as a summer replacement for 
International Silver's "Adventures 
of Ozzie and Harriet." As presented 
on the preem (17.),. it made. for a 
pleasant half hour, summertime or 

any "weather." - t*~ — — 

First stanza . was a play titled "One 
Day After Another," which was a 
family comedy starring Mary Astor 
as the mother of five brats, of as- 
sorted ages but all of one sex— the 
dominant male. It was all good. 



WUood ^oanaU Bon 1! Hood qqduuT 
ALL DAY LOWG 



"THAT'S MY POP" 
With Hugh Herberl, Mary Wickes. 
Peggv Conklin. Ronnie Llss, Jack 
Albertson. Ethel Owen, Toby 
David, Walter Kinsella 
Writers: Milt Gross, Hugh Wedlock. 

Howard Snyder 
Producer: Bert Prager 
Director: Marx Loeb 
30 Mins.; Sun., 7:30 p.m. 
Sustaining 
WABC-CBS. N. Y. 

This new CBS Sunday night sum- 
mertime replacement sho.w in the 
last-half spot vacated by the Kate 
Smith Hour represents half of the 
dual Hugh Herbert preem thus week 
(he also opened last night (Tues.) 
in the Broadway "Oh. Brother" 
legiter f. With Milt Gross in as head 
writer of a situation comedy paekr 
age based on the Gross comic strip, 
with a cast sparked, in addition to 
Herbert, by such legit stalwarts as 
Mary Wickes and Peggy Conklin, 
and with the seasoned Marx Loeb 
directing and Bert Prager producing. 
"Pop" is one of the more ambitious 
CBS ventures into summertime pro- 
gramming aimed at wooing a spon- 
sorship tag in the fall. 

All of which, on paper, would in- 
dicate that CBS might have some- 
thing to brag about. And. as a mat- 
ter of fact, if some obvious flaws are 
ironed out. "Pop" has definite poten- 
tialities. True, they weren't really 
apparent on Sunday night's (171 
initial stanza until the closing 10 
minutes, when a sudden switch in 
the scripting routine hypoed the 
laugh interest considerably, but there 
was enough there to indicate that if 
Gross and his co-writers follow the 
same zany latter-portion tack they've 
got something worth playing around 
with. 

Chief fault with "Pop" on opener 
was attempt of scripters to span 
whole gamut of comedy writing into 
a half-hour instead of dwelling on a 
given situation; as. for instance, that 
closing sequence in which Herbert, 
cast as a lazy windbag whose last 
job was selling sun glasses during 
the 1929 eclipse, lets his mother-in- 
law take the nap for running an un- 
licensed street corner suit-case shop 
and winds up with a "quality of 
mercy" spiel that was basically good 
comedy. It should be kept in that 
metier. ■":"."":," 

Obvious flaw, too. was that loco- 
motive pace of Herbert's and his 
careless reading of lines. The guy's 
got a distinctive delivery, but what's 
the. . rush? Unless, of" course, the 
scripters have, burdened the show 

with too -many -lines, 

Otherwise, production can stand 
some better pacing. Ruse. 

"CORRECTION PLEASE" 
With J. C. Flippen, Jerry Fears Orch. 
Producer: Garnett Garrison 
Announcer: Roger Bowman 
30 Mins.; Fri., 8:30 p.m. 
BRISTOL-MYERS CO. 
WEAF-NBC, N. Y. 



"DETECT AND COLLECT" 

With Wendy Barrie, Fred CtUl, 

guests 

Producer: Mildred Fenlon 
Director: Herb Polesle 
Music: Ted ltapl Orch ; 
Writers: Carl Jampel, Ray Harvey, 

Herb Baker 
30 Mins.: Wed., 9:30 p.irj. 
OLD GOLDS 
WABC-CBS, N. Y. 

(Lennen & Mitchell) 

"Detect and Collect" is just an- 
other quiz show. It lacks punch, lis- 
tener appeal, and the ineffectual 
m.c.ing of both Fred Utlal and Wen- 
dy Barrie, plus the tired questions 
asked of contestants, add up to. 
nothing much. 

Gimmick finds quizmasters giving 
people called lip from the audience 
clues to a surprise gift hidden be- 
hind a curtain. If contestant guesses 
what the article is on first clue, he 
gets $25 plus the gift, and so on 
through six clues, winding* up with 
no money but the article, if no right 
guess. 

Uttal, a vet announcer, has been 
asking questions of people for years 
— on the radio. He does his best 
with the dialog handed him. but 
Miss Barrie. on the first show last 
Wednesday (13) anyway, sounded as 
if she would pass out. from fright 
any minute, and as result spoiled 
much of the listening enjoyment. She 
must be a better entertainer than 
showcased on this program, what 
with years of film and radio experi- 
ence as a background. - Among vari- 
ous things given away on first show 
was a pig. cake of ice. red points. 

Commercials are .somewhat brief. 
But this stanza is not as good as the 
program it replaces. "Which Is 
Which?", which also wasn't too good 
a show. Steii, 




DP 
USt 



0 l L A 



dOUQ ODD 



50U0 

WATTS 



□ ■ □ 



a nana .^a 0 (ii> 




EW YORK REPRESENT 1 V E JOHN E 



'EAR SON CI 



(Young & Rubicani i 

"Correction Please." if just ar 
other quiz show, should do as a suit 
mer replacement. (It went in ; 
sub for "Duffy's Tavern " ) The for- 
mula is familiar, but the show has a 
few fresh twists and an appeal. The 
mood is light and informal. Audi- 
ence participation is strong and re- 
sponse is enthusiastic. Questions are 
fairly interesting and not in the high 
I.Q. reaches. And J. C. Flippen"* 
handling, as quizmaster is a strong 
point; : ■ ,". " ' ' "-'' " - - . - 

The vet vaudevillian brings niftv 
banter to the proceedings" which 
giv.es them quite a lift". His cheerful 
gab is of the light, inconsequential 
variety suited to the season, and his 
sense of showmanship, while dis- 
creet, ■ is always evident. A per- j 
former himself. Flippen is wise \ 
enough to give the show to. Jits con- 
testants;' manipulating it along with ' 
a sure hand. He suits. 

Twist in' this show has its ques- I 
lions fired .at one. Of five contestants; j 
I Each has been provided With $10 ( in 
Ihe second half, $20) to bid for the ] 
privilege of answering the question. 1 
Winner has a chance of doubling. I 
trebling his money, if he answers the '■ 
questions satisfactorily. Questions'!' 
consist of a set of three statements 1 
about famous couples, about song i 
titles, quotations, with one of the | 
three statements a bald error, the i 
contestant to spot the wrong one. All 
contestants can try out for the final j 
question, sharing in 'the $100 bond* 
awards, -.v., 

With four servicemen and women 
and a taxi-driver for the first group 
of contestants, Friday's (15) opener 
made, an interesting program. Jerry 
Sears' orchestra, breaking in be- 
tween questions, prevented the usual 
droplag. Arid Flippen 's handling, as I 
aforesaid, was good. Sponsor's plugs 
(Bristol-Myers' Vitalis. Ioanai were 
down to a minimum, opening and 
closing, for sensible advertising. ' I 

Bron. • 



"MEET ME AT PARKY'S" 

With Parkvakarkus (Harry Ein- 
stein), Betty Jane Rhodes. Dave 
Street, Opie Cates orch, others 

Director: Hal timber* 

Writers: Flmberf. and Einstein 

30 Mins.; Sun., 10:30 p.m. 

P. LORILLARD CO. 

WEAF-NBC, N. *. 

(Lennen * Mitchell) 

''Meet Me at Parky's" marks the 
return to the air of Eddie Cantor's 
former stooge. Parkyakarkus, in his 
own show, after latter was out of 
radio for more than five years. This 
stanza is the summer replacement 
for Harold Lloyd's "Comedy Thea- 
tre." which reportedly will not re- 
turn in the fall. As warm weather 
fare, the new comedy-variety for- 
mat is good-listening fodder, but 
whether the program is weighty 
enough to hold up when the com- 
petition gets tough next fall .is a 
moot point. 

Parky is cast in the role of the 
owner of a beanery which is fre- 
quented by a variety of characters. 
He passes out advice and witticisms 
at the drop of a hat, majority of sit- 
uations as scripted and enacted be- 
ing fairly comical. Singers Dave 
Street and Betty Jane Rhodes do jus- 
tice to the pair of pop tune's each is 
cal led— upon— to ...deliver., __while._.the 
brand of music played by Opie Cates 
and his crew is plenty zingy. al- 
though somewhat oh the corny side. 

An innovation, for this sponsor 
anyway, is the deliverance of com- 
mercials in a kidding vein, which 
doesn't belittle the product and gels 
home the sponsor's message in an 
offhand manner— good phychology. 
This program could build during the 
ensuing months into something 
worthwhile, very easily. It has the 
ingredients. Sten. 



"WEAPON FOR TOMORROW" 

(Special Documentary) 

With Joseph Cotten, Alfred Drake, 
Acting Secretary of State Josepfc 
C. Grew, Wilbur Forrest, others 

Writer: Ira Marion 

Producers: . Leonard Reeg, Wright 
Esser 

Music: David Rose, Earl Robinson 
60 Mins.; Fri., June 15, 10 p. m. 
Sustaining 

WJZ- American Broadcasting Co. 
(Blue) 

Marking the official switchover in 
title from the Blue Network to the 
American Broadcasting Co., the 
web last Friday (15) night presented 
an hour-long documentary called 
"Weapon for Tomorrow," which 
wrapped up with effective showman- 
ship an eloquent editorial expression 
of the high goal that the American 
Broadcasting Co. set for itself. It 
was a three-way- presentation which 
utilized a dramatization, a musical 
cantata and a closing speech by Act- 
ing Secretary of State Joseph C. 
Grew. Through this tri-cornered 
method the network "dedicated itself 
to forging "a true and steadfast, 
Weapon for Tomorrow — knowledge 
communicated without restraint.., 
freedom of information, . .a weapon 
in a never-ending struggle for last- 
ing peav ! and freedom." Thus, it 
forcefully showed radio its respon- 
sibility and laid at the door of thus 
newest means of communication the 
job of guaranteeing this principle of 
freedom pf' information. 

Aside from the high ideal that the 
network has set for itself (and uiv 
this basis alone it was ah effective 
promotion stunt). "Weapon for To- 
morrow" proved a rewarding hour 
from a production and entertain- 
ment standpoint. Ira Marion did a 
notable scripting job. particularly in 
the early-sequenced dramatization 
in which the Voices of Democracy 
demonstrated the great need of this 
Weapon for tomorrow." Jo.scph Cot- 
( Continued on page 34) 



Pittsburgh — Local brewery-spon- 
sored show. "Memory Time," weekly 
feature over KDKA for last year, 
has gone "network," with three sta- 
tions in tri-state area as added out- 
lets. They are WWVA in Wheeling. 
WMBC in Johnstown. Pa., and 
WJAC.in Uniontown. Pa. 



TIME TO TALK to a city's teeming 
populace, time for reaching subur- 
ban shoppers, or lime for covering 
rich rural markets ... sucb time is 
the full-time concern of Weed ft 
Company — specialists ia good time* 
on good stations. 





'Well, no wondert" 



Wednesday, June 20, 1945 



t^RtETY 



RADIO 



31 



Indde Stuff— Radio 

Mutual's first transatlantic Father's Day program Sunday (17) got fine 
coverage in the newspapers— while the gal who conceived the idea, wrote 
and directed the show, got nary a line of credit. Maxine Keith, Mutual 
network commentator, thought up the idea o£ American kids talking to 
their GI fathers in England on a two-way program, collected' the .urchins 
and used theni on her regular Friday (15) show which doesn't have a N.Y. 
outlet. Show was rebroadcast Sunday over WOR, and because of the 
N.Y. outlet, both Mutual and BBC wanted extensive coverage. They got it, 
with a two-col. pix in the Times, three-col. story and pix in the Telegram, 
two-col. pix and story in the Sun, all on Friday, and a story in the Brooklyn 
Eagle Thursday. Only the Eagle mentioned Miss Keith's name in connec- 
tion with the stunt, Mutual's press dept. bypassing any credit tag— though 
perhaps unintentionally— and Miss Keith doing a burn. 

What has all the • earmarks of a prccedental move is the signing of 
Leith Stevens as director of the Rise Stevens musical exhibit as summer 
pinch hitter for "Information Please." He'll swap his baton for a soft seat 
in the control booth, believed to be unparalleled in Hollywood radio„ On 
the podium will be guest conductors from picture studios with the music 
to be confined to filmusical scores. Murray Boleh, of the Compton agency, 
will be production supervisor but actual direction of the series, will be" 
entrusted to Stevens,, who directed music for many network shows before 
he went to Australia for OWI but previousfy without production experi- 
ence. • 



Although Bill Goodwin, who was on the Burns and Allen program before 
switching to Frank Sinatra's show, returns to the B&A airer in the fall, 
the announcer "is. reported holding off signing formal contract with B&A 
till September, which is when his agency contract with Jimmy Saphier 
expires. Behind the move is Goodwin's reported unwillingness to cut 
Saphier into any commissions on the new deal. v 

Goodwin is also expected to take on Al Levy, Sinatra's manager, as his 
manager in the fall, . .'„•':. \; : "_ 



Mesters Cancel WOV Show 
Effective Day After FCC 
Hearing on Station Sale 

While the FCG is skedded to hold 
s hearing next Monday (25) about 
the proposed sale of the N. Y. indie, 
WOV, to the Mester Bros., the latter 
have cancelled their nine-year-old 
program o i that station. 

Murray and Meyer Mester are the 
owners of the Balbo Oil Co., which 
lias been sponsoring a WOV cross- 
thc-board, 15-miniite musical stanza 
at 11:30. a.m. Show has been on 
since 1936. 

Last week, Ralph Weil, manager 
cf the station, acknowledged the fact 
that the program has been cancelled 
as of June 26. That happens to be 
the day, after the Mester Bros, peti- 
tion is to come before the FCC, 
which i has challenged their com- 
petence to run a radio station. 
. No word could be obtained from 
the Commercial Radio Advertising 
Agency, which handles the Balbo ac- 
count, as to the reason for the can- 
cellation. The Mesters said it was 
due to shortage of materials. 



Brings Ballinger In 

Chicago, June 19. 

In line with plans for the expan- 
sion" of their radio department, 
Reincke-EUis-Younggreen & Finn, 
Inc., here have appointed Bill S. 
Ballinger as radio director.- Pri- 
marily a publication agency with 
little radio activity. Handling only a 
few spots for the Chicago, Burling- 
ton & Quincy railroad' and the Blue 
Moon Cheese Co., firm plans to build 
up this phase of their business. 
Russell R. Williams, who has been 
handling what little radio the 
agency has, has been transferred to 
ether duties. 

Ballinger has a background of 12 
years in radio having been with, the 
Campbell-Mfthun and Campbell- 
Ewald offices here and the Potts- 
Turnbull Agency, Kansas City. In 
addition he has conducted his own 
^"scription company, the M-K-N 
Productions, producing spot and 15- 
minutc shows for the past two-and- 
a-half years. 



Connee Boswell Gives 
'Vic & Sade' P&G Run 

Procter & Gamble, in addition to 
eyeing the soapers, "Vic & Sade," for 
the 7:15-7:36 p.m.; CBS niche Mon- 
days through Fridays, is also con- 
sidering a musical show for the slot. 
otanza, which was auditioned late 
«st week, stars Connee Boswell and 
Jack Smith with Earl SheXion's orch. 
tow i les SDeer - writer of the 
Kulco and Bourjois-Ripley airers, 
scripted. 



N. O. Brewery Expands 

New Orleans, June. 19. 

ng a cue from competitors 
"we, the Standard Brewery thl 
week added three shows to its spon 
-orship list. They are "Symphonies 
» £ «ie Sage," quarter-hour tran 
in« » fivc -a-week; "Worth Listen 

quarter-hour recorded swing 
wnes, Sundays, and Martin Agron 

"ews commentaries, five-a 
we «k, in morning. 



Boston. — Norbert L. O'Brien, head 
of radio department of J. P. McKin- 
ney & Son, N. Y., for the past six 
years has joined WCOP here as com- 
mercial manager. 



C'est Which Guerre? 

Lynchburg. Va., June J9. 

"I'm not that old!" was the 
anguished cry of chief engineer 
John Orth, of WLVA and the 
Tri-Cities Network when he 
opened a box from the War 
Dept. and found a Civil War 
Medal inside. 

Orth had written for a Mexi- 
can Border Campaign medal.. 
He surmises somebody in the 
Quartermaster Depot went to 
the wrong shelf and brought 
down the 1861-65 trophy bear- 
ing Abe Lincoln's likeness. 

"It would have to be a Yankee 
medal!", the southerner added. 



GI HOME SEEKERS 
TO GET WMCA TIME 

A new service to servicemen and 
returnees will be given by the N.Y. 
indie WMCA beginning next Monday 
<25). Real estate reporter Barbara 
Homer will put them on the air for 
three-minute sessions, during which 
they will be able to tell listeners 
what kind of apartment they want 
— and what they'll take as second 
best. „ ', _ 

Miss Homer'sTReal Estate Round- 
Up," which is on the air Mondays 
through Saturday (8:03-8:15 a:m.), 
will back up the servicemen's re- 
quests for housing with appeals for 
solution of the living-quarter short- 
age on a personalized basis. 



R. I. Political Feud Ups Wills 

As Successor to Case on FCC 



Washington, June 19. 
. Announcement by President Tru- 
man last Wednesday (13) that ex- 
Gov. William 'H. Wills, of Vermont, 
will succeed Norman S, Case as 
FCC Commissioner for the' term be- 
ginning July 1 came as no great sur- 
prise here to those who knew that 
Senator Theodore F. Green (D, R.I.) 
was out for Case's hide. 

Case holds one of the Republican 
minority spots on the Commission. 
He is well-liked by FCC employees 
who were hit hard by the news. 
However, he preceded Green as 
Governor of R.I. and the two have 
been political foes for a long time. 

While Green had a candidate of 
his own, it was not Wills who had 
the backing of Vermont's two Re- 
publican senators. General belief 
here is that Truman felt he owed 
something to the Vermont senators 
who have been supporting the Ad- 
ministration's foreign policy and 
much of its domestic policy. . 

Wills. was born in Chicago, Oct. 26, 
1882, and was graduated from Nor- 
wich U. and' the U. of Vermont. 
Originally in the drygoods business, 
he later founded an insurance agency 
which he still heads at Bennington, 
Vt. He served in the Vermont House 



of Representatives 1929-31 and in the 
State Senate 1931-37. He was lieu- 
tenant governor for two years and 
then Governor for four years, leav- 
ing office Jan. 1, 1945. '[ 

Wills was in Washington recently 
to confer with Senator Warren 
Austin (R., Vt.), his principal backer. 
He is expected to be confirmed by 
the Senate without any difficulty.' .,-."' 



Bracken Gets Sued 
For Firing MCA Agcy. 

Hollywood, June 19. 

Eddie Bracken's difficulties wilh 
Music Corp. will be arbitrated by 
Screen Actors Guild following filing 
of an action by Judge Lester Roth 
on behalf of MCA. Bracken had 
served notice of discharge on MCA 
as his agent for pictures and radio, 
and also assertedly eliminated the 
firm from any consideration in the 
sale of the radio show, "The Eddie 
Bracken Story." . 

MCA is asking an award establish- 
ing the existence of a management 
contract and its interest iii the radio 
property. Counsel for Bracken has 
10 days to file an answer, after which 
arbiters will be chosen. 



THE VOICE OF ST. LOUIS" 

presents a sure sales formula . . 




TARE: a double-header radio show that's been y 
breaking gales records in Chicago, Los Angeles, 
and San Francisco during the past nine years. 

IN: Lee Adams... a favorite personality of St. 
Louisiana and mid-Mississippi Valley listeners. 

MICE: on KMOX...St. Louis' powerful 50,000- 
watt clear channel station. 

TN KL" nn unbeatable best-seller. You have: 

♦Iwsewives' Protective League and Sunrise Salute, 
: plus Lee Adams over KMOX . : _ ^ 

It's a simple, effective format— 85 minutes of 
casual conversation in twice-daily installments 
(6:00-6:15 A.M. and 4:30-5:00 EM.) -a format 
that's worked every place it's been introduced, 
that has drawn over 5,000 letter a during its first 
three weelcs.on KMOX. Emccc Lee Adams dis-. 
courses with equal ease on. whatever— from 
hen-pecked husbands to penicillin, from ibe, 
psychology of smoking to llic story of silk. His 
broadcasts are colorful, informative, and 
always factually convincing. • 

Sales faris are presented just as convinc- 
ingly. Each commercial message carries added 
weight because 'HPL-SS listeners know that a 
group of 3,000 local housewives, who have vol- 
unteered their help to Leo Adams, pretest and 



endorse every product before its sponsorship Is 
accepted by the program. 

77te selling strength of HPL-SS is pretested, 
too. Typical results in other markets are these: 
A book publisher's announcements on HPL-SS 
drew twice the returns yielded by a competing 
station; another sponsors sales were increased 
800% in less than 18 months; a certain six- 
weeks' offer pulled 14,740 replies. 

We're predicting that the new KMOX edi- 
tion of HPL-SS will set even more striking 
records. Participating sponsorships are now 
ready,- So is the opportunity for you .to trans- 
late this proven sales formula into extra profits 
for yourself. 

Better call us— or Radio Sales today. 



KMO 

COLUMBIA OWNED 
50,000 watts 

THE VOICE OF ST. LOUIS 




REPRESENTED BY RADIO SALES, THE SPOT BROADCASTING DIVISION OF CBS 



32 



Wednesday, June 20, 1945 



0 p*uut& Sinatras 

ENDEARED TO THE HEARTS 
OF MILLIONS OF HIS FANS 

EILEEN 



NOW APPEARING 

PARAMOUNT 

New York-' 




„ «§#♦•« * * ~ 

K, 

*♦«»»*♦»<*♦♦.*>; 
•«». I 



<♦»,*«« 



«?1 




Ifll 



Management 

WILLIAM MORRIS AGENCY; Inc. 



------ -■ 



Wednesday, June 20, 1945 



RADIO 



33. 



PH1LLY JUNTO ASKS FM 
FOR EDUCATION ONLY 

Philadelphia, June 19. 

The 'Philadelphia Junto, adult ed- 
ucation organiztion here, has made 
Application for an FM broadcast li- 
cense to the FCC. 

The Junto, named for a similar 
group started by Benjamin Franklin, 
|« a non-profit outfit which offers 
courses in everything from ., ballet 
dancing to Russian, has been operat- 
ing for the past seven years to an 
average of 5,000 students per semes- 
ter . ' '.'•".• " 

Execs of (lie organization, consist- 
ing of public-spirited Philadelphians, 
claim that they are not seeking to 
compete with commercial radio iii 
asking (or a license to broadcast. 

'"We feel that we will be able to 
spread our education over a much 
wider field by means of radio," said 
Philip Klein, business manager of the 
Junto. It. will still be kept on a non- 
profit basis." 

Klein pointed out that the station, 
if okayed by the FCC, would tie up 
with cultural, educational and simi- 
lar institutions in Philly tart muse- 
ums, libraries, scientific institutes, 
historical museums, etc. ) to bring 
these places before the public. 
....Junto, which has only one paid 
permanent ' employee, charges ~>'tu- 
denls $4 per m\ne-week semester. 
There are three semesters per year, 
'instructor's receive $10 for each ses- 
sion. .. 



American Cyan Mulls 
Additional Blue Show 

American Cyanamid Co. is discuss- 
ing with Blue network execs the 
possibility of expanding its programs 
ming via a new half-hour nighttime 
show: 

Blue wants to spot a dramatic 
stanza in the 9:30-10 Thursday night 
segment, with the Cyanamid outfit 
expressing sponsorship interest. Cli- 
ent currently is bankrolling the 
Blue's Friday night "The Doctor 
Talks It Over." 



'Cap Midnight' Going 
From Blue to Mutual 

. '.' . '..'. '.-..- Chicago, June 19. 

'•Captain Midnight." rfve-a-week 
juvenile series currently heard on 
the Blue network, 5:45-fi p.m. <EWTi, 
will switch to the Mutual network 
on Sept. 24 in a 52-week contract 

| signed last week and put through: 

| the Hill Blackelt agency. 

Sponsored by the Wander. Co. 

[ for Ovaltiue. the strip will origi- 
nate from here as before and be 
aired over Mutual at 5:30-5:45 p.m. 
iCWT), with three repeat broad- 
casts. 



; Bosluii: — Paul Rowland, 'VVCOP 
announcer, was- set for' Navy, induc- 
tion w hen the. stop order oil draft- 
ing men over 30 came through. So 
station upped him to chief an- 
nouncer and studio supervisor. * ., . 





Meet WW's Paul Todd- 

of the "Radio Todds". , . our Transmitter Supervisor 

The serious-looking, square-jawed 
slide-rule manipulator in our photo 

w l i?n. he " Swin R Gifl " 'S Pau» Todd, 
W HB's Transmitter Supervisor, who 
has been a commercial radio opera- 
tor since 1929 and a WHB engineer 
uncejanuary, 1930. Like his brother 
Jack Todd (Formerly WHB Program 
Oirector, now manager of KANS, 
Wichiu), Paul comes from Shenan- 
doah, Iowa .... worked during his 
school years at KMA and KFNF. . . 
»nd, later, at WMT in Waterloo. 

J" >5 years at WHB, Paul has ex- 
hibited unflagging interest in the 
u-u'" P erfect 'On of programs 
which make thTs station unique. 
Mes done his bit toward the war 
*ttort, too, as president of a company 
manufacturing quartz crystals for 
™e U. S, Army Signal Corps. 

' Ask him today about the current 
snows on WHB which intrigue him 




For WHB Availabilities, 'Phone DON DAVIS 
at any of these "SPOT SAIES" offices: 

KANSAS CITY . .... . . Scarritt Building HArrison It 41 

NEW YORK CITY ... 400 Madison Avenue . . . Eldorado 5-5040 
CHICAGO . . . . . 1*0 North Michigan ...... FRAnklin 8520 

HOLLYWOOD . . Hollywood Blvd. at Cosmo . . Hollywood B318 
SAN FRANCISCO ..... 5 Third Strt.t EXbrook 3558 

KEY STATION for the KANSAS STATE NETWORK 

Kansas City • Wichita • Salina < Great Bend • Emporia 
Missouri Kansas Kansas Kansas Konrot 



Confirm Russell, Stanton 
As NAB Net Directors 

Washington, June 19. 

Frank M. Russell, NBC, and Frank 
Stanton, CBS, have been confirmed 
as network directors of NAB. accord- 
ing to complete results of the mail 
referendum on the directors. 

In addition, on the basis of the 
final poll, G: Richard Shalto, WIS, 
has been named director-at-large for 
medium stations. TV A. M. Craven, 
WOL, who was elected on the first 
poll, is the other medium station 
rep. . • 

Directors-at-large elected to rep- 
resent small' stations are Matthew 
H. Bonebrake, KOCY, and Clair R. 
McColloUgh, WGAL. On the 4'ust I 
ballot, . J. Leonard Reinsch. WSB. | 
and J. Harold Ryan. WWVA. and 
NAB pfexy, were named to repre- 
sent large stations. 

Two amendments to the NAB 
constitution, have also been ap- 
proved in the mail referendum. -The 
first clarifies the definition of large, 
medium and small stations for de- 
termining membership eligibility. 
The second broadens associate mem- 
berships. 



Texas Welcome to War Heroes Gets 
Full Coverage Via Wire Recorder 



WT1G LAUNCHES NAB, 
AASDJ INSTRUCTION 

Hartford. June 19. 

First radio station in the country 
to serve as a training ground for I 
college and university instructors in 
'journalism is WTIC. It's part of a 
plan promulgated by the radio in- | 
dustry to provide schools with in- 
formation necessary to teach radio 
news courses. 

Plan was inaugurated by the Na- 
tional Ass'n of Broadcasters and the 
American Ass'n of Schools and De- 
partments of Journalism. Teachers 
will take part in actual news gath- 
ering under supervision of WTIC's 
news editor. Expected that with 
this additional training, they will be 
in a better position to establish 
courses in radio journalism at their 
respective schools. 

Under this plan, journalism in- 
structors from members of the col- 
legiate group will serve 10-week to 
three-month internships. First in- 
ternee is Everett Wither* asst. prof, 
of journalism at Washington and 
Lee, Lexington, Va., and also direc- 
tor of the university's news bureau. 
Started at WTIC May 28 and re- 
mains here for a minimum of 10 
weeks. 



San Antonio, June 19. 

A new type of radio reporting was 
introduced in the southwest by 
WOAI here last Wednesday (13) 
when the program "Texas Welcomes 
the Generals" was aired over the 
station and fed to the- Texas Quality 
Network. Through the means of a 
wire recorder highlights from the 
various events honoring the re- 
turned European war heroes from 
the time they landed at the local air- 
field until late evening when they 
were honored at a boat ride down 
the San Antonio river was recorded 
by Bud Thorpe, of the WOAI special 
events staff. . . , 

Following each event Thorpe and 
the wire recorder were rushed by 
the mobile unit to the WOAI stu- 
dios where highlights were re-re- 
corded. That night US') at 10:30 p.m. 
Thorpe gave his report of the wel- 
come to the war heroes, utilizing the 
transcription of the events as they 
were, recorded by him. Thus, 
through Thorpe's account of the 
event and the actual on-the-scene 
reporting made for novel radio cov- 
erage, .Interviews with civic leaders, 
several of the returned generals, as 
well as general background noise 
came over in fine style. . 

As a postwar project, the wire re- 
corder will open up much new fields 



in the field of radio newscasting and 
special events. Only drawback at 
present is that the tape used in the 
machine will only record for 30 
minutes. On-the-spot recording can 
be done with the machine via a mo- 
bile unit, rushed to the studio, and 
put on the air within several hours, 
thus eliminating costly special wire 
remote lines. ■-■ 



Mars Candy 'Curtain Time' 
Preems on Blue July 4 

Chicago, June 19. ' 

Mars, candy, bar manufacturers, 
takes the Wednesday, 8 to 8:30 p.m. 
tCWT) slot, beginning July 4, over 
64 : basic mountain and west coast 
stations of the Blue lor a 30-minute 
dramatic program to be known as 
"Curtain Time." Format calls for 
the presentation of original and well 
known plays. 

Series, which will .originate here, 
has been set through the Grant Adv. 
agency for 26 weeks, and will be 
produced "by them -under the direc- 
tion of Harry Holcombe, radio di- 
rector. Leads will be played by 
Beryl Vaughan and Harry E'lderi 
with Charles Irving . as emcee. ."•".' 



most, and he'll tell you about 
these three: _ 
"SONG and DANCE PARADE"— with RUSH | 
HUGHES. A full hour of papular recordings, 
broadcast .Mondays through Saturdays at 2 
p.m.— with popular Rush Hughes ofKvVK 
aa Master of Ceremonies. This program has 
a 4.7 Hooperating In the October-February 
survey . . . and ia on its way up, - 
-THE FIRST FIVE" - with RUSH HUGHES. 
Kansas Cily's "beat seller" records, as re- 
ported daily by leading- retailers— together 
with their "platter males", some fascinating 
and rhythmic "extras". . . and the voice of 
Rush HughesI Forty-five minutes nightly. 
Mondays through Saturdays etti:16 p.m. Ask 
Don DaviB for participation availabilities. # 
"MARY JANE ON PETTICOAT IANE". 
Daily half-hour shopping program. wilh style 
news and music, featuring merchandise of- 
fered by stores and shops od Kansas City's 
famous "Petticoat Lane". Spots available 
for minute transcriptions about products 
used by women. Mondays through Fridays, 
11:30 a. m. to 12:00 noon. 

If you want to sell, the Kansas 
City market, WHB is your happy 
medium. 



Webs Pull Plug On 

Pacific News Pool 

An agreement among the four ma- 
jor' nets -to pool their broadcasts, and 
recordings from the Central Pacific 
theatre has been cancelled. 

From now on each net is on its 
own except for communiques issued 
over the Guam circuit and in cases 
of broadcasts from advanced war 
areas. In latter instances, the pool 
will exist only if web chiefs -in the 
Central Pacific agree specifically for 
such arrangement. 

The four networks had agreed last 
August to pool their broadcasts and 
recordings out Of the Central Pacific, 
and had amended their agreement 
last December. Under the pact, it 
could be canceled if three of the 
four parties agreed to do so. 

This week news chiefs of all the 
four webs signed a letter addressed 
to Rear Admiral H. B. Miller, of 
the Navy's office of public relations, 
canceling the pool. According to the 
letter, all lour organizations are well, 
enough staffed in the Pacific, and 
pooling is "no longer desirable or 
necessary." , — ,'-.;.,' 



NBC FETING BEN GROSS 

In observance ol Ben Gross' 20lh 
anniversary as radio ed of the N. Y. 
Daily News 'in terms of radio that 
length of service merits a deansliip), 
NBC is tossing a luncheon for Gross 
at the Waldorf-Astoria in N. Y. on. 
July 9. Affair will tie iii with Mary 
Margaret McBi ide broadcast, w ith 
the. commentator and radio ed col- 
labbing on a q. & a. routine: 

Publicity heads of the other webs 
aijd N. Y. indie stations are getting 
an invite along with agency Hacks. 



Warns Vs. Phone Toll Chai ses 

. Washington. June 19. 
•FCC issued a warning to hotels, 
clubs and other spots making sur- 
charges- .on' long distance phone calls 
to quit it quick, "or face immediate 
legal action." •' ■".".' 

Although the Supreme Court re- 
cently upheld the validity of an 
FCC order for an. elimination of sur- 
charges 'above- the regular telephone 
company tariffs, plenty of places are 
still making "service charges," FCC 
said. 




610 K. C. 



Represented Nationally by GEO. P. HOUINGBERY CO. 



34 



RADIO 



-Wednesday. June 20, 



1945 



Radio Reviews 



, Continued from page 30 



ten, in the role of narrator, coordi- 
nated in well-chosen and simple 
phrases the trail left in history by 
a distortion of information, judicious 
use of lies and the control of facts 
which inevitably has led to lost free- 
dom. That it translated itself into a 
sock documentary reflects to the 
credit of Marion as well as Cotlen's 
performance. 

Highlight of the hour show, how- 
ever: was the initial performance of 
Earl- Robinson's "Town Crier" can- 
tata, in which Lewis Allen's lyrics, 
by their emotional strength, went 
far to drive home the all-important 
message for democracy. As sung by 
Alfred Drake and chorus, it attained 
a peak of eloquence. True. Robin- 
son leaned heavily on his "Lonesome 
Train" cantata for his recurring 
theme, but the t choral-solo format 
and the composer's flawless musical 
construction lends itself well indeed 
to a story-song with something ' to 
tell the people. 

Acting Secretary Grew and Wil- 
bur Forrest, assistant editor of the 
N. Y. Herald Tribune, collaborated 
in amplifying the whole intent of the 



program. Had the sequencing been 
arranged to spot the cantata as the 
finale, instead of Grew, .it would 
have given the program a greater 
dramatic impact. Rose. 



"THE MAN' CALLED X" 

With Herbert Marshall, Gee Gee 

Pearson. Leon Belasco, others 
Writer: Milton Merlin 
Producer-Director: .lack Johnstone 
30 Mins.; Tues., 10:30 p.m. 
PEPSODENT 
WEAF-NBC, N. Y. 

tFoote, Cone & Belding). 

"The' Man Called X" came back to 
the air last week (121 as the summer 
replacement for the Bob Hope slot. 
Herbert 'Marshall, starring in the 
piece., as the detective Thurston, 
handled his character smoothly 
enough. Gee Gee Pearson as the 
dick's needling girl friend, and Leon 
Belasco as the sly stooge, helped 
round out the cast of regulars. But 
when all the competent acting was 
added together, there was still little 
excitement in, the show. 

The story concerned the tracing of 
a leading PJazi in Germany. But the 



opening of the show was much too 
reminiscent of the "Thin Man" for- 
mat; without the slick dialog so 
often heard on latter. And the ac- 
tion in Germany was slow, without 
any real kick. The stooge was writ- 
ten, and directed, in too obvious a 
manner; at times, he was given "in- 
terpretation" of action that was so 
patent as to need no explanation 
whatever. On the whole, the show 
exhibited no originality, and there 
wasn't a single sizzle to make the 
listener forget for a moment that he 
had heard it all before many a time. 

' ■' Co i s. 



"ROGUE'S GALLERY" 

With Dick Powell, Jim Doyle, others 

Producer-Director: Bill Spier 

Writer: Ray Buffum 

SO Mins.; Sun., 7:30 p.m. 

FITCH 

WEAF-NBC. N. Y. 

(JL, . W: Ramsey* 

They've east Dick Powell as a pri- 
vate detective, the role Ije created in 
RKO's film, "Murder. My Sweet." in 
the Fitch "Bandwagon" summer re- 
placement series titled "Rogue's Gal- 
lery." On basis of initial entry last 
Sunday night (17.1. whodunit fans 
should take to this stanza. 

Powell, hired by a Mexican to find 
his delivery-boy son who disap- 
peared while delivering a case of 
liquor, finds himself the target of 



several one-line comments in a Hol- 
lywood chatter column. While read- 
ing on through the items one day, 
Powell notices another note about 
one of the town's gambling gents. 
He gets a hunch, calls on the guy at 
his home, suddenly finds himself 
coming out of a haze in the same 
rooln where the body of the missing 
lad lies. The hero escapes, tricks 
the gambler into confessing, along 
with two policemen on his payroll, 
to the murder. And that's that. 

It's light, but doesn't take a slap at 
the intelligence of the listeners. But 
those commercials Slipped in at the 
climactic moments when dialers, 
want to know what goes next with 
Powell & Co. spoil the continuity of 
thought. Oddly -placed "selling" 
spiels only lend to mess up the show. 
A commercial at the start, another at 
the end of the whodunit when Jim 
Doyle gives out with five minutes of 
news, pud another at the close of 
the. show makes more sense. Steii. 



Jean 



"WAKE UP, KENTUCKY" 
With Pete French, narrator 
Producer: Jean Clos 
Writers: George Marks and 

Clos * 
15 Mills.; Mon., 6:30 p.m. 
Sustaining 

WHAS, Louisville \ 

Here's a potent stanza which pulls 
ho punches, and has an adult ap- 



• ADVERTISI NG MUST PACE PROGRESS 



How 

Advertising Helped 




Employment 



After Procter & Gamble began its .uninterrupted advertising 
of Ivory Soap in 1882, it became apparent consistent. advertising 
produces consistent sales. This knowledge, Inter applied to the 
Company's olher advertised brands, brought about a revision in 
marketing policies, and was followed in 19211 by a Guaranteed 
Employment Plan. Procter & Gamble's Tegular hourly-Wage em- 
ployees are guaranteed a minimum of 48 weeks' employment per 
year. Ivory So^ap offers oneof the first anil most notable examples 
of the stabilizing influence of advertising on our social order. 



\ 




n the DISTRIBUTION DECADE 

advertising must again be a stabilizing force! 



4 ITER Victory comes the Distribution Decade. And with 
JrV. this era will come responsibilities and opportunities 
aplenty for Advertising. 

There will be ample manpower, money, materials and pro- 
duction facilities to produce goods. There will be purchasing 
power to consume them. But on Advertising will rest a large 
measure of the burden of quickening the flow of merchandise 
between producer and consumer, 
if we are to avoid widespread 
and disastrous unemployment. 



Doing a straight "selling" job will not be enough. Adver- 
tising must not only create demands, but it must arso help 
stabilize our eronomy by regulating these demands to meet 
our national production potentials. 

Agency men with an eye to the future are working out 
plans for the Distribution Decade 1 — now. So are we 
here at the Nation's Station. When the time comes, we will 

have much of interest to tell you 
of the great 4-State market that 




WLWJ 

on of mt atosur coukwofiom 



is WtW-land, 



DIVISION 



THE NATION'S MOST MERCHANDISE-ABLE STATION 



proach which indicates that WHAS 
program policy makers . believe that 
radio has grown up, and can take 
the steer by the horns, lope and tie 
him, and bring the critter under con. 
tro), even though the method mav 
seem harsh. 

•Getting to the point, the grand 
Commonwealth of Kentucky, famed 
in song and story, has many excel- 
lent qualities, plus the publicized at- 
tributes of excellent whiskey, beau- 
tiful women, and last horses. But 
on the other side of the ledger the 
record is somewhat blurred, to sav 
the least. For instance, the stale 
ranks near the bottom of the Jist in 
education, literary, and the like. And 
industries have left Kentucky to lo- 
cate elsewhere, even with 'a good 
supply of "cheap labor." Of these 
and many other things, it has be- 
come the concern of the Committee 
for Kentucky to probe and bring to 
light the facts, much as a surgeon 
ascertains the cause of the illness- 
and frequently finds it necessarv to 
operate so that the patient may be 
restored to health and usefulness 

Show caught was a dramatization 
of the labor situation, with stronif 
emphasis on the weakness in the 
states labor laws (such as 14-year- 
olds permitted to work if they 'have 
a permit, and have finished the 
eighth grade). Rates of pay ' are 
lower than a. living wage, and many 
other evils are permitted which are 
legal according to state laws. In the 
field of unemployment compensation 
the state statutes have loopholeV 
SS' the . em Pl°yee a i bad 

break. These and other ' stronj- 
points were excellently dramatized 
by .air unbilled WHAS cast. 

Program is non-partisqn, and 'rub.' 
political. Negatives are punched 
strongly bllt ^ bright sid £ ™» 

Picture is likewise presented-swi, n- 
ming pools and recreational facilities' 
or miners, which brings out the fact 
that industry and management is co- 
operating to defeat industrial throm- 
bosis. Dramatization is built around 
an abstract character, "Heart o[ 
Kentucky, and makes a potent case 
tor bringing wrongs and inequalities 
p the surface, and thus throwing 
he strong light of frankness and 
ruth into the dark places, which 
have retarded the state's progress 
in many ways. 

Transcriptions of the show go out 
each week to" nine Kentucky stations, 
and labor and management groups 
hear, playbacks of the show and 
round table discussions are in order 
Geo. Marks and Jean Clos do a mas- 
erfu scripting job, and don't spare- 
the horses. It's a swell effort to 
shake Kentuckiaris out of their 
lethargy and purge the state of lax- 
ness, and .a general indifference to 
conditions of which no one is proud. 

Hold. 



Radio Followup 



Paul Frenct is a Jean Sablon- 
esquo singer on the Blue Sunday 
afternoons Tor Pinaud's, plugging a 
ne.w. perfume, who listens well and 
might be okay for the class riitertesr 
whore they need new romantic 
clnrpers. He does a good job, al- 
thought some of those saccharine in, 
tros to the pops— apart from being 
too much on the Album of Familiar 
Music-Waltz Time format— are too 
.sticky. Incidentally, a new Franco- 
American medley for a pop song title 
was born last Sundav when Frenet 
did "Dinner for One, Please. James." 
lit French it came out "Un Setila 
Convert. Please, James." 



Arch Oboler is still in there pitch- 
ing in the big time with his 26-week 
series over Mutual. His last chapter 
(14). tied to the observance of In-' 

0 i ,r £ Day ll3) - was entitled "Mr. 
Pyle, and dramatized some inci- 
dents from the lale Ernie Pvle's 
"The Storv of GI Joe." Skillful 
scripting, production and direction- 
all al the hands of Oboler— resulted 
m very impressive radio. 

Oboler was wise in choosing most 

01 his incidents out of the book, 
rather than out of the film, which 
is being: released shortly. Hesjm- 
ply did his own adaptation, telescop"- - 
nvg' into 25 minutes enough of the 
GIs spirit of lonesomeness. tough- 
ness, boyish humor . and manly 
bravery to give the listener a sense 
ot oneness and understanding of the 
true hero of this war— the infantry- 
man. ■ 

Through ' >■' script-' Ernie Pyl« 
was merely the observer, the quiet, 
half-shy big brother who watched 
the boys with admiration, pity and 
hope. Played by Burgess Meredith 
(Who stars the rolfein the film ioo>, 
the Oboler-creatcd Pyle emerged as 
the great little guy he was. When 
the sole shot on the show was fired 
—the shot that got Pyle— one felt 
that Oboler and Meredith had suc- 
ceeded in making the loss a per- 
sonal one. 



SANCRIST0BAL BACK 

Mexico City, Jure .19. 

Bernardo Sancristobal is back 
again as manager of XEB radio sta- 
tion, after a short fling in films. Hi 
succeeds Mario Campo. Who resigned 
to enter politics.. 

Reports are strong that XEB will 
be sold shortly to a 11 American out- 
fit. Station now is owned by French 
interests. 



June 20, 1945 




„. HF BOURGEOIS GENTLEMAN" 
«i h K*"ph Dn-ke, Donald Buka, 

iiMilIev Susnnne Jackson, Diane 
KSftAnile Strickland Wallace 
K' John Reran Frank Short, 
Joel Spector, Jean Martin 
j./odu«r.Ad.pter: Dr Herbert Graf 
Translator: Margaret Baker 
SSSS.r.ghy: Ante*. ^Cobos 
to Mins.; Sun, (17), 8:15 p.m. 
Sustaining 

yNBT-NBC, N. Y. . 

First in NBC's series, ■ "Classic 
Plavs in Television," was Moliere s 
••The Bourgeois Gentleman,' pre- 
sented with, full production and trap- 
nines plus a large and talented cast 
o thesps and ballet artists Sunday, 
nielii (17). Sets were ornate and 
well lighted, and such details as cos- 
tumes etc., were far above the aver- 
age-encountered in most present-day 
video shows. 

Adaptation by Dr. Herbert Graf, 
NBC tele's longhair impresario, com- 
bined a nice touch of subtlety, slap- 
stick and high art (represented by 
the ballet scenes), and the difficult 
job of linking the in-person action 
with the transcribed score, an ob- 
scure Richard Strauss suite, was 
overcome as well as could be ex- 
pected. 

One difficulty that wasn't over- 
come, however cand" it's more than 
a puzzle to see how television is go- 
ing to combat it when the medium 
becomes full-blown), was the en- 
forced anonymity of the players and 
steppers. No little of the enjoyment 
afTorded legit patrons, of course, is 
traceable to the printed programs 
theatregoers peruse during and be- 
tween acts. If a bit is handled well, 



OPPORTUNITY 
FOR AN ADVERTISING 
EXECUTIVE WITH A 
RADIO ACCOUNT 

A rhedium-size, success- 
ful New York agency, 
handling national ac- 
counts and staffed by a 
highly trained and. tal- 
ented personnel, wishes 
to establish a radio de- 
partment by bringing 
into the organization an 
experienced radio execu- 
tive with a good, radio 
account. 

Such an executive will 
immediately improve his 
present position and 
earnings, and have a 
wide-open opportunity to 
expand with the agency. 
His remuneration will be 
based not alone on his 
ability but on the growth 
of his department as 
well. 

For very confidential in- 
terview,, telephone ASH- 
land 4-4*00 audi ask 
Mr. Joseph Hayden. 



the audience feels they're entitled to 
know who's playing the part. 

There's no provision for anything 
like this, as television is being han- 
dled now. Screen credits, of course 
can be spotted before curtain time, 
but, in such a .fleeting medium, it's 
debatable how many viewers would 
retain the information during the 
course of . the play. Repeating the 
credits at signoff helps, naturally, 
but suppose the eager video/Waver 
wants to tune into another station 
right away and doesn't bother wait- 
ing after the final curtain? 

No. there seems no adequate sub- 
stitute for the printed" program, so 
television, when it grows up, might 
very well be faced with the neces- 
sity of mailing out advance programs 
for productions or, what appears 
more likely, videocasters might wind 
up buying, newspaper space nightly 
to list cast and credits on upcoming 
broadcasts. They might 'even toss in 
Beau Nasi) fashion lips and those 
historical sketches of featured play- 
ers theatregoers seem to enjoy so 
much. 

All of which leads up to- the fact 
that this reviewer, delioerately 
watching "Bourgeois Gentleman" just' 
as a home viewer would and, with- 
out resource to the NBC publicity 
department for vital statistics, was 
able to identify only one performer 
Sunday -night. -That was-- Ralph 
Dumke in the title role. ' 1 ■ 

He did a. praiseworthy job. -but so 
did the rest of the cast, including the 
dancers. But 'there was no way the 
home audience could single out the 
performers dining the course of the 
production. Here's a batch of kudos 
for all of them. And another batch 
for Dr. Graf, his crew of camera and 
production men and all others who 
contributed to a lively and enjoyable 
lelcstan£a. Dona. 




CN'ITRD REX A 1.1, DRUG CO 
; MM.: 10U CLAYTON 



*************** 

Hi" my wmm 

AUTHOR OF COMEDY 
— *************** 



(> AVAILABLE 

"^\'%M^ niary \, "^m* «««*•»• 

^ N « w York 19, N. Y. 



BM.ABAN & KATZ TELEVISION 

With Gil Hix, .le Jeffries, North- 
western U. Student* '. -t. _ 

Director: Helen Carson 

Cameras: Rachel Stewart, Esther 
Rajeuskl »' 

«« Mins.; Fri. (15), 8 p.m. 

Sustaining 
I WBKB. Chicago 

I, Like 'Ole Man River." WBKB just 
keeps rolling along, marking time 
until they can produce in earnest 
and. doing the best they can with the 
facilities on- hand, which are. limited. 
Despite numerous handicaps, they 
manage to come up once in a while 
with an interesting hour of video en- 
tertainment, or a reasonable fac- 
simile of same, but tonight (15) 
Wasn't one of those rare occasions. 

Most palatable from both visual 
and listening standpoints was Gil 
Hix' newscast. Using maps to illus- 
trate his points and news pictures to 
accentuate and color segments of his 
talk he came through with an easy 
delivery, working without script in 
a. natural and unaffected manner. 

Jo Jeffries, singer who accompa- 
nies himself on the piano, did "Don't 
Cry. My Little Russian Baby," 
"Scrap Your Fat." "Embraceable 
You." * I Never Knew I Could Love 
Anybody" and ' "I've Goi Something 
to Crow About" in a fair voice but 
is far from being telegenic. Just a 
filler. 

"Postwar Pandemonium.'' which 
was supposed to be an insight of the 
future, would prompt many 1o com- 
mit suicide before such things could 
happen, especially as amateurishly 
enacted by a group of Northwestern 
U. students. Authoress Bernice 
Kra use's efforts to write a sophisti- 
cated satire on things to come fell 
short in every respect and the whole 
thing was a 'waste of the necessary, 
electronics to put it on the air. Cam- 
erawork deviated from good to bad 
on the entire hour with nothing ex- 
pended toward production. Alorg. 

'H WOOD MYSTERY TIME' 
DUE FOR REVAMP JOB 

Entire setup of the Woodbury 
NBC Sunday night "Hollywood Mys- 
tery Time." which follows Walter 
Winchcll on the Blue, is due for re- 
vision, in an effort to hypo the 
stanza's rating. Louella Parsons" 
film gossip will stay, however. 

Carlton Young and Gloria Blond- 
ell, stars of the program, are subject 
to replacement with Dennis O'Keefe 
in line tor the male lead and either 
Evelyn Keyes or Constance Moore 
due to get the femhie assignment. 
Herb Little, Jr.. and Dave Victor, 
writers of the "Mary Small Show" 
and the Vicks "Matinee Theatre," 
have arrived on the Coast from N. Y. 
to take over the scripting assign- 
ment. ; 

Record has been cut for final 
sponsor approval of new setup: 

. Washington. — Hearst Radio, Inc., 
has applied to 'FCC for a commer- 
cial video license for Milwaukee. 
Hearst already, has an application on 
file for -a television station in Bal- 
timore. 



TELEVISION— RADIO 



35 



Wavey Romance 

Madeline Clark, the CBS staff 
writer, recently went to the 
WAVE Center at Hunter Col- 
lege, in New York City, to do 
some research before scripting a 
•"Wave On Parade" show for 
the network. Navy 'Lt. Edward 
B. Winslow, assigned to the Cen- 
ter, introduced himself, volun- 
teered to give her an assist on 
the research. 

Last Thursday (14) Miss Clark 
and Lt. Winslow were married. 



FM Decish Due 
Without Testsf 
WPB Gives Cue 

Washington, June 19. 

Under pressure for a speedy de- 
termination of the FM position in 
the spectrum, FCC is now prepar- 
ing to make its decision without 
awaiting results of the propagation 
tests to be conducted during July 
and August. 

Commission announced last week 
-it -will conduct hearings this. Friday 
< 22 ) as a final step before announc- 
ing the FM location in the region 
between_44 and 108 megacycles, it 
is strongly hinted here that FM will 
get just what it has been demanding 
—the 50-68 megacycle band, al- 
though FCC originally planned to 
push FM much higher to the 84-102 
meg location. 

FCC has been under heavy fire 
by the FM Broadcasters, Television 
Broadcasters Ass'n, and. equipment 
manufacturers to agt without delay, 
because it now seems that WPB 
will give the go-ahead signal to the 
equipment manufacturers much 
sooner than previously estimated. 

FCC' announced, however, that the 
scheduled propagation tests will go 
ahead because "the need for. this 
type of in formation was revealed in 
the recent allocation hearings." 

In its formal order last week, ex- 
plaining why it was going to inake 
an almost immediate decision, FCC 
said: 

"The Commission has received 
several petitions requesting an im- 
mediate decision amongst the three 
alternatives. The Commission is 
presently advised by the War Pro- 
duction Board that the manufacture 
of AM, FM and television transmit- 
ters and receivers may commence at 
an earlier date than was originally 
indicated to the Commission by 
WPB, and that it probably will not 
be possible,- as was originally antici- 
pated, for the WPB to give 90 days' 
advance notice to the commission 
before production is resumed. 

"In view of the foregoing facte, 
it is desirable that a final decision 
be made as soon as possible- among 
the three alternative allocations pro- 
posed for the region between 44 and 
108 megacycles." 



Ohio Telecensor 
ill a Threat 



Columbus, June 19. 

A heavy immigration of radio lob- 
byists and trade paper representa- 
tives indicated that a focus of na- 
tional attention was being leveled 
at the Ohio Legislature, where. 
Senate • Bill No. 316 was to be con- 
sidered by the Senate Tax Commit- 
tee tomorrow (20). 
" Bill would impose a $3 stale tax 
on every 1,000 feet or 10 minutes 
worth of television film which would 
(under provisions of the bill) have 
to be reviewed by the motion pic- 
ture censorship board under the 
Dept. of Education. '-•:**.' 

All television pictures to be shown 
in Ohio would come under the same 
censorship rules that currently gov- 
ern films. This would eliminate 
Ohio from any national televi- 
sion network plans that might be 
formulated in the future, . 

The bill, as it is now worded, car- 
ries an even more drastic threat to 
Ohio television by its arbitrary use 
of the' words "television pictures." 
No ; distinction is made between 
films and in-person shows. Thus, 
script shows might have to be 
okayed in advance too. Worse, on- 
the-spot broadcasts would be out, 
inasmuch as a sporting event or po- 
litical convention couldn't possibly 
be "reviewed" in advance in either 
film or script form. 



CBS Tele Boys Give Competitors 
Something Iky Can Worry About 



CBS' plans to hypo its video work, 
as outlined in last week's "Variety's" 
story about new commercial and 
dramatic departments, color trans- 
mission, and television research'are 
really worrying the television trade. 

It is evident that CBS is putting 
plenty of moola into its television 
development. An announcement 
made this week by Joseph H. Ream, 
v.p. and secretary of CBS, about a 
new service to possible commercial 
sponsors, did not make competitors 
feel better. 

According to Ream, who issued a 
posh pamphlet on the subject, CBS 
is now willing to let possible spon- 
sors conie in, help create new tech- 
niques in commercial television, pre- 
test effectiveness of sponsored pro- 
grams, and make field tests of the 
effectiveness of video broadcasts. 

A look-see at the kind of audience 
research which CBS is conducting, 
through its hush-hush Television 
Audience Research Institute, was 
made possible last week by one of 
the few people who have been read- 
ing the confidential reports made by 
this institute.-. • .. , .'.-'-' : '•.:,': 

Some of the reports were highly 
critical of some CBS television pro- 
grams, tearing them apart unmerci- 
fully through interviews with mem: 
bers of the video audience. But the 
very fact that CBS itself is barik- 



rolling such harsh criticism seemed, 
evidence of a purpose to improve -its 
programs, technically as well as 
dramatically. 

Latter will be taken care of by 
the new dramatic unit. Technically, 
CBS hopes to have in production not 
later than next fall its-high-defini- 
tion, full-color service. There will 
not be any sets on the market ca- 
pable of receiving the new color 
television, but possible sponsors will 
be able to view the full-color video 
on CBS studio sets. And that's what- 
worries competitors. 



W2XJT, Long Island, On 
Test Tube Basis July 1 

First small indie television station 
in the country begins operation July 
1. Outlet is W2XJT, operated by the 
Jamaica Radio & Television Manur 
facturing Co., of Jamaica, L. I. 

Operation will be experimental in ' 
nature. Among technical explora- 
tions contemplated are development 
of a new system of electronic film 
scanning, general simplification of 
video broadcasting equipment and 
operating experimentation in the use 
of ultra high frequency channels. 

Extensive experimental program- 
ming will- be undertaken to investi- 
gate most effective methods of edu- 
television broadcasting. 



This little calf is t© 
draw pur attention f© 




$3,654,044,000 cash receipts 
from the livestock market in 
1944 went into the farmer's 
picket in the 12 states 
covered by MVN. 

Mississippi Valley Network is 
a wired Regional Network 
which you can buy without 
paying Metropolitan rates. 
The states in this r/ch-ond- 
ripe-for-safes markei are: Illi- 
nois, Indiana, Iowa. Kansas. 
Michigan, Minnesota, Missonri. 
Montana. Nebraska, North 
Dakota, South Dakota and 
Wisconsin. 



Thra 74 affiliated stations, the Mississippi Valley Network 
(operated by North Central Broadcasting System) keeps 
your product in intimate touch with 1,600,762 farm radio 
homes. An exclusive listenership with programs beamed for 
this farm audience exclusively. Mr. and Mrs. Farmer want 
to know briefly how the war news affects farming . . , want 
the latest Washington agricultural bulletins . . . want com- 
plete market reports ... are vitally interested in weather 
forecasts and local femperatures . . . want "live" musical 
entertainment for early morning pep-up. MVN delivers this 
to the country's most affluent rural territory without the 
cost of metropolitan rates. No other network offers this 
exclusive early-hour farm audience. 

AVAILABLE FOR SPONSORSHIP: 

4:00 AM Mittiiiipai Valley Time (complete Network) ..'.;,.. 
7:00 AM ' Agriculture and the Newt 
f :30 AM Feature* for "Mr*. Farmer" 
IMS FM Newt and the Former*' View* 

Contact Any NCOS Office for Co»t Ectimate* end Further Detail* 




36 



ORCHESTRAS-MUSIC 



10 Best Sheet Sellers 

(Week Ending, June 16) 
Bell Bottom Trousers.... ;Sant!y 
Sentimental Journey ....Morris 

Dream .Capitol 

There I Said It Again, . . . Valiant 
Just A Prayer Away. .. .Shapiro 

I Should Care. .Dorsey 

There Must Be a; Way. .Stevens 
Laura ..... , . ,v...'.v. .. .Bobbins 

=More I See You ...... .Triangle 

•AH of My Life ........ Berlin 



Wednesday, June 20, 1945 

NBC, CBS, Bine, Mutual Plugs ~~ 

TITLE PUBLISHES 

A Friend of Yours— f'Great John L." . , . . . .Burke 

All Of My Life ... ....Berlin 

Baia*-t"3 Cabal) eros" .., .^Southern 

Bell Bottom Trousers , . Santly 

Candy Feist 

Can't You Read Between the Lines?. * ,...»«.,. . * ... , : Shapiro 

Close As Pages In a Book— ^"Central Park". .Williamson 

Dream ..................... Capitol . 

Ev'rytime . . . ,., .. . .. , '. J .i ........ ... ,•','. .. ,. ABC 

Good Good Good ......... . ... .Berlin 

I Don't Gave Who Knows It,-,-, .... . . . ....... . ... , .Bobbins 

I Don't Want to Be Loved, ,. ,, .Mutual 

If I Loved You— *"Carousel" . . . . . . i, . , . » ,T. B. Harms 

I Hope to Die If I Told a Lie. . , ; . . , . . ...... , . , . .; , . ,-. .Advanced 

I'm Gonna Love That Guy . ... . . . . . ..,.,..,,< . .Bourne-* 

I Wish I Knew— t"Diamond HoH5eshoe , ' BVC 

June Is Bustin Out All Over— *"Carousel" T. B. Harms 

Laura — f'Laura" ....................................... .Robbins 

Lonely Love ... ,. fi.,&A'/ei'.* : . *v.'.,VW. BMI ■ 

'Remember When tC-P 

Rosemary ........ Famous ' 

Sentimental Journey . v . ■ • .... • .Morris 

Someday Somewhere .{Chelsea 

The More I See YoUr-t"Diamoud Horseshoe" ........ ... .BVC 

There I've Said It Again '.......;> .-. . ; . . .iValiant 

You Belong to My Heart— f"3 Caballeros" ........... . . ... - tPcer 

t Filmusieal. * Legit Musical, i B.M.I. Affiliate. 



Composers Feel Suits Vs. Marks Now 
Might Prejudice Appeal Decision 



There has been considerable ■sp.ec-4' 
illation since the delivery of Judge 
Ferdinand Pecora's decision in the 
E. B. Marks-Broadcast .Music case 
against the American Society of 
Composers, Authors and Publishers, 
as to why no suits for damages and 
recovery of copyrights have been 
aimed at Marks by songwriters. 
Thei'e will be no mdividual or con- 
certed action by writers against 
Marks until Pecora's decision is 
passed on by the higher courts, to 
■ which an appeal is expected. 

Writers feel that any avalanche pt 
suits vs. Marks will serve no pur- 
pose at this time. They feel that 
such action would, hurt, the possi- 
bility of the decision being upheld 
on appeal. Jack Lawrence is the 
only -writer who has filed an action 
vs. Marks. He asks recovery of all 
of his songs published by the firm 
plus damages, due to his failure to 
receive any part of the $i.;000;000 
BMI Paid Marks for a five-year lease 
on the latter's catalog. 

In his decision, Judge Pecora re- 
turned two of three songs on which 
the BMI -Marks case was based to 
their writers. BMI-Marks had _sued 
ASCAP for a declaratory judgment 
seeking clear rights to songs in the 
Marks catalog wholly or partly com- 
posed by ASCAP writers. ASCAP 
contended these songs could not be 
transferred from ASCAP to BMI by 
Marks because fhey were written or 
collaborated on by ASCAP mem- 
bers, '7. ,V -*.•/,'■ ':';.: 



New I. A. Disc Firm 

Alpha Records, Inc., N. Y., has 
been formed to market discs special-: 
izing in Latin-American music. New 
firm is affiliated with Alpha" Music 
Co. :-' 

Alfredo Antomni, has been signed 
to conduct dates and Elsa Miranda, 
singer and . Los Andrinis. singing 
guitarists, and other prominent art- 
ists are set.. v ; . . 



Fields Orch Overseas 
This Week for USO 

Shep Fields' orchestra went on the 
USO-Camp Shows, Inc., payroll as of 
Monday (18) and will ship overseas 
sometime this week. He follows by 
a few weeks the Hal Mclntyre or- 
chestra, which was the first full-size 
name band to go offshore for the 
USO, Mclntyre is now in Paris, 

Gene Krupa's band is due for 
overseas duty for the USO also. He 
won't leave until later in the sum- 
mer.-.'; .'".•■''• ■'■ .■' ■' ',*'• 



HARRY VON TILZER S 
H00SIER OPERETTA 

Harry Von Tilzer, veteran song- 
writer and music, publisher, has 
completed lyrics and score of a new 
operetta, "Hoosier-Girl," skedded to 
reach production next session. Ed- 
ward P. Moran, another vet song- 
writer, is collabing with Von Tilzer 
on the book. ■'■ ;■ ;,' . 

Aside from commercial possibili- 
ties, its production will be a realiza- 
tion of a 1 long time yen of Von Til- 
zer to immoralize his birthplace, 
Indiana, in story and song. He had 
nurtured the idea for a number of 
years and when it .first hit he went 
to his home state to enlist James 
Whitcomb Riley as possible collab- 
orator on book and lyrics. Latter 
suggested he was merely a poet un- 
familiar with stage writing tech- 
nique and suggested that either 
George Ade or Booth Tarkington, also 
Hoosiers, could do a better job. 

Von Tilzer camphored the idea 
but ressjurected it after he saw what 
they did with "Oklahoma!" 



Constantin Bakaleinikoff, RKO 

music Chief,- will conduct three sym- 
phony concerts next month, one in 
San Francisco, July 14, and two in 
Hollywood Bowl, July 21 and 28. 



SPA to Enlarge 
Hospital Circuit 

Songwriters Br ote ct i v e Assn., 
which for months has made up and 
circulated among service hospitals 
in the N. Y. area combinations of 
songpenners to entertain, is mulling 
the plausibility of doing - the same 
thing coast-to-coast. Army and 
Navy officials are very enthusiastic 
about the work of the writers in hos- 
pital wards because the wounded 
seemingly get such a kick out of 
seeing and being entertained by 
those who wrote the melodies they've 
been hearing. ' *.'■;.'.':■. 
. In making their appearances, the 
writers not only , demonstrate their 
own songs. They also conduct musi- 
cal quizzes, for which prizes are 
provided by the Red Cross. 



Jimmy Tyson Slated 
For 1-Niters by MCA 

Jimmy Tyson, former Music Corp. 
of America representative in Phil- 
adelphia, who has been with the 
agency's N. Y. headquarter? for al- 
most a year, moves into the one- 
night department as assistant to Jack 
Whittemore. He moves over from 
his present cocktail unit chore when 
Harry Moss, head of MCA's one- 
nighters for seven years, moves over 
to Joe Glaser's Associated Booking 
Corp; July 1. 

Whittemore and Tyson will there- 
after handle all one-nighters, Coca- 
Cola broadcast schedules, plus some 
locations. ' ' 



Assoc. Broadcasting 
Eyes Remote Pickups 

New Associated Broadcasting 
Corp., which Will get going In Sep- 
tember with a network of 36 sta- 
tions, anchored in N. Y at WMCA 
and in, Chicago at WJJD, has had 
representatives talking ■ to band 
agency people the past week on re- 
mote . pickups. Net is seeking the 
best possible connections in this field 
and is quoting prices of $200 weekly 
for a minimum ot three quarter- 
hours a week,, with the guarantee 
that at least one ot the shots will go 
lull' network. By September it's ex- 
pected a number o[ new stations will 
be added to the chain. 
. None ot the. major networks now 
picking up band remotes guarantees 
any coverage at all, let alone a full 
network. ••'..,: .■.•:"■'• ■'■'."•' ' : ■ 



Bill Mr Mahon, bassist, quit trio at 
Mercury Music Bar in Pittsburgh to 
join Billy Eckstine. outfit. 



GROCERY GROAN-BOXES 
FEAR ASCAP'S TAP 

tos JVngeles, June 19. 

Plan to flood the markets and 
stores of this area with wired music- 
has been thrown for a loss by the 
American Society of Composers, 
Authors and Publishers. Telephone 
tune impresarios were informed that 
ASCAP rates of $10 per month 
would be slapped on each market. 
With a total of 1,000 markets about 
town listed for mechanical, melody 
this would' mean about $10,000 per 
month. .'■■;"' ''.'* '. ' ■■■■' 

Grocers and butchers, although 
willing to accept free music, accom- 
panied by commercial plugs, refused 
to go for the $10 weekly performing 
fee. : '.,. : ":'-''. ' '•.'■ ,■.'• ". :..'. 



Art -Wings, trumpeter, once with 
Bob Allen's orchestra, Is rehearsing 
a 12-piece combination of his own 
in N. Y. It's not tied to any agency 

as .yet,' '.V - 




>:«:.;:v::'y^;:>^ V*'..:* 



^^^^^^^^ 



IllllI 



J V^L Si**** 



^m ^tom M-G-M Pictune Wit 

I BEGGED H 



I FALL IN LOVE TOO E 




Styne and Cahn at their best 



IIIIlllllliillliiMliilllic, 
mmmmmmmmmw 



ww w 



iiiiiiillli 



IllliP K 



AND THERE YOU 



Lyric by Ted Koehl«r • Music by Sammy Fain 
B.st ballad since "I II Be Seeing Yoo" 




6l9MOABW*r,N.T.I9- HARRY LINK, 0«n. Prof, Mgr. GEORGE DAUN, Pro*. «9r. 



Wednesday, June 20, 194S 



ORCHESTRAS— MUSIC 



87 



OPA EYES PRICES OF RECORDS 



Length of Contracts, Artists' Right 
To 'Fire Agencies Mulled in N. Y. 



II seeing like attendees at last-f 
week s meeting of band agency ex- 
ecutives at Jules Stein's (Music 
Corp. of America prez) suite at -the 
Hotel Waldorf-Astoria, N. Y„ took 
some sort of an oath to keep quiet 
on what went on. What's more, 
most are keeping their promise. You 
can't get a word out of them edge- 
wise." ■ ' 

However, in addition to last 
week's "Variety" report that ways 
and means to aid the American Fed- 
eration of Musicians in the solving 
of the "loss" location date problem, 
the execs had a lengthy discussion 
anent contracts— and the length of 
them. ' 

William Morris agency, which 
has. long favored (that is, some of 
its executives) shorter management 
Contracts, was represented at the 
meeting by a majority of its top 
men, and they are said to have been 
strong proponents of three and five- 
year agency-artist • deals, with 
clauses included allowing the artist 
to "fire" the agency if he or she is 
dissatisfied. In this event, the artist 
would continue to pay commissions 
until the cancelled contract expired, 
meanwhile being booked by another 
agency. 

There is said fo have been lengthy 
discussion, too, on the subject of 
some defense against artists simply 
bouncing an agency firSt and think- 
ing about consequences later. This 
could have stemmed from the cur 
rent disagreement between Andy 
Ruseell and General Amus. Corp. 



Easing of Gas Problem 
Perks Glen Isle Casino 

Benefitted greatly by the loosening 
up of the gasoline situation, Glen 
Island Casino, New Rochelle, N, Y„ 
one of the country's lop summer 
spots prewar, is almost equalling 
pre-Pearl Harbor business. Spot 
opened May 31 with Les Elgart's 
band, a comparative unknown, and 
did exceptionally well. Last- week 
(14) Shorty Sherock's new orchestra, 
also unknown to the public, replaced 
Elgart and on Saturday (16) he 
played to 1,300 people, turning 600' 
away. 

In his first week at the spot, El- 
gart played to approximately 2,800 
patrons. His second was in the same 
neighborhood. Sherock's first four 
days turned up, respectively, 
510, 1,300 and 391 patrons. , 



Theatre Corp. May Run 
Bailey's Terrace Room; 
Snag on Cafe's Label 

While Frank Dailey still retains 
the liquor license for the Terrace 
Room, Newark, which he will dis 
continue operating Sunday (24) eve 
ning, the spot may continue to be 
run by the Mosque Theatre Corp., 
owned by interests that operate radio 
station WAAT, Jersey. City. Dailey 
has agreed to sell his license to the 
owners of the building on the condi 
tion that they don't use the name 
Terrace Room, but so far that con- 
dition hasnt' been met. Apparently 
another license is being sought for 
purchase in the same area. Jersey li 
censes can't be moved more than 750 
feet. 

At any rate, WAAT's owners state 
the room will reopen Tuesday (26) 
with a -name band policy. It will 
be operated by Gus Steck and Joe 
Ziegler, who run the Brook club at 
Summit, N. J. Steck is also a mu- 
sical director of the station. Whether 
he will conduct a band in the spot 
isn't revealed. So far no name band 
has been signed despite the fact the 
new operators have been to Music 
Corp. of America and General Amus. 
Corp. for musical talent. 

Major network remote . wires, 
which would be absolutely necessary 
before a name band would book the 
Terrace Room, will be another prob 
lem. Dailey is moving the connec 
tiotts" he had to his Meadowbrook, 
which opens Aug. 14 with Harry 
James. And since all nets have more 
requests for remote time than they 
can now handle, the new operation's 
chances of securing them with any- 
thing less than top bands aren't too 
good. 



Harry 



James Refuses 
To Let His Hair Grow 

Harry James, .who could probably 
clean up playing concerts, as many 
lop bands have done lately, flatly 
refuses to countenance this sort of 
«ate. The entire method of present 
mg concerts is too much like thea- 
tre work for James, who' abhors the 
«age— and besides, if the Paramount 
theatre, N. Y, ever catches him do 
«ng anything resembling a theatre 
Performance there'll be trouble. He 
owes the Par a shot and has prom- 

p k he ever goes for that kind of 
cash the Par gets first crack at him. 
_James, now on the Astor Roof, 
ih u 1S doin 8 the biggest business 
were he ever did in three seasons. 



UPPED PRICES 





603, 



Oberstein Ends 
Majestic Tieup 

r' 

Eli Oberstein has "agreed to dis- 
agree" -with the executives of Ma- 
jestic Record Co., which bought out 
and replaced his hit record outfit 
and has severed all connections with 
the company. He has' no definite 
plans for the future. He assertedly 
is marking time on undisclosed blue- 
prints set up by him during the past 
couple months. 

Oberstein had a contract with Ma 
jestic Which expires in October. This 
agreement is said lo continue in ef- 
fect despite his complete disassocia- 
tion with the firm. Originally, he 
was to have had a 10-year deal as 
general manager of Majestic when 
the latter bought him out. This later 
dropped to five years, then to two 
years, then to a six-month deal 
which could be extended at his op 
tion to two years. 

Although he will not comment on 
any" part of the Majestic situation, 
it's understood Oberstein's severance 
from the firm is based on frequent 
disagreements with the policy of the 
new owners. Ben Selvin, who was 
taken on by Majestic back in April 
in an advisory capacity, and on June 
1 joined the firm full time, takes 
Oberstein's place as . recording di 
rector. 



Office of Price Administration has 
moved in on the recording field. 
Government agency is interested in 
the shifts by various major com- 
panies of talent -from its prewar 35c 
labels , up to 50c and in some cases 
75c discs, plus the alleged failure by 
some of the manufacturers to live 
up to post-Pearl Harbor promises 
to market a minimum number of 35c 
platters. ; " 

There has been no charges levied 
against any of the major disc manu- 
facturers, and none is contemplated, 
it's said (agency, however, is sup- 
posed to have proceeded against a 
King Record Co. of Cincinnati). 
OPA has come up with a plan f 
operation that has been pointed out 
by discers as being unworkable and' 
as a result both have consented to a 
committee of executives of the vari- 
ous firms who will work out a plan 
of prices and use of artists under 
which all companies can work at a 
profit. 

Oh this committee is Paul Puner, 
of Musicraft, Joe Gerl, Sonora; Ted 
Wallerstein, head of Columbia; Jim 
Murray; head of RCA- Victor's re- 
cording division; Glenn Wallichs, 
Capitol; EH Oberstein, formerly 
with Majestic (see separate story), 
and others. 

While the Government is demand- 
ing that the disc firms make a cer- 
tain amount of 35c discs, it's as- 
serted by disc executives that op- 
erating costs, including artists, ma- 
terials, manpower, etc. have gone up 
so high that no firm can produce 
discs at that price and stay in busi- 
ness. Accordingly, it is the purpose 
of the advisory committee named 
above to work out an arrangement 
whereby certain numbers of rec- 
ords at the various retail prices will 
be produced to achieve, an overall 
production cost that allows an 
overall profit. 

Next meeting of the committee 
is on June 27. 



Writers, Pubs Disturbed By 'Frisco' 
Decision; SPA May Aid in Appeal 



Jonie Taps to Coast 
Fri. for Col. Picts Job 

Jonie Taps, who resigned as gen- 
eral manager of Shapiro-Bernstein 
last month to take over the coordi- 
nation of musicals for Columbia Pic- 
tures, pulls out of N. Y. for the Coast 
Friday (22). He's due at the Colum- 
bia lot July 1. 

George Pincus, S-B's Chicago rep, 
takes Taps' spot in N; Y. 



N.O. MUSIC FUND ALL 
BUT OFF NUT ALREADY 

New Orleans, June 19. 

Success of y jNTew Orleans' unique 
venture, the Community Music 
Fund, is assured with $120,000 of its 
$150,000 goal raised to date, one 
month since its inception. Fund, 
first attempt in the country to use 
the community chest principle to the 
financing of all local musical insti- 
tutions, has attracted wide attention 
fit the south, with inquiries rolling 
in from other cities who want to 
follow suit/ 

Idea was broached at end of cur- 
rent 1944-45 concert season, for the 
support of New Orleans' symphony 
orchestra, opera company, and sum- 
mer pop concert season, which here- 
tofore had usual deficits and separate 
drives for - funds. Fund drive was 
launched under direction of Irwin F. 
Poche, Muny Aud manager, with 
the city of New Orleans starting It 
off with a $30,000 gift. , 

Fund idea, in addition to perpetu- 
ating good music in N.O., will prove, 
it's believed, to be an important 
milestone in history of music in 
America, with other centers copying. 



J. Dorsey Mends • 

Jimmy Dorsey is recovering from 
the operation for which he went to 
the Coast earlier this month. Cut- 
ting was performed last week at the 
Good Samaritan Hospital, Los An 



While Dorsey waits it out, his band 
is laying off. 



Cosmopolitan Disc Co. 
Off ering Hotcha Coin 
For Name Artists 

Cosmopolitan Records, one of the 
newest of the indie disc firms, is 
creating a stir among agents and 
personal managers in N. Y. by the 
prices being offered for names. For 
example, the company currently is 
negotiating with a new band not yet 
in working order which will be led 
by a fairly well known personality. 
It has offered, it's claimed, $500 per 
side for the first four sides and $1,500 
thereafter for four sides, against a 
5% of the purchase-price royalty. 
This deal is on a year's basis, 16 
sides to be made within that time. 

Cosmopolitan has so far sig- 
natured Joan Edwards, Frances 
Langford, Gertrude Niesen, Jerry 
Wayne, Barry Wood, Henry Busse's 
orchestra. Four Chicks and Chuck, 
Coleman Hawkins, Enric Madriguera 
and Del Courtney. 

This is only one of the companies 
that are" constantly on the prowl for 
talent in N. Y. : Many of them, like 
Cosmo, whose Artists & Repertoire 
department is headed by Joe Shrib- 
man, are dangling major company 
prices as a means of rounding up 
names that can help start them off. 
Guild Records, another indie, has 
been making some strides, having 
grabbed Georgie Auld's and George 
Paxton's bands. -. 



Paine's Deal With 
Spanish Society 

Until John G. Paine, general 
manager of the American Society of 
Composers, Authors and Publishers, 
and Herman Finkelstein, the So- 
ciety's attorney, flew here from Eng- 
land by clipper last week it was not 
generally known that they had also 
completed a performing rights deal 
with the Spanish society, as well as 
ones with England and France! 
Paine called a special meeting of the 
Society's Board of Directors last 
Friday (15) for the purpose of out- 
lining to them his accomplishments 
and to have the board ratify his 
deals. On Monday (18) he went to 
Washington to report to the Alien 
Property Custodian and secure the 
Government's ratification of the 
deals. This step is necessary since 
French holdings in this country are 
still in custody. 

That Paine and Finkelstein had 
gone into Spain was suspected by 
ASCAP officials here, but they had 
ho concrete evidence that a deal had 
been made until Friday's board 
meeting. All of Paine's arrange- 
ments with the English Performing 
Rights Society, Sociedad General de 
Au Autores de Espana (Spain) and 
Societe des Auteurs, Composteurs et 
Editeurs de Musique (France) are 
for five years and are on the basis 
of straight exchanges of perform- 
ing rights monies. There are no 
guarantees involved. 

Included in the deals for the first 
time are the rights to all symphonic 
music represented by each of 
the foreign societies. Heretofore, 
ASCAP's agreements' with each 
were for pop music only. 

Paine and Finkelstein -were exten- 
sively entertained in each of the 
thre«"""C"omrtriesr English arrange- 
ment was concluded with a dinner 
for them at the Savoy hotel, and 
they were subsequently escorted to 
Paris by Leslie Boosey, head ' of 
PRS, and Gerald Hatchman, gen- 
eral manager. Here they were again 
feted by the French. 

Pair were in Europe nine weeks 
and had some difficulty getting back. 
They finally left by . plane, a week 
ago yesterday (12) and arrived in 
N. Y. Thursday (14) at afternoon. 



Top-Band Unavailable, 
McAlpin Delays Plans 

Because the McAlpin hotel; N. Y., 
hasn't been able to dig up a top 
band name with which to debut a 
new band policy on its Roof, plans 
have been dropped until the fall. 
McAlpin at one time was one of the 
major band spots in N. Y., with both 
its Marine Room and Roof. In re- 
cent years It has gone in for a semi- 
name policy. -. ■:. 

Hotel was recently bought by 
Jules Levy, head of Crawford 
Clothes chain. 



The adverse "decision by Judge 
John W. Clancy in N. Y. federal 
court last week on the late Louis A. 
Hirsch's suit against 20th-Fox Film, 
over the synchronization rights to 
"Hello, Frisco, Hello,!' which was in- 
corporated in a film of the same 
name, has all songwriters and many 
publishers perturbed. The Song- 
writers Protective Assn., through 
attorney John Schulman, may step 
into the appeal as a "friend of the 
court." 

The decision, in effect, rules that 
there can be no "grand rights" to a 
pop song, hence any of the oldies 
might be construed as having no 
dramatic value, since Judge Clancy's 
decision virtually opines that a pop 
song can't be dramatized. Consid- 
ering that sync fees from $5,000 to 
as high as $18,500 for a non-ex- 
clusive recording privilege have 
been paid for individual popular 
songs, this is quite a financial set- 
back for writers of old, established 
ditties who have collected many 
thousands for these rights. In fact, 
entire film cavalcades have yielded 
hundreds of thousands of dollars to 
writers who ceded their old catalogs 
for picturization. 

Another point in Judge Clancy's 
decision, agreed with by neither the 
SPA nor many individual publishers, 
is his opinion that a film company 
can alter a song to fit a film situa- 
tion or modernize the melody or 
lyric of a old tune to its own satis- 
faction. It has always been held that 
the right to revise a tune in any way 
is exclusively , the writer's. 

In light of Judge Clancy's ruling, 
Edwin P. Kilroe, 20th-Fox Film's 
copyright expert, even goes so far 
as to opine„that in yiew of this de- 
cision all a film company need pay 
is the statutory 2c recording royalty, 
as with any phonograph platter. 



FREED'S CATALOG INTO 
JACK ROBBINS' 'BIG 3' 

Although Loew-Metro is buying 
Arthur Freed's Variety Music.cata- 
log, which also includes the old 
Jacobs Bros. (Boston) band music 
copyrights, that firm will eventually 
be merged into the Jack Robbins Big 
Three Corp. (Robbins, Feist and 
Miller Music). Under its contract, 
Robbins has exclusive tieup with 
any and all Loew-Metro music pub- 
lishing alliances. • 

Variety Music will be an aux- 
iliary to Feist which specializes in 
publishing the Metro filmusical ex- 
cerpts. With the many M-G music- 
plx, the idea is to use Variety Music 
as another outlet, Arthur Freed, 
himself a prominent ASCAP song- 
smith before becoming Metro's ace 
filmusical producer, is also com- 
mitted exclusively to Variety. 

Incidentally, trade reports of 
Metro dickering for Buddy Morris' 
music firms are denied. 



Longhair Takes Over 
Where the Bangtails 
Have Ceased to Tread 

"' Louisville, June 19. 

Louisville Philharmonic Orches- 
tra, in cooperation with the manage- 
ment of Churchjll Downs, will give 
12 concerts of light classical music 
in the courtyard of the race track's 
clubhouse this summer. First con- 
cert is scheduled for July 10, with 
repeat performances Wednesday and 
Thursday nights. Other programs 
are tentatively set for the three suc- 
cessive Tuesday nights, with same 
program repeated on Wednesday- 
Thursday. 

Enclosure has a capacity of 5,000 
and Harper Fowley, orchestra man- 
ager reports that 2,000 of these could 
be seated at tables where drinks 
would be served. Dann Byck, local 
business man and president of the 
Philharmonic Society, is trying to 
arrange to secure top radio vocalists 
as guest performers. Experiments 
have been made on the acoustical 
properties of the courtyard, and it 
is pronounced acoustically perfect 
for music. -. / ;. ; : 

Idea of having dancing on~cohcert 
nights after the two-hour concert'! 
end is being mulled by the society's 
Summer Concerts Committee. Dance 
ork would be engaged for the terps. 
With no summer shows at the Iro- 
quois Amphiteater this summer, the 
orchestral concerts should fill a real 
need. ; :-• ■ 



Philly to Get New Tops' 
Orchestra in the Fall 

Philadelphia, June 19. 

A new symphonic orchestra to 
specialize in popular and light clas- 
sics has been formed in Philly. 

To be known as the Philadelphia 
"Pops" Orchestra, it will present a 
series of concerts beginning this Fall 
at Town Hall. 

Among the sponsors of the new 
group are Asst. Super, of Police Guy 
Parsons,. Judge Gerald Flood and 
City Controller Robert C. White. 
The three city officials are talented 
amateur musicians themselves. 



38 



ORCHESTRAS-MUSIC 



British Best Sheet Sellers 

{Week Ending, May 31, '45) 
London, May 31. 
Dreams Getting Better. Connelly 

Don't Fence Me In Chappell 

Rosanna Cinephonic 

Together ...Connelly 

Accentuate Positive .... Victoria 
Let Rest World Go By. .Feldman 
My Guy's Come Back. . Maurice 
There Goes That Song..-.FDH 

Sweetheart Valley Dash 

Pablo Dreamer ......Southern 

Can't Help Singing. .. .Chappell 

Little Fond Affection. . . . , .Dash 



Wednesday, June 20, 194 5 

10 Best Sellers on Corn-Machines 



Inside Orchestras-Musk 

Major Harry Salter returned to N. Y. last weekend from six weeks in 
Europe, on a War Dept. mission to look over musical activities and plan 
postwar projects for the army of occupation. 

Former band leader spent most of his time in Germany and also set up a 
music program for the new Marseilles staging area, hopping off point for 
troops sent direct to the CBI. Also did liaison work with Armed Forces 
Network. 

"You Belong to My Heart," listed in "Variety's" "Most Played" in past 
weeks as a BMI-affiliated number, is an unusual case. While the song itself 
is licensed to BMI through the Ralph Peer connection with that perform- 
ing rights organization, the firm listed as its pub. Charles K. Harris, oper- 
ated by Peer, is actually a member of the American Society of Composers, 
Authors and Publishers. Harris is simply the selling agent for the Peer 
interests. Harris, now dead, was one of the original founders of ASCAP. 

A hew booming disk market of a speecialized nature focuses around 
certain music shops, such as those in New York's Spanish Harlem. The 
Coda ar.d Seeco disks, for instance, are superior Latin recordings, favored 
by dancing teachers. Latiiv musicians and Latinophiles, retailing at $1 a 
platter. Some of the better musicians record these. Some are pressed in 
Canada from U. S. masters, others pressed in the States. 

U. S. Treasury tax experts are teeing, up a serious argument with one 
of the top name band maestros over tax returns. Leader in question has 
been in hot water with the_tax sleuths before, but this time the case is 
certain to be much more of a problem. 

Band Review 



(Records below pre grabbing most nickels this week In jukeboxes 
throughout the country as reported by operators to "Variety." Names, of 
more than one band or vocalist after the title indicates, in order of popu- 
larity. whose recordings are being played. Figures and names In paren. 
iUcsis JncKsatf the number of weeks each song has been in the listings 
and respective publishers.) 



1. Bell Bottom Trousers (5) T(Santly), 



2, Sentimental Journey (13) (Morris). 



1 Jesters . ....Decca 

l Tony Pastor. . ....... .Victor 

J Les Brown . . .Columbia 

(Hal Mclntyre . ... ...Victor 



••3. 'There I Said It Again (8) (Valiant) Vaughn Monroe. ... . .Victor 



T. Dorsey, Lena Home 
To Top Bowl Concert 

Hollywood. June' 19: 
Tommy Dorsey and an augmented 
orchestra. Lena Home. Tito Guizar 
and Victor Borge will top the line- 
up for the first of a series of popular 
open-air concerts at Hollywood 
Bowl, to be presented by H. D. 
Hover, opening June 27.' »• 




BOURNE^, 




BOURNE, Inc. 

• Seventh Ave. Ke» *orr> t J S 



BOB LEE ORCH (10) . 
With Gloria Palmer, Lee Three, Lee 
Club 

St. Anthony Hotel, San Antonio 

Bob Lee's band will make many 
new frjends here as word gets around 
that he puts out a danceable style 
of music. What's more, the style is 
far different from any of the bands 
recently here. Lee sticks to popular 
music, a bit on the sweet side and 
some on the hot side, to keep 'em all 
satisfied. 

Composed of three saxes, one 
trumpet, three violins, piano, bass 
fidaie and drums, band is not too 
brassy and not too smaltzy, but 
pleasant for dancers as well as 
diners. 

Vocalists are Lee and Gloria 
Palmer. Lee has a pleasant voice 
and personality and can sing a ballad 
well. Miss Palmer has a sultry 
voice and pleases. Variety springs 
from the Lee Club, formed by the 
entire group, from a trio composed 
of Lee, Miss Palmer and Mickey 
Park, which becomes a quartet with 
the addition of George Snider. 

Andy. 



'Melancholy Baby' Suit 
Awaits Final Decision 
S-B, Vogel Involved 

Question of whether the late 
George E. Norton, was co-author of 
the song. "My Melancholy Baby," or 
an employee for, at the time it was 
written, hive will be decided by 
Federal Judge John W. Clancy in 
N. Y. Decision was reserved after a 
two-day trial in the suit brought by 
Shapiro-Bernstein against Jerry 
Vogel Music Co. for alleged infringe- 
ment of the renewal rights to the 
song. 

Neither S-B. nor Vogel were the 
original publishers of the tune. S-B 
contended that Norton was hired by 
the original publisher, Therron Ben- 
nett, to revise the lyrics, to "Melan- 
choly." original name for the tune 
composed by Maybelle Watson and 
Ernie Burnett in 1911. S-B claims 
renewal rights on assignment from 
Burnett and Mercer & Morris, pub- 
lishers of the song during its original 
term. 

Vogel contends that since publica- 
tion of the song the late Norton was 
credited with writing the lyrics. 
During the trial. Vogel also pro- 
duced evidence showing that under 
an agreement with the Bennett dated 
Sept. 23. 1912, Norton sold his rights 
to Vogel as the author and composer 
of the new lyrics. Vogel obtained 
assignment to renewal rights term 
from Charles E. Norton, son and 
heir of the late composer in 1942. 



4. Laura (8) (Robbins) 



5. Dream (10) 




NEGRA CONSENTIW: 

iMY PET BRUNETTE, 



Ray Pearl Back in Biz 
After Service Discharge 

Chicago, June 19. 
Ray • Pearl, recently discharged 
from the U. S. Army Air Forces, is 
back in the band field with a new 
orchestra, and is set to open at the 
Muehlbach hotel, Kansas Citv, on 
July 11. 

During, this month the band has 
been using Chicago as the hub for a 
series of one-nigh ter break-in dates 
throughout Illinois, Iowa and Ne- 
braska. 



(Freddy Martin..;.. ...Victor 
........... . . . . | jjj ck Haymes. . .., . . . . .Decca 

(Fabttoh I Freddie Martin. ....... Victor 

(tap.toi) .................. | Med pipers capital 

6. You Belong to My Heart (3) (Harris),.. Bing Crosby ...... ..'..Decca 

7. I Wish (Sun > (IV .'■■.•'.:. ... Mills Bros.. ........... ..Decca 

8. I Wish I Knew 3 ) (Triangle) . . . . Dick Haymes . . . .Decca 

9. My Dr,™ 0,,»n« Belter U7> ,S,nll,> j ^ifS. ' \ ', \ \ ^""SS 

,». • s„.,« c-o ,i> ,d„„„>.;.....,..... SJS';::;::S 




EV'RYBODY'S SEEN HIM 
BUT HIS DADDY 



DAYDREAMS IN THE 
MOONLIGHT 



JUST STOPPED BY 
FOR MY HEAR! 



IN MY LITTLE RED BOOK 



YOU'RE YOU 



Gershwin's Portrait 

Portrait in oil of George Gershwin, 
painted by Gloria Rosen, 15, student 
of the School of Industrial Art, 
N. Y., will be presented to the 
George Gershwin Jubilee Committee 
tomorrow (Thurs) at the school. 
Painting will be accepted for the 
committee by Paul Whiteman, 
Morton Gould, Walter Damrosch 
and Mose Gumble. 

It will then be placed on exhibi- 
tion at Knabe Piano Salons, 584 
Fifth avenue, until July 5. 



New 'Auroratone' Gives 
Out Music in Pastels 

■■".;' Chicago, June 19. 
The Groaner's .vocal antics, it's 
generally conceded, produce a pleas- 
ing effect. How they should be in- 
terpreted in color patterns, however, 
is something else again, and a sub- 
ject on which there would probably 
be much disagreement. Aiuoratone 
Foundation of America, 1 Inc., never- 
theless, thinks it has the answer. 

Their gimmick is a film, demon- 
strated here last week at the Fair 
Store, with "sensitized music" pro- 
jected in color. It's labeled 
"Auroratone" at the suggestion of 
Father Hubbard, the Glacier priest, 
because it looks, he said, like the 
aurora borealis. Priest is one of the 
sponsors, of AFA. nonprofit organic 
zation that includes Bing and Larry 
Crosby, Ginny Simnis. Col. Eddie 
Dunstedter, and members of the 
clergy and medical and nursing pro- 
fessions. 

Although the gadget affects every- 
one differently, it's used now only as 
an aid to rehabilitation , of battle- 
weary vets, but will be used exten- 
sively postwar, it's claimed, for ner- 
vous ailments. Film shown here ran 
30 minutes and included "Now the 
Day Is Done," "Clair de Lune,' 
"Lost Chord," and a quartet of tunes 
by. Der Bingle: "Home on the 
Range,'' "Going My Way," "Jeannie 
with the Light Brown Hair" and 
"Ave Maria." 

Each song teed off with a pastoral 
scene which dissolved into a mov 
ing mass of patternless colors, all 
taking their shape and hue from the 
soundtrack's tempo. Screening was 
preliminary to free public showings 
that'll be given five times daily in 
the store starting Thursday (21). 



ding" 
mater. 



Max Steiner. borrowed from War- 
ners by International, to score. "To- 
morrow Is Forever." 



Roy Webb, borrowed from RKO 
by Republic, to score "Love, Honor 
and Goodbye." 



Upbeat 

Joe Reichman orchestra returns to 
the Mark Hopkins-hotel,- San -Fran- 
cisco, July 31, for eight weeks. 



Carlos Molina band stays over for 
the new floor show at the Trocadero, 
Los Angeles. 



Tommy Tucker's orchestra playing 
at the Palladium, Hollywood, for the 
first time.. • 



Bruno Walter in .Hollywood to 
maestro the Russian War Relief con- 
cert in the Bowl, June 22. 



Walt Schrum and his Colorado 
Hillbillies joined Tex Rider's Jam 
boree. 



Pat McMann joined Spade Cool- 
ey's musicrew as vocalist. 



Ray Scott has been signed to do 
four sides for Cosmopolitan records. 



Par Takes Option On 
GI Music-Talent Outfit 

Paramount Pictures has taken an 
option on the story of the GI Music 
and Entertainment outfit set up . in 
N. Y. about 10 months ago by Pfc. 
Ray Rand, a veteran of the Salerno 
invasion. He runs a company de- 
signed exclusivelyHo aid servicemen 
who believe they have songwriting 
ability or the ability to become pro- 
fessional performers. 

Rand and a staff of four, all ex- 
servicemen, operate the agency. So 
far they hav"e received approxi 
mately .3,000 songs.. _f ropi soldiers. 
sailors and marines in all theatres 
of war, some written under fire. Out 
of this group seven are being pub 
lishecl. . 



Music Notes 

Kurt Weill and Sam Coslow col- 
laborating on three new tunes for 
the Mary Pickford production, "One 
Touch of Venus." : ■ j.? 



Irene Dunne awarded honorary 
degree of Doctor of Music by Chi- 
cago Musical College. 



Lou Forbes inked by Edward 
Small as musical director for the pic 
ture, "Getting Gertie's Garter.". 



Tim Healy, 17-year-old trumpet 
player with Brad Hunt band in Pitts- 
burgh,' is now with Bernie Cummins 
btfnd. 



Spade Cooley musicrew signed for 
the fourth year at Riverside Raucho, 
Los Angeles. 



Bernard Piager, head of Robbins 
International, back from Havana 
where Robbins, Music of Cuba, S. A. 
is a subsidiary publishing house. ■ 



Ginny Simms recorded old num- 
ber, "Cuddle Up .a Little Closer," for 
Columbia. 



Harold \ damson contributing 
music to the "annual "Hasty Pud 



show at Harvard, his alma 




MILLS REMINDERS 

OF 

All-Time Favorite 
PIANO SOLOS 

PAVANNE 
DREAM OF A DOLL 
DIZZY FINGERS 
KITTEN ON THE KEYS 

MILLS MUSIC. INC. 
1619 Broadway, N. Y. 



7 •^""fiStss 




Frank DeVol 



And Other Important 
Orchestra Leaden „• 

Uso tills 8X5 VISUAL record 
of gong -hits of over J50 pub- 
Ushers, pills old favorites. In- 
cludes lead sheets and lyrics 
of chorus. SAMPUSS FKKli 



161* 
Broadway 
Now York U 



TUNE-DEX 



REG D MARSHALL 



m 



Wedn esday' June 20, 1915 

Bands at Hotel B.O.'s 

._, . COTtti Total 

„ . , « «ki Vast Court 

H r/loma- Lexingto^O; 75c$l. 5 0> L8& X'sS 

Korniy Dunham.. New Yorker (400, $l-$1.50) 6 2,000 22,350 

George Paxton.. .Pennsylvania (500; $1-$1.50). 2 2.100 3,800 

- wat-Brandwvnne. Waldorf (550; $2) 6 3,500 19,150 

Erskine Hawkins. Lincoln (275; $1-$ 1.50)... « i,100 6,400 

Eddie Stone Roosevelt (400; $i-$1.50). ..-tr.-, re.-.. 6 2,050 15,200 

Harry .Tames. ... .Astor (750; $l-$l.50> ........ vi . i 8,275 6,275 

* Asterisks indicate a supporting floor show. New Yorker has ict show; 
Lexington, an Hawaiian floor show. 

Chicago 

Les Brown (Panther Room. Sherman hotel; 950; $l.50-$2.50 min.). Solid 
biz here as elsewhere; 6.000 this time for Brown, Dinning Sisters, et aj. - ' 

W«n* Klne (Beach Walk and 1 Marine Room, Edgewater Beach hotel; 
4 600 combined: $1.25-$1 50 admission lo Beach Walk for dancing and show; 
S0c-75c cover charge and no minimum in Marine Room). Beach Walk 
closed three nights on account of rain but King still got 9.200. 

Dick r.aSalle (Mayfair Room, Blackstone hotel; 465; $1.50-$2.50 min.). 
Tabs on Ihe upward slant for Carl Biisson and LaSalle. who drew 2,500. 

Fiankle Masters (Boulevard Room, Stevens hotel; 650; $3-$3.50J. Ted 
Weems closed, shaung fine 8.500 with Masters and elaborate Dorothy 
Dorben-produced layout that opened' Friday 1 15).. 

CrorKe Olsen (Empire Room. Palmer House; 700; $3-$3.50 min.). Extra- 
special 8,100 for Olsen, Henny Youngman, Lathrop & Lee, in second-from- 
closing stanza, of a successful long run. fc 

Entile Teltl (New Walnut Room. Bismarck hotel: 465: $1.50-$2.50 min.1. 
Petti-Doraine & Ellis-Mata Mnuteria combo picking up with 3,200. 

Los Angeles 

Freddy Martin (Ambassador: 900: $1-$1.50). Still clicking along at the 
Usual 4.000 tabs. > 

Joe Reichman (Biltmore: 900: $l-$1.501. Plenty of pre-show and post- 
show biz puts the downtown spot: up to 4.300 covers. 

Location Jobs, Not in Hotels 

(flhicnoo) 

Gay Claiidge (Chez Paroe: 650: $3-$3.60 min.). Steady 5,500 for Sophie 
Tucker and Claridge. 

Del Courtney iBlackhawk: 500: $2-$2.50 min.). Proms and Sunday mat- 
inees cue hefty 4,000 for Courtney. Iniagiuatot's, Marjoi ie Lane, etc. 

Ted Lewii (Latin Quarter; 700; $3-$3.50 min.>. Randolph street is 
blocked, detouring joint's usually hefty cab trade and signifying a slight 
drop to 5.700 for Lewis — but that's still big biz. ■ > ' 

\ (Los Angeles) 

Tommy Tucker (Palladium. B. Hollywood, 1st week). New band sweeps 
Clean with the payolas hiked to 27,500. 

Charlie Barnet (Trianon. B, South Gate. 4th week). Last week for this 
rnusicrew rated 9;000 ad mishes. 

Leifhton Noble (Slapsy Maxie's, N. Los Angeles, 26th week). Still gets 
the house full every night at 3.200 customers. 

Carlos Molina, King Cole Trio (Trocadero. N. Hollywood, 13th -week). 
Even with the curfew this spot is good for 2.000 covers. 

Carmen Cava lb ro (Ciro's. N, Hollywood, 4th -week). From the stand- 
point of capacity business and heavy spending there's no hotter band in 
town at 2,650 tabs. 



ORCHESTRAS—MUSIC 



39 



Kapp OK's Leonard Joy 
To Do Air-Conducting 

Leonard Joy, who will be per- 
manent Hollywood recording direc- 
tor for Decca Records, has been 
given permission by Jack Kapp, 
Decca's president, to take radio con- 
ducting jobs if whatever he connects 
with doesn't interfere with his re- 
cording post. Accordingly, he has 
signed with . Francis ("Corky") 
O'Keefe to represent him in the ra- 
dio field. 

Joy, prior to his Decca and RCA- 
Victor recording chores, did radio 
work. 



Radio Networks 'Too Cautious 
On Nixing Lyrics, Say Publishers 



Whiteman Switch Eases 
Krupa's N. Y. Conflict 

Gene Krupa, caught between two 
coincidental contracts, one at the 
Aslor Hotel Roof, N. Y„ and the 
other at the Capitol theatre, N. Y.. 
has gotten some relief from the situ- 
ation. Capitol has switched his run 
with Paul Whiteman's orch and 
Krupa is now free to go into the 
Astor following the current -Harry 
James. He'll open July 16. 

Krupa was originally due. into the 
Capitol about July 5. following the 
current Guy Lombardo. Whiteman 
Was to • have, followed him. Cap 
simply moved Whiteman' ; into 
Krupa's spot and Krupa. will play 
the house following the Astor job. 
coming out of that spot just in time 
to succeed Whiteman. 

Switch of dates at the Cap elimi- 
nated the band's scheduled reopen- j 
ing of the 400 Club, N. Y. ' If Krupa 
goes into the theatre in August as I 
now planned he cannot be clear for ] 
the 400 date, which is due to start! 
Sept. 6. Too, the leader is scheduled 
for an overseas jaunt for the USO j 
immediately .after the Cap or there- | 
a bouts. ' 

It's understood also that the 400 
operators weren't too happy, about J 
Krupa's playing the Astor only a \ 
couple months before playing ton 
them. Two spots are only a few 
blocks apart. 



Adele Guard Joins 

Benny Goodman Orch 

Benny Goodman's orchestra now 
includes Adele Girard, jazz harpist 
wife of Joe Marsala. She replaces 
"Slam" Stewart, bassist, who worked 
with Goodman at the Paramount 
theatre. N. %. and the 400 Club. 
K; Y. She will be used in the sex- 
tet that supplements the band only, I 
as was Stewart. " 

Goodman is headed into a long- 
run of theatre dates starting at the 
RKO. Boston, Friday (21), He plays 
the Steel Pier. Atlantic City, Sept. 

i-2. 



Victor Voting, Paramount com- 
poser, will conduct the first of the 
San Francisco Symphony Orches- 
tra's summer concerts, with John 
Charles Thomas soloing. 



Butterfly Ballroom, Old 
N. E. Dancery, Closes 

Springfield, Mass.. June 19. 
After nearly quarter century. 
Butterfly ballroom has shuttered. 
Its manager, Mitchell Labuda. said 
he will build a new and bigger spot 
a block away from present site as 
soon as War Production Board gives 
an okay. 

The ground floor of the new build- 
ing will feature a dance floor as big 
as the Muhicipal auditorium's, while 
Labuda plans to have_ the center 
double as a dance and sports center. 
There will be sealing for 1.400. 

Butterfly ballroom opened Easter- 
Monday. 1924. under management of 
the late W. J. (Jerry) Cook who also 
operated Riverside Park ballroom. 
About four years ago. it Was cut in 
half to provide facilities for United 
States Employment service. Last of 
.city's large . ballrooms, it, will give 
way to Yale clothing company. 

SHRIBMAN'S HEART ATTACK 

Sy Shribman, .Boston band pro- 
moter and owner of ballrooms in 
various parts of New England, suf- 
fered a heart attack in the Hub 
Sunday (17» and is still in the 
hospital. ■ ■'. - N ' 

His condition was said to be good 
at press time. -v 



Music publishers are constantly 
complaining lately about what they 
claim is an over-cautious attitude by 
the networks towards the lyrics of 
new songs. They feel that in many 
cases the broadcasters lean too far 
backward to avoid repercussions so 
that they appear ridiculous. 

Case in point is the recent revi- 
sion in the lyric of "Thank Your 
Father" before the tune was al- 
lowed on CBS. This song, by De- 
Sylva, Brown & Henderson, is years 
old and has been aired countless 
times before CBS decided that parts 
of it weren't fit for radio. 

Perhaps the latest battle between 
a net and music publisher is the 
dispute going on between CBS and 
Mutual Music Society over a tune 
called "Don't Tell a Man About His 
Woman." Changes the net insists on 
before the tune is acceptable seem 
minoi^and silly to publishers. 

In many instances -the publishers 
agree with the networks on the 
banning of lyrics. Their complaint 
is, however, that to make sure of 
avoiding FCC. repercussion," radio 
leans' too far backwards. 



Jimmy Walker (Maj) 
To Issue Al Smith Album 

Jimmy Walker, prez of Majestic 
Records, is issuing an Al Smith Me- 
morial Album as a tribute to the 
late Governor of New York. It will 
be subtitled "Sidewalks of New 
York;" and a committee comprising 
Eddie Dowling, v Gene Buck, Eddie 
Cantor and Abel Green will advise 
on Majestic's first album. The eight 
sides will comprise the "Happy War- 
rior's" favorite oldies, recorded by 
Ray Block, with name vocalists .yet 
to be selected. ' ' :( 

. Incidentally, Eddie Cantor has his 
own album due from Decca. like- 
wise eight sides,.- backed by. Victor 
Young's orchestra, with the come- 
dian reprising- "If. You Knew Susie," 
•Whoopee," etc. ' > : 



Two Hits From ARROW That Hit The RnHseue 




Bid 01 




(SingiiiV "$w«et Adeline" Again) 

ty Al Hoffman, Dave Gmpp. 611 Mills arid Carl Lampl (A.S.C.A.P.) 

To tte Introduced by tfte, 

foir mmm 

Marring on llir riEOTEIFIELI Slim 

June 26, Tuesday, 7-7:15 P.M. EWT. Over NBC, Coast to-Coast 

' \:.: : ; \' . ' Our Hig Plug Song 




ty Eric Carre*; lani Masan and Carl lamal (A.S.C.A.P.I 



ARROW 311 Sir COMPANY. lfflft Rroadwtiy, N«w Y«rk JO, IV. Y 

ftlllAS, «r>-- Mgr. XBLSON liWHAM, *r«. Mgr. 



40 



VAUDEVILLE 



Wednesday, June 20, 1(HS 



Night Life in Ruined Manila a Bare 
Effort to Amuse GI's; Liquor Scarce 



By Lieut. (j.ff'.V If. L, GOLDEN 

(On Leave from "Variety") 

."-'■'.. Maniia. Jinie 1. . 
Despite overwhelming devastation 
in Manila— so great it is utterly im- 
possible to grasp its extent without 
actually seeing it— city is slowly 
shaking itself out of its shock and 
attempting to reconstruct the repu- 
tation it has held for years as one 
of 'the favored pleasure ports of the | 
Far East for Army-Navy fun- i 
chasers. Although expended mortar | 
shells, burned-out tanks and assort- i 
ed sectors of Jap anatomy may still | 
be found among rubble that fills the', 
streets and there is scarcely a house j 
or building standing, at least eight ^ 
theatres have managed to open and , 
several dozen niteries are vying for j 



THE AMAZING 

LADY ETHEL 

AND 

DR. JESTER 

Marvels of Magical 
Perception 
MENTALIST 

SUAVE 
MYSTIFYING 
HILARIOUS 



ly a rarity) for GIs Who bring then- 
own bottles. There's usually a small 
band and a local pickup show of 
sorts. There are also plenty of 
femmes, one commodity of which 
Manila seems to be suffering no 
shortage. Quite a few of the spots 
are on the outskirts of town, since 
, trade. Additional boiles are debut- I that's the only place that anything 
in, all the time, although the decor, like an intact building can be .found, 
! funushings-and likker-is of the The in-town clubs are a welter of 
most elemental type. However, the I patchwork repairs by ingenious 
I town is Tilled with servicemen seek- owners. The levy, as might be ex- 
' ing what servicemen invariably seek, pected. even for the glass and water 
'and obliging Filipinos, not without setup, is outrageous. But the (..Is 
I an eve on the coin the Yanks so pay it joyfully, since merely finding 
I freelv unpockel. are endeavoring to a place in Manila to sit down and 
' amuse theiti . . . ' .'• rest the. brogans after a day of rub- 

I Soldiers from the Civil Affairs j bernecking is quite a feat. Many, of 
; Unit . and various other service and 



Warners Drops Fight to Force Trotter 
To Play N.Y. Strand, Eyes Replacement 



headquarters- organizations set up in 
Manila are the principal pleasure- 
seekers at the moment. ' although 
(here's a sizeable influx of one-day 
lurloughers from- troops which are 
still fighting in outlying districts, 
some of them only a few miles from 
Manila itself. The Navy has been 
very sparse so far with , liberty for 
its. men and insists that they all be 
hearting back to their ships by 6 p. in. 

In addition to such common-sense 
considerations,, is the fact that there 
is a terrific scarcity of food and 
water for Manila's own inhabitants, 
so. it, is impractical to have the tour- 
ist trade syphoning it.... ... 

Nevertheless, weekends in Manila 



the joints close around 10::!0 and 
some don't even stay open after 
dark, so it's evident the joy-stuff is 
still on a limited basis. ';■; 

Although their operation? are as 
yet on a minute scale compared cur- 
rently with their co- workers; in Eu- 
rope.' there is no dearth of prosties. 
Inasmuch as they'd have no place 
to take pickups, there are no indie 
operatives. "-Houses,' on the other 
hand, have sprung up in amazing 
places. Right in the midst of a row 
of almost completely devastated 
I buildings on a side street, one will 
find an establishment comprising 
perhaps two walls and a lot of old 
curtains. ' Small boys, using terms j 
! with which GIs are •familiar- from ' 
I here to Paris, do the steering job for 



Aw, G'wan, They Can't Talk 

Chicago, June 19. 

Panel of 12 jurors 1 was sworn- in 
before Judge Rudolph Desoit in the 
Superior Court here last week to 
hear ' a $2.5(10 damage suit filed 
against the Chicago Surface Lines by 
John P. Snyder, whose act, known 
as Snyder's Bears, has bee. i playing 
vaudeville and fairs lor years. Sny- 
der seeks damages for injuries suf- 
fered by him and his three Russian 
bears when His truck was struck by 
a streetcar on May 12, 1041. 

Judge Desort was prompted to 
raise his. eyebrows w)ien Snyder's at- 
torney, Edward A. Sinden, men- 
tioned the possibility that the bears, 
which weigh 1.200 pounds each and 
roller skate, ride bicycles and do 
other, tricks, might be, called as silent 
Witnesses, 



bear some resemblance to a subdued 

Coney Island, with hundreds of GIs ' lne bawdies. .Incidentally, here's 
wandering around sightseeing and a ! one commodity, as is true in many 
great deal of good-natured banter- j pa rts of the world, that inflationary 
ing going on among sailors, soldiers, j prices haven't hit. The (immediate.) 
WACs and native gals. As a matter [ cos t is entirely within reason. 

Such famed hostclries. as the Far 
i Eastern and the Manila 'hotel are in 
the same ruin as the rest of the city 




Hirdn* audience* In the Hetler ImiM ; 
foniri's all over (his continent in h gimpl*' j 
jpat for (his nniHzlii.K .i-onnle, demon- ; 
•tt-niliiK Mieir unbelievable feats »f I 
taenia! nffilllv. Ksrleclnlly lninre8*ei| ami ■ upon 
tnthiislnfrtlc. are those who are skeptical 
before tli'ey challenge, these hrilllaul nicn- 
'ftJMa. Truly one .of the !SU.\SON"S 
" VANIMMJ ATTRACTIONS. 

Currently' 
KING UnWAKO HO'MX 
TORONTO 

M.C.A.. NEW YORK 



"HIT OF THE EVENING" 

I'alrlila Simmons— Wash. Eve. Htai- 

THE MACK TRIPLETS 

On Tour With Plill Spitalny 

KkcIu. Slalerinl Personal .Met. 

HARRY COHEN PHIL FARRELL 

IB97 Broadway IS50 Broadway 



on among sailor 
and native gals. As a matter i 
of. fact, the whole destruction of the 
city, looks as though it might have 
been subsidized by Eastman to sell j 
film there are so many GIs chestily < 
posing in front of ruins while their : 
buddies dip shutters. <A roll of film, 
incidentally, will bring $Xn0..i 

Everywhere, too. may be seen 
Yanks digging through' rubble for ■ 
souvenirs.' Many an innocent distal- ; 
I'er is in for a shock when she opens i 
a package from Manila and finds a J 
blood-spattered Jap helmet, or a ; 
I sword or rifle or other such grue- 
some, trinket-'. The Intramuros ' 
(Walled City i_ is currently the happy i 
hunting ground for such grislics. de- I 
spite the fact M.P.s strictly, discour- , 
age it, since, the place is a welter of 
booby traps and unexploded mines. ! 

Liquor is probably one of the 
scarcest of Manila commodities, with 
a bottle of real Scotch Worth any- i 
where from $25 to $50 and dozens of ; 
takers. /The only thing available in j 
any quantity is a native brew which ! 
the booze-bottlery itself admits is ' 
less than 36 hours old. It can be . 
obtained from the distillery by GIs j 
presentation of a chit from . 
their unit, commander at the. regu- 
lateel price- of 10 pesos l$5).. It's the j 
alternate to the wood alcohol boot- ! 
leg stuff available in small quantities j 
at a preposterously exorbitant tap. 
Bootlegging, which, unless severely ; 
controlled, may be expected to in- j 
crease tremendously, is still on a 
minor scale, since even a pot with- 
: out a hole plugged through it is an. 
i object of envy in Manila. 

Fortune for Setups 

; Some niteries offer "cocktails," 
; and have a fluid they pass off as gin. 
j but it is all dubious. Many of them 
i specialize in providing Setups of 
i glasses and water (ice is almost non- 
I existent and water itself is frequent- 



One or two less- battered and smaller 



Ben Piermont Replaces 
Tom Ryan at Head of 
Chi USO-CSI Branch 

Chicago, June 19. 
Ben Piermont of the N. Y. USO- 
Camp Shows office succeeded Tom 
Ryan as local secretary Monday (U). 
Order for Piermont's appointment 

exec 



4- Warner Bros, has dropped all 
arguments with maestro John Scolt 
Trotter over the hitter's reluctance 
to fulfill a commitment to play the 
Strand theatre, N. Y., next .month, 
Trotter's place will be taken bj a 
unit headed by the Ei'skine- Hawkins 
orchestra plus the Charioteers— 
j latter having been due on the Trotter 
bill — and other acts not sei. They'll 
open July 20. 

Trotter was to have played the 
Strand at $13,000 for his unit, Two 
weeks ago he advised Warners that 
his doctor had ordered him not to 
make the trip east because of poor 
health. Warners refused, to believe 
the health angle and went about 
forcing .the leader to honor his 
agreement. Late last week the case 
was dropped, 

Eugenie Baud, soloist on Blng 
Crosby's air show, who was due 
into the Strand with Trotter, Will 
instead work with the Perry Como 
theatre unit, which also includes 
comic Jackie Gleason. Como is 
booked into the Adams. Newark, 
week Of Aug. ,20 and RKO Boslon, 
Sept. : 6. other, dales haven't been 
definitely set. 



inns have been partially restored by j camP f lom Lawrence Phillips 
the Army to take care of the flood \ secro tary of the N. Y. office. A com- 
of officers. Four brass chapeaus I m ittee of local theatrical men has 

been running the Midwest TJSO-CS 



^ ItUvicus * 

LOEW 

BOOKING 
AG ENC Y 

OtNlRAl CXtCVTIVt Officii 

LOEW BUILDING ANNEX 

;160 W. 44th SI., H. Y.C. • Myant ♦-7I0O 



sharing a tiny room is not unusual. 
Some of the military personnel is 
staying with .private families, al- 
though even such facilities are rare, 
since. most people with intact homes 
in the suburbs have had to take in 
any number of less-fortunate rela- 
tives and friends. 

Restaurants arc in . the same 'sad 
state. Their first problem, of course, 
■is the lack, of food and their second 
is. refrigeration. Power is off in most 
of the city, even if a short-order op- 
erator should tind his electric re- 
frigerator intact, much less his 
building. Army medics have classi- 
fied a number of eateries as okay 
and they are apparently allowed 
small quantities of food to take care 
of the visiting GI trade. No draw- 
back apparently are such prices as 
50 cents for a slice of toast, 30 cents 
for coffee with milk, $1.25 for a ham- 
. burger and. $4 for any kind ot decent 
meal. 

Live Shows Boom 

With projection equipment and 
prints virtually lioruCxisterit, live 
shows dominate at the theatres. One 
house, the Coco, opened recently 
with Gary Cooper in "The Plains- 
man," In parentheses under the ) 
title in the ads is "New Copy," j 
apparently to let the prospective 
payees know that the 'print, like 

j everything else, isn't shot full of 
holes. The Cine Lotus also has a ' 

I film, Rogelia de la Rosa, with Linda | 
Estrella and Jaime de la Rosa, in j 

! "Prisoner of Zenda," billed as a | 
"Tagalog adaptation of the world- j 
famous novel." The spot, however, j 
also has- a live show. | 
Among other, houses open— and. 
all with lengthy lines made up of 
both natives and GIs — are the Apolo. 
(he Elite, the Alegria, thtfldeal anfi"! 
the Times. Shows at both the Apolo i 
and Ideal, have been staged by Lou j 
Salvador, one of the bigger names. 



I of fice since the death of Hal Hal- 
| perin last March. 

I Understood Piermont' got the job 
; because of cessation of activities in 
j the N. Y. office in booking acts into 
j the Blue (Army camp) Circuit, with 
i Ryan settling for severance and va- 
| cation pay. Latter will take a week 
I off, he said, before looking around 
I for a spot with one of the local tal- 
ent agencies, '.- 



Saranac 



has a musical exlravaganza labeled j 
"In Old Mexico" and in. addition has 
a flock of yaude acts. At the Elite. ! 
Filipino screen player Fernando Poe ■ 
(who was a major in the intelligence 
division of the guerilla .army) has • 
staged the presentation, tagged; 
■"Hello Joe." Poe is also responsible, 
for something called "Gypsy Inter- ' 
hide" at the Alegria. . 

Major GI entertainment feature in 
the past few weeks has been the.) 
live version of Irving Berlin's "This 
Is the Army." all-soldier stager, it j 
ran here from April 9 to 13 and is I 
now in the hinterland. 



By Happy Ben way 

Saranac. N. Y.„ June 19. 
Myron Tannenbaum shot in from 
| (he Big Town for a weekend visit 
| with. Jordie McLean, who is flashing 
j good reports. 

I- Helen Inglee oft' to N. Y. on a 10- 
•. day. ..furlough;.. ..'.'. 

Leuard Grotte left for Flushing, 
j L, I., to consult specialist about 
stomach ailment. 

Ben Schaffer has joined Fish and 
Game club. He's a champ angler 
now. 

Jack Kelleher on the upgrade and 
flashing excellent reports. 

Kalhlyri Bernard taking to the 
routine like a veteran. 

Drive for tipkeep of William Mor- 
ris Memorial Park has gone over the 
top with every civic organization 
donating. Elks topped list of con- 
tributors. 

Dorothy Newcomb. who cured 
here, elated over husband being 
medically discharged from Navy. 

Isabelle Rook, former pianist and 
colnnyite, now working as-a switch- 
board operator in N. Y. C. and likes 
it. 

. Ann Comerford renewing ac- 
quaintance with her Broadway, pals 
after beating the rap here. 

Robert J^ Goldstein, theatrical at- 
torney, checked in at the' Rogers. -' 
While to those who art ill. 




MCA Opens Det. Branch 

Music Corp. of America opens a 
branch office this week, in Detroit. 
It will, be headed by *Mike Falk, 
operator of his own agency in that, 
town, who brings with him Buddy 
Fields, booker of cocktail units in 
the Falk agency. Between them 
they wiil do all selling until a larger 
staff is organized and installed in 
permanent quarters, At present, the 
branch will be situated in the Book- 
and is | Cadillac Building. 

De'Arv Barton, bead of MC'A's 
A lopnotch- job ol tak ing care ol . Cleveland office, will supervise the 
has been' done by t.he,. ^,,.]^,,^ oE Ule Detroit branch as 
gals located them-! wel i as ride . herd over his present 
territory, •' . ....■.' . ■„;, . - - 



TOMMY LYMAN 

A|.|>m«'iiu; Niirlilly at 

JIMMY RYAN'S EASTSIDE 

• - . ' AlR-t'OOI.KII 

(IB Kant Mill St.. Nviv Voik 
ItltroilnrliiK 
Do It All Over Again" 

llv Klvk KohriUoo 
(Slia|»lt-o-li<*riisf <-in) 



Id 



Wai Her* When You Left Me" 

llv Siimni.v Slrpl 
(IrvihK ll«rlitt, Ini.) 



'Who Said Dreamt Don't Come 
True?" 

Bv Hrony Ikuvii* 
(< liH|i|>rll Music) 



"Green, Green Hills of Home" 

It.v Nii-U Ki'itity 
H iihoIm Musir €'•».> 
SlMM'iul MMlcrial l>> Mll 'l I It AN< IS 



GAGS! JOKES! GAGS! 

PATTER! WISE-CRAX! STORIES! 

For vaode.nile tlilbti, radin M.C.'s. fcfngtos. 
double-., nrmonn.,1 tirodtii-urs. disu Iflr.kftyi. 
directors, band leaders, siifakers. rotiiies, 
itnngr*. - niagielaiis. ventri loi, .comiiiti'itaturs. 
writeri, cartoDiiisls. etc. 

Fun-Master Gag Files Nas. 1 Thru 10 
$1.05 Per Script, Postage Prepaid 

Eoch File Contains Over 100 Sock 
_ . Gags ! I 

Mtilie riit-rks Tu.vnliltt to 
r.vi i. v ismi i n 

Mail lo "tnn-Miisl^r" :.. 
!(IU W. Mill St., New York City It*. N'!V. 



thirsty Joe 
Red Cross. The 

selves two walls and part of a roof 
l and proceeded -to set up a canteen. 
I All ihey had lo Offer was colTee and 
cool lemonade, and the line was 
so.metimes a .couple hundred feet 
long to get that, but il. meant plenty 
lo a perspiring and parched khaki- 
elad. Theji. C; has also been operat- 
ing a mobile canteen add since 
April 17 has been -running an 
(Continued on page 42) 




■EN . '-. JANE 

ROCIIELLE and REIIBK 

NOW OVERSEAS FOR 
U.S.O.-CAMP SHOWS, INC. 

, Mjtl.: KltWIK SMITH, rnrnmoiint KIiIk., New Vork 



Dick Hayraes, Helen Forrest Drawing 
10G Weekly for Duo Theatre Dates 



Hollywood. June 19, 
Dick Haymes and Helen Forrest, 
set several weeks ago for the Roxy 
theatre, N. Y., to play out an old 
commitment, have been signed for 
some additional weeks of personal 
appearances in Boston and Cleve- 
land at $10,000 guarantee plus a split 
jf gross goes over an undisclosed 
figure. An additional clause in their 
contracts with the RKO, Boston, for 
week of Aug. 9 and Palace, Cleve- 
land, Aiig. 31, calls for a straight 50- 
50 split if take reaches $45,000. 

There is the possibility, according 
to sources here; that the duo will 
play other houses before they return 
to film and radio work exclusively. 
They're currently on a USO hos- 
pital tour which will be continued 
between vaude dates. Haymes, 
besides being a 20th-Fox star, has the 
Auto-Lite show on NBC Tuesdays, 
which also features Miss Forrest. 

Haymes has also been set solo for 
the Oriental theatre, Chicago, Aug. 
17, at $8,500. 

Chi Nitery Ops Beef 
About USO's $70 Per 
Offer to Chorus Girls 

Chicago, JUne 19. 

It's generally thought in the trade 
here that local bistro operators and 
producers are displaying bad taste 
by squawking — even if, as they 
claim, "it's only for publicity" — to 
columnists on Chi dailies that USO- 
Camp Shows are raiding their girl 
lines. Consensus is that a lot of 
people in show-biz here are losing 
sight of the fact that there's still a 
war on, and that there are still 
millions of servicemen yelling for 
entertainment. 

Beefs started after Freddie Evans 
came in from N. Y. on behalf of 
USO-CSI to recruit girls for over- 
seas entertainment, offering, to quote 
one columnist who was moaning 
over the fact that lines here will be 
depleted, $70 a>- week and all ex- 
penses paid from the time they get 
on the boat until they return." 
(USO doesn't usually pay that much 
coin, but in this case (he girls are 
wanted for a special unit requiring 
unusual ability.) . 

"Night spots are burning" and 
cracks of that ilk about Evans tak- 
ing too much local talent were fol- 
lowed up with announcements from 
Olive Bernard of the . Chez Paree 
arid Merriell Abbott of the Empire 
Room that they're looking for gals, 
latter claiming it's the first time in 
her career she's had to call for help. 



Luna Park, N. Y., Court 
Fight a Draw So Far 

Decision was reserved last week 
in Bill Miller's action to dispossess 
Phil Pate and Abe Seskin, new 
lessees, from Luna Park, Coney 
Island, N. Y. Judge Morrissey, pre- 
siding at hearing in Brooklyn munic- 
ipal court denied motion to dismiss 
action and ordered both sides to 
file briefs. 

Miller, talent agent and, former 
lessee of the, amusement park, 
brought the action upon premise 
that the Prudence Bond Co., owners 
of the property, acted illegally in 
leasing park to the Pate-Seskin 
combo while he stilf ~tVeld~a prior 
lease.. Prudence countered that 
Miller had forfeited rights by aban- 
doning park after the fire last season. 
. Dispossess action, according to 
Miller, is merely a prelude to a 
$500,000 damage suit he will institute 
against the. landlord company later. 



U Martinique, N.Y., Eyes 
Ben Blue, Sophie Tucker 

. Financial success of current Harry 
R'chm'an engagement at La Mar- 
tinique, N. Y.. is causing Dario and 
Jimmy Vernon, spot's operators, to 
consider continuation of the name 
policy, Dario previously attempted 
them 8 C(?ming t,oraies and building 

Operators been dickering for 
Sophie Tucker and Ben Blue. It's 
understood that Dario will meet Miss 
dicker's salary at the Copacabana, 
where she played the last time in 
f- Y ; Stymie on the Ben Blue deal 
is said to be price. Comic is reported 
""Willing to leave his present spot 
at Slapsie Maxie's, Hollywood, un- 
ess he gels $4 50() tha( . includ . 

'"fi a company of three. 



Vaude Back in Butte 

Butte, Mont., June 19. 
E. E. (Bucky) Harris, owner- 
president of indie Park-Butte The- 
atres, is bringing vaudeville back to 
Buptte for the first time in over 10 
years. First bill goes into chain's 
Montana theatre two days weekly, 
beginning June 26. 

Presentation includes five acts, 
first-run pictures, pit orchestra. 



Chi Needs More 
Hospital Acts 

Chicago, June 19. 
Acute shortage of talent needed to 
entertain the wounded vets in army 
and navy hospitals around Chicago 
resulted in a general committee of 
bookers, managers and agents being 
formed last week under the chair- 
manship of Tommy Smythe of MCA. 
Meetings which were called by Mrs. 
Frank Bering, vice-chairman of the 
speakers bureau of the Red Cross, set 
up a quota system for all managers 
and agents. 

Committee is laying plans to 
appeal to name talent heading east 
or west to lay over in Chi for an 
extra day in order to play one or 
more of the hospitals. 

Last meeting held Thursday (14) 
found the agents sharply divided on 
the subject of arranging to pay the 
acts that play the hospitals. Group 
that wanted to pay talent took the 
position that a monster benefit could 
be staged that would net enough to 
take care of any budget set up. Main 
reason for the stand was the fact 
that some acts play hospitals and 
service men's centers so much, that 
it is a serious handicap to their 
making a living while other acts 
play few if any shows. 

"Department stores, don't give 
away merchandise, war plant work- 
ers get a check every week" said 
one agent, "why should talent have 
to give away their livelihood? Op- 
position group took the position that 
any actor who insisted upon being 
paid for playing for wounded vets 
ought to be jailed on general prin- 
ciples. 



Terp Tutors Balked In 
New Bargaining Step 

Los Angeles, June 19. 

Dancing teachers at the Arthur 
Murray Studios lost a decision in 
Superior Court where Judge Emmet 
H. Wilson refused to order the stu- 
dio into collective bargaining. Court 
ruled that the defendants, Murray 
and his wife, Katherine, had not 
been duly served. 

Order was asked by the American 
Artists of Dance, AFL union, which 
claimed to represent 42 out of 50 
Murray employees. 



Ben Bart Quits Gale 

To Join Lenetska 

Ben Bart, treasurer of the Moe 
Gale agency, left that outfit Friday 
(15)' to join Harry Lenetska, former 
vaude department head of Gale, who 
left several months ago, in a new 
firm titled Universal Attractions. 
New outfit will be concerned prin- 
cipally with recordings, turning 
them out under a "Hub" label. Bart's 
move climaxed a drawn-out situa- 
tion within the Gale agency during 
which Gale complained to the Amer- 
ican Federation of Musicians that 
an attempt was being made to tam- 
per with his managerial hold on his 
artists. AFM subsequently warned 
any and all of Gale's employees that 
management contracts concluded by 
any of them With any of Gale's 
properties would not be recognized. 

However, the new Universal firm 
will assertedly take care of the busi- 
ness of the Ink Spots, one of Gale's 
top acts", despite the fact that the 
quartet is still under contract to 
Gale. 

Bernie Tilove, head of Gale's one- 
night department, left With Bart" to 
join the new agency. He'll be re- 
placed by Sam Ash, former road 
manager of several of Gale's orches- 
tras. Ralph Cooper, colored emcee, 
at H ar lem's Apollo, joins Gale as his 
assistant. \ 



VAUDEVILLE 



41 



Copa, N.Y., Signs Basic AGVA Pact 
After Debut of New Show Delayed 



Trixie Friganza's Cousin 
Believed Drowned in Chi 

Chicago. June 19. 
"Coast ~ guardsman' quit dragging 
Lake Michigan Friday (15) for the 
body of Everett E. Friganza, cousin 
of Trixie Friganza, and well known 
to people in show business here, who 
disappeared Thursday (14). A man i 
believed to be Friganza, who was 
public relations .official., for the j 
Illinois Bell Telephone Co., was 'seen 
early last Thursday morning walking 
on the breakwater rocks off Foster 
avenue beach, on the north side, 
by a sailor and his girl companion. 
The p. a's. coat, hat and wallet were 
found on the rocks later. 

A newspaper clipping dated May 
18 was found in the billfold, describ- 
ing a suit for separate maintenance 
brought against the 52-year-old club- 
man, .who lived at the Lake Shore 
Club, by his wife, charging he 
deserted her and their two daughters 
in 1942, after 25 years of married 
life. Friganza, it was learned, had 
been on sick leave from the phone 
co. for the past three weeks, having 
been in arid out of the hospital for 
two years as a result of a diabetic 
condition. 



Total of $1,285,000 Now 
Available to Receiver 
EorRingling Claimants 

Hartford, June 19. 

As a result of the disastrous circus 
fire of a year ago, a check of $50,000 
has been presented by Ringling 
Bros.-Barnum & Bailey circus to 
Attorney Edward Rogin, receiver for 
claimants against the show. Pay- 
ment makes a total sum of $1,285,000 
available to the receiver. 

No actual payment was required 
until the end of the year under an 
agreement between the circus and a 
committee representing the Hartford 
County Bar Assn. Circus has agreed 
to turn over all its earnings until all 
claims against it have been satisfied. 

At the time it left Hartford last 
year, the circus left $375,000 plus an 
additional $5,000 for incidental ex- 
penses. Part of the claims are to be 
met through payment from a $j500,- 
000 catastrophe policy issued by 
Lloyd's of London. In addition there 
is an anticipated $370,000 to be made 
available through the rebate of ad- 
mission taxes by the federal gov- 
ernment. Tbere was also a fire in- 
surance policy in the amount of 
$125,000, but it was ascertained that 
the fire loss amounted to only $60,- 
000. The circus, however,, agreed to 
make up the difference for the bene- 
fit of claimants. 

In the meantime, two key em- 
ployees of the circus have started 
serving States Prison terms in 
Wethersfield as a result of the ca- 
lamity. They are George W. Smith, 
general manager, and Leonard 
Aylesworlh,. boss canvasman: Both 
surrendered to local officials follow- 
ing the Show's opening at Washing- 
ton where the new big top was put 
to first, use. , 

Both were originally sentenced to 
two to seven years. After much 
pressure, their sentences were re- 
viewed and lowered to one year and 
a clay to five years. Thus the men 
are eligible for parole before the 
end of a year. 

Smith has announced that Edward 
Kelly, first assistant, is now acting 
manager. Charles Healy, he said, 
has been upped to acting boss can- 
vasman. Smith still stays as : gen- 
eral manager, though doubtful -in- 
mind as to what he can actually ac- 
complish while in the'pen. Ward 
Nath has been named chief elec- 
trician in place of Edward Berstag, 
also serving a year on manslaughter 
charges. 



Straight Pitch 

Columbus, June 19. 
A Columbus tavern operator . 
advises its patrons, "Don't drink, 
buy bonds. If you must drink, 
drink here so I can buy bonds." 



MARGIE HART QUITS 
' 'RED, HOT' IN DET. 

Margie Hart, stripteusc and stellar 
attraction of the vaude revue, "Red. 
Hot and Blue," vamped the show 
alter the first week at the Lafayette 
theatre. Detroit. No replacement 
made as yet. : .. .. 

Although Miss Hart held run of 
play contract, bowout is said to have 
been by Mutual consent with the 
stripper feeling she had not been 
given proper buildup in show, such 
as she had in "Wine, Woman and 
Song" at the Ambassador, N. Y„ 
some seasons .ago. Latter was closed 
by police. 

Miss Hart stated she would take a 
hiatus of several weeks, after which 
she will head her own package show 
for vaude dates. 



Heat Wave Melts 
B'way Nitery Biz 

Near recordbreaking heat wave 
over the weekend gave N. Y. niteries 
one of the hardest business jolts 
since enactment of the curfew. Busi- 
ness over what is riormally regarded 
as the two busiest days of the week 
dropped an average of 25%. 

Main Stem bistros were the chief 
sufferers, although most Eastsideries 
were hard hit also. The Copacabana 
was virtually the only cafe to escape 
any damage. Opening of the new 
show Thursday (14) is regarded as 
the factor giving the push that kept 
the place, jammed during that period. 
Even stressing air-conditioning in 
ads didn't help most spots much as 
the majority of" people apparently 
were inclined not to venture out of 
the house or hotel. 



John Comise's Assault 
Trial Underway in Chi 

Chicago, June 19. 

Week-long trial of John Cofnise, 
former Chi Cafe Owners' Assn. 
prexy and operator of the Club De- 
Lisa, is still going on, with Comise 
still slated for the witness stand. 
Comise faces three charges before 
Criminal Judge Cornelius J. Har- 
rington and a jury of eight women 
and four men— two counts of assault 
to kill and one for carrying con- 
cealed weapons. 

Judge Harrington denied Comise's 
request for a bench trial, upholding 
contention of Asst. State's Atty. 
Richard Austin that the state should 
demand a jury trial on whether 
Comise slugged and threatened to 
kill 17-year-old William Fortier, 
youthful friend of Comise's son, in 
an effort to learn the whereabouts of 
Comise, Jr., who had run aw^ay from 
home. 



4- Monte Proser's Copacabana, N. Y. 
nitery, capitulated to demands of the 
American Guild of Variety Artists 
for a basic minimum agreement with 
the talent union last Thursday night 
(14). Signing occurred after Mitzi 
Green, topliner of the new show 
preeming that night, and the other 
acts, refused to go on until pact was 
signatured. All the acts had been ad- 
vised not to work until the club ca- 
pitulated. 

Controversy held up the first show 
an hour and a half. Other acts with- 
Miss Green who backed up the 
union's stance in the matter were 
j Russell Swann, Mario and Floria and 
Don Dennis, who warble.s in the pro- 
duction numbers. 

Controversy anent signing the 
Copa by AGVA started two weeks 
back when the latter ruled spot un- 
fair as of June 14 for failure to ne- 
gotiate contract. Although AGVA 
had ordered acts in previous show 
to close on June 13, it did allow the 
line to give a dress rehearsal on the 
14th when assured bv Jack Entratta, 
Proser's g.m., that, everything would 
be okay before, show went on. When 
Miss Greerl and other acts appeared 
prior to performance at the nitery 
they contacted their org and were 
told situation remained status quo 
and to stand by for further instruc- 
tions. Proser is reported as having 
tried to get AGVA to let show go on 
and contract matters be ironed out 
the following day. This was nixed by 
talent union and contract was signed. 

Basic agreement calls for Class 
A-deluxe classification with a $75 . 
weekly minimum for choristers on 
a six-day week. It's a six-months 
pact maturing Dec. 31 of this year. 
Holdup on signing is said to have 
involved the six-day week which re- ' 
quires employment of additional line 
girl at $75 to carry the relief job 
on other gals' nights off, plus outlay 
for another set of costumes. 



Canton's Old Grand Opry 
House Sold; to Try Burly 

Canton, O., June 19. 

Old Grand Opera House, more than 
a half century old and for 35 years 
one of the best known legitimate 
houses in the middle west, has been 
sold to the Lincoln Realty Co. here. 
Purchase price was not revealed. 
Jack Kane, who operated the house, 
in recent years in conjunction with 
houses in Youngstown and Akron, 
last offered burlesque. It has been 
dark since early this year. ■ . 

House, which seats 1.000, for years 
operated 'as a unit of the Fiber-Shea 
circuit, along with the Park in 
Yourigstdw y iT~a"rrd" ~the-:Colonial in 
Akron, under the direction of the 
late L. B. Cool. When legit flopped, 
house went into movies for several 
years and was the town's topflight 
film house. Later it housed stock and 
burlesque. 

House now is still under lease to. 
Kane, who plans to try burly again 
in the fall, and, it that policy fails, 
new. owners plan to remodel it into a 
business block. House was erected 
in 1890, and at that time was one of 
the finest theatres in the middle 
west', playing all the available road 
shows in that era. 



Halsey, B'klyn, May Relight 

Halsey theatre, Brooklyn, which 
has been dark for several seasons, 
may relight next month with vaud- 
film policy if deal currently in nego- 
tiation with owners of property is 
closed as expected within the next 
few weeks. Prospective buyer is un- 
disclosed. 

Upon reopening house would play 
five acts on split-week policy. . 



Eddie Sherman Plans 
To Expand Into P.M. 
Field on Full Scale 

Eddie Sherman, personal manager 
of Abbott and Costello and head of 
the Sherman agency here is planning 
to expand the activities of the N. Y. 
office into personal management. 
Hitherto the N. Y. outfit has been 
concerned solely with booking 
theatres. 

. Sherman, who arrived from Holly- 
wood over the week-end, plans *o 
stay in town for several wee';s 
getting the new set-up started and 
also bolster the booking end of the 
business. He moved out to the Coast 
some years ago to look after Abbott 
& Costello's affairs, opened a man- 
agement office and has spent vir- 
tually all of his time there. 

Sherman now handles the affairs 
of Gloria Jean, Connie Haines. Ken 
Niles, Bob Matthews,, vocalist on 
the Abbott & Costello show; Will 
Osborne, Margaret Irving and John 
Grant. 

Sherman said he has no plans to 
prune his N. Y. office staff despii« 
loss of several houses. He also said 
he expects to add more theatres to 
his book. 

Meanwhile, he's set A & C for the 
Hippodrome, Baltimore, July 26 and 
the Earle, Philadelphia, Aug. 3. Their 
last broadcast for the season for 
Camel cigarettes will originate in 
N.- Y., June 28. They'll re.swne_Xor 
the same sponsor Oct. 4. 

Proceeds from the Abbott ft ... 
Costello p.a's will be used to endow 
a children's home as a memorial to 
Lou Costello, Jr. who recently died. 



Carnival, N. Y., Due 

To Shut for Summer 

Carnival Room, Capitol hotel, 
N. Y., newest name, band and floor 
show room, is laying off for the 
summer after the close . of Art 
Mooney's orchestra and show next 
Sunday night (25). Lack of air con- 
ditioning equipment forced the de- 
cision. 

Louis Prima's orchestra reopens 
the. spot Sept. 25, plus the Kalhryn : 
Duffy Dancers. — 



Imogene Coca to ParJN.Y. 

Imogene Coca, now doubling be- 
tween Billy Rose's "Concert Varie- 
ties" and Cafe Society Uptown, has 
been set for the Paramount .theatre, 
N. Y., on the Phil Spitalny show 
starting the middle of next month. 



42 



VAUDEVILLE 



Wednesday, June 20, 1945 



Piqued at 'Pop Typing, B way Bistro 
Tooters Will Prove Symph Ability 




British-Yank 

— : t'pntlnffpd from puge 1 ;ssi 

i sale importations as being in that 



Claiming that the pop style mu- 
sician has too long been degraded 
in popular estimation 



and that 

they've been typed by those who 
can give them jobs in the classical 
field, Vincent Travers. Diamond 
Horseshoe maestro, seeks to prove 
that nitery and legit tooters have as 
much ability as the men hired by 
N. Y. Philharmonic. 

Travers has organized a symphony 
orchestra from the ranks ot the 
Broadway bistro and legit house 
tooters with the idea of .giving a 
series ot concerts, first of which is to 
be held around December. He has 
the necessary permission from 
N. Y. Local 802 of the AFM's ex- 
ecutive board, and so. far the combo 
has had four preliminary rassles 
with such pieces as Tchaikowsky's 
Fifth Symphony. Romance by De- 
bussy and Fingal's Gave by Mendel- 
sohn. Organization now numbers 50 



DURING THE 
ENTIRE 
SEVENTH WAR 
LOAN DRIVE 

ARTHUR 

*BORAN 

Master «f Ceremeny of Ilie >'»i»<>n» 

U.S. TREASURY 
VICTORY VAN 

of World War II ' 

Cult Currently Touring tile >*iv* 
Hiirougli* of Greater -New Vork 

Alio Broadcasting Bis Comic Imper- 
auimtltttm on tliti Kttdlo for. 

GIBBONS ALE 

Dir.: Nar'l Concert Artists twreaa 



j category. 

I However, groundwork is still he- 
men, after four Tuesdays of re- ■ ing Ia jd S o that once the restrictions 
hearsing at Nola studios. Travers | are - : c j e are<3, talent can be set tin- 
seeks to have an organization of 75 j me diately. U. S. agencies think it 
by the time of the first concert. UvjU be possible to get a limited 

t0 number of acts across by plane. 

Abe Lastfogel. president of USO- 
Camp Shows and exec director of 
the William Morris agency, is re- 
ported as likely to take some time 
oil' his official duties to confer 



New Acts 



As a secondary contribution 
musical literature. Travers hopes to 
achieve a symphonic style that will 
combine the best features of popular 
music with the most palatable ele- 
ments in the classics. He figures the 
average listener has too little 
patience to endure lengthy works. 

He cites as authority. Louis Bian- 
colli. World -Telly music critic., who 
in a recent column said that 49"; ot 
the music critics in this country 
favor a marriage of jive and symph. 
Travels' crew hopes to prove he's 
right. ''; ■ 



Manila 

Continued from pase 40 ; 




with 

arious London contacts to facilitate 
the interchange of talent. Val Par- 
nell, head of General Theatres Corp.. 
Britain's largest theatre chain, is 
also set to come here at some fu- 
ture date, while other agents, in- 
cluding Dick Henry, of the Morris 
office; Clifford C. Fischer, Hans 
Lederer, and Harry Nathano. are 
set to fly across shortly to set up 
routes for American acts and im- 
port talent also. 



DANE CLAKK 

Talk 

16 Alius. 

Strand. N. Y. 

Youthful Dane Clark, newest WB 
romantic find,, unfortunately runs 
into that same bugaboo so many 
other •personal-appearing Holly- 
wood newcomers have had to face— 
ricketv material. He's okay as to 
stage presence and, judging from re- 
ception by the femmes, means some- 
thing at the boxoffice. His line of 
chatter is disappointing, though, de- 
pending too much on gags about 
Brooklyn, the Dodgers, etc. He 
builds somewhat, however, closing 
on a patriotic note which gets him 
closer to the pro class before bid- 
ding adieu. Norman Rosten wrote it 
and it's a bit too Cohanesque. 

A little jacked-up material would 
make a big difference in the Holly- 
woodite as far as stage strength is 
concerned, although, in all, truth, the 
swoon brigade doesn't seem to mind 
just so long as they look at the guy. 

Douii. . 



WANTED 
TAP TEACHER 

Mai* or Female — Experienced Adults. 
Children. KeK'ionerx. Advanced. Stale 
age and quantitation*. 

RUD MURRAY STUDIOS 

S.1I Sooth I.aBrea Avenue 
I nn Anxelen SO. Calif. 



enlisted man's club in the first floor 
of a battered building which it has 
cleaned up. There are about 50 of 
the Red Cross gals in town; all liv- 
ing together in a crowded house on 
the outskirts and being brought into 
the city at 7 each -morning by a 
"personnel carrier" (a truck with 
benches >• 

Ten daily and weekly newspapers, 
in Chinese, Spanish and English, are 
now printing in Manila, with the aid 
of Army public relations and the 
OWI. Latter is also itself publishing 
a paper. All of. them are tab. one- 
or two-sheet affairs. Time. News- 
week. The New York Times and The 
Chi Tribune are also. printing small 
quantities of overseas editions lo- 
cally. '•' " . 

Nevertheless, reading material is 
so scarce that one enterprising native 
has opened a "readitorium." He's 
got hold ot a flock of U. S. mags of 
the three-year period when the Japs 
were here and put them in a small, 
open-front store with chairs along 
the walls. He won't sell them or 
allow them out of his sight, custo- 
mers are invited in to read them for 
as long as they like at 10 cents a 
look. 



Set London Acts for U, S. 

London. June 19. 
First English vaudeville acts due 
to play the U. S. since the war are 
Baker ■ Dove and Allen, and Charles 
Warren and Jean. First act sails 
in August and the latter in Septem- 
ber. 

The acts are booked by the Foster 
agency, London, and U. S. dates are 
| being set through the William Mor- 
! ris office. It's the start of a new 
trek of British vaude acts which is 
expected to exceed 15 before the end 
of the year. 



Norfolk, Va., Nitery Ops 
Make Peace With AGVA 
So 'Unfair' Label Lifted 

American Guild of Variety Artists 
has lifted its ban on niteries in Nor- 
folk, Va., area. Committee repre- 
senting the top spots of the territory 
came to New York last, week to 
makepeace. 

Resulted in AGVA rescinding the 
"out of bounds" edict for AGVA per- 
formances and agents. Union had 
ruled the area out several weeks ago 
when nitery ops mutinied against 
signing basic agreements andepost- 
ing of salary bonds. 

Truce was declared when majority 
of clubs signed Up and posted bonds. 
Club Lido remains as the only top 
spot still on AGVA's unfair list. 
Monticello hotel, which has dropped 
shows for summer, will pact agree- 
ment upon reopening in September, 
according to AGVA. 



No Dates Set 

The William Morris agency in 
N. Y. declared that Baker, Dove and 
Allen, a juggling act, was submitted 
! by the Foster office in London to 
them for vaude houses. So far no 
dates have been set for them. Vaude 
department spokesman had no in- 
formation on Warren. & Jean. 

It's claimed that no further de- 
tails have been sent by the Foster 
office. WM execs heie are still in 
the dark regarding transportation to 
this country. 



McGINTY & HUGHES 
Comedy, Songs 
10 Minx. 

Apollo. N*. Y. . 

Two sepia gals, straight and 
comedienne, have a surefire act for 
Colored houses and smalltime cir- 
cuits. 

Miss Hughes tees off with vocal, 
then there's usual audience inter- 
ruption from Miss McGinty, garbed 
ala Broadway Rose, for chatter on 
trouble she had finding the theatre. 
Some of it's good for laughs — albeit 
familiar — and some not, but it most- 
ly went over here. A dance duo 
with comic gal clowning her way 
through takes them oft to howls. 

Edba. 



THE 
PITCH MEN 



Al Ganz 

(Alan 



Farado At 



Al Meyers 

Th« Piano) 



Recently Concluded 

3 YEARS 

With OLSEN and JOHNSON'S 
"SONS Or FUN" 

NOW 

A Smash Hit 



At The 



ROXY 



New York ,; 

AND ALREADY BOOKED FOR 
A RETURN ENGAGEMENT 

Thanks to Sammy Rausch 
Go* Foster and Arthur Knorr 

■■;-r; ■ • ■„ ": y y ' " ; *. ' "'. " \ : - : 
Week July 4— HIPPODROME, BALTIMORE 
Week July 12— EARLE, WASHINGTON, D. C. 
Weeks Aug. 3 and 10— GLENN. RENDEZVOUS 
Covington, Ky. 

Exclusive Management — BERNARD BURKE 
48 West 48th Street, New York 



Paris' Moulin Rouge 

Dickers Yank Acts 

Indications that Paris is starting 
to reassert itself as the gaiety capital 
of the world is evidenced by the fact 
that the famed Moulin Rouge, closed 
since the outbreak of the war. will 
reopen jn the fall with a show that 
may include American talent. 

News of the reopening came last 
week when the Clifford C. Fischer I 
office was asked to submit acts for I he's attempting 
that spot. It's hoped that the trans- I 
portation situation will be suffici- 
ently clarified by then to permit 
talent going to Europe. 

Moulin Rouge will again be op- 
erated by Pierre Sandrini. who also 
owns the Bal Tabarin. Sandrini. at 
one time, was imported here by 
Fischer to stage the shows at the 
International Casino. N, Y. 



SUE VALENTINE 
Accordion and Songs 
11 Mini. 
Carousel, N. Y. 

Strolling acts have a particularly 
hard job since they occupy no par 
ticular spot. They try to override pa 
trons' conversation and work sans 
benefit of a mike and formal pres- 
entation. 

Nonetheless, when she gets near 
enough to be heard. Sue Valentine 
a nice-looking item, has a pleasantly 
rounded voice which could assert it 
self nicely over a mike. Her 
sqneezeboxing is iust enough to pro 
vide background. The accordion 
pickings, good enough for a noisy 
room, arc not of solo caliber. Jose 



Lamberti to Boston 

Prof. Lamberti will make his first 
teiy appearance in several years at 
the Copley Plaza, Boston, July 5. fol- 
lowing Dwight Fiske. 

He played the Diamond Horseshoe, 
N. Y.. some years ago; 



Tho 

Drunkenest 
Drunk You 
Ever Saw. 
Tho 

Laughingcst 
Laughter 
You Ever 
Heard. 
Put 

Together 
It's 




STEVE 
EVANS 

JUNE 14 TO 28. 
EARLE. WASHINGTON. D. C. 



MOT. — M ATT V ROSEN* 



BRUCE RAEBURN 
Songs and Piano 
14 Mins. 
Carousel, N. Y. 

Bruce Raeburn. accompanying 
himself at the piano, has a good se- 
lection of musical comedy faves and 
tunes in the modern idiom, 'that 
make for pleasant listening. - : ' 

However, voice seems too rough 
and colorless for the delicate work 
Vocal weaknesses 
are exaggerated over the mike in 
this small room, and personality and 
delivery are not strong enough to 
overcome voice handicaps. But he- 
Can command attention with the 
ivories, at which he's proficient. 

Jose. 




French Act for London 

London. May 31. 
First act from England to play 
France since the war is Coslelo and 
Andree, dancers, who open at Ar- 
morial Cabaret. Paris, early next 
month with Folies Bergere revue to 
follow. Costelo is a New- Zea lander 
and Andree is Canadian, married to 
;i French officer. 

" Gino Arbib, French asient; -who 
has been here since war. booked. 



Murphy West Via Del 

Dean Murphy, comedian and mim- 
ic, is set for six weeks at Lee 'n 
Eddie's Detroit, bowing in next Fri- 
day (22). 

This will , be his last vaude or 
'nitery date for some time. After 
closing Detroit date he'll go to the 
Coast on film commitment for 20th- 
Fox. 



BG's Terms Same As TD 

, New York. 

Editor "Variety": 

In your June 13 "Inside Orches- 
tras — Music"' you have an it<>rr. to 
the effect that Tommy Dorsey and 
his orchestra received from the 400 
Club. N. Y., "$3,500 weekly guaran- 
tee, plus the first $3,000 in covers, 
plus 50% of all covers thereafter." 
The item further states: "It is 
claimed that no other band" received 
this same financial deal. — 

For your information: Benny 
Goodman received, from the 400 
Club, the same terms given T. D. 
: - j . Mar}: Hanna. 

. (Manager, Benny Goodman). 



EVERYTHING K RTAINIMTO PHOTOGRAPHY 

« yhb « mum mnmmnmunnmm 




lotoqrapherr 

25.000 Dai ly Car in* Our Own Labs. 



PERFORMERS NOW IN 
ARMED FORCES 

If jrou are In Special Serviced or not— 
for Immediate use or post-war rrture 
lu •liotv iMlHineHH. 

Here It a Service You'H Always 
Want 

FUN-MASTER GAG FILES 

Contain Modem Comedy Material for 
All Type VcrfornieM 
F.ach Script Contain* Over 100 
- - Sure-lire <;a K s — Kirli 

Not. 1 Thru 10 Now Ready 

Make Checks Payable to 
PAULA SMITH 
Mall to "Kiin-Mastee" _ 
200 «'. 04th St., New York City 19. N.Y. 



AL TRACE 

And His 
SILLY SYMPHONISTS 
CURRENTLY 
SURF CLUB 
VIRGINIA REACH. VA. 

Dir.: STAN ZI'CKUK " 



BERT FROHMAN 

Broadway's Gtm of Entertainers 

Now Appearing LA CONGAa N * w York 
AIR COOLED 
(SI St Street and •roadway) 
Featuring SAMMY STEPT'S Sensational Sone 

"AS IF YOU DIDN'T KNOW" 

Spec!*!, Material by MILT FRANCIS 



Wednesday, June '20, 1915 



43 



Night Club Reviews 



C;»pa«?abaua, Xf. - Y. 

•Mitzi Green, Russell Siwriui, JWnrio 
* Florin Enric .Madrignera Orch 
t,Hh Patricia Gil more Don Dennis, 
Jacqueline Fontaine, Line (8) 
Htrron Orch; 



Joel 

minimum, $2.'50-$3.50. 



If Mitzi Green hadn't previously 
clinched her bigleague, standing she 
does so now at the Copa, which last 
week brought in a smashing, high- 
powered talent lineup. Each of the 
headline turns— Mitzi Green, Rus- 
sell Swann. Mario & Floria— is an 
'outstahder in its respective category 
Opening show last Thursday U4) 
was held up for un hour and a half 
because of a disagreement between 
the nitcry and the American Guild 
of Variety Artists concerning the 
chorus. Despite this delay and usual 
opening-night jitters, the bill played 
smoothly for terrific returns. 

Miss Green, of course, cops first 
■honors with her satirical impressions 
of showbiz celebs. Following a con 
ventional opening with straight vo 
cals which could and should be 
blue-pencilled, she abruptly swings 
into the vocal comedy interpreta- 
tions which are her forte. Her take- 
offs are brilliant and she has been 
equipped with material to match. 
Her rationing number, a corking 
switcheroo on Ted Lewis titled 
'•When My Butcher Smiles at Me," 
cleans up. Ditto the Jerry Colonna, 
Harry Richman and Sophie Tucker 
interpretation. , - , 

Miss Green's top smash, however, 
is an uproarious imitation of Hilde- 
garde. She floats out on the floor 
following a "surprise" announcement 
by orch leader Joel Herron that a 
famous celebrity in the house has 
been prevailed upon to make an ap- 
pearance. . , , , , 
For a moment it looks and sounds 
like the mccoy. Miss Green then 
proceeds to tantalize the customers, 
a la Hildegarde, with promises to 
sing ("We MUST get on with our 
little song"), but she never does. She 
gives out with "Bonjours" and mis- 
cellaneous dialog between promises, 
with the audience in a panic by the 
time she's ready to float off the floor. 
On for around 28 minutes and, ex- 
cept for the straight vocals which 
can be cut. not a second too long. 

Swann maintains the fast laugh 
tempo, no easy task following Miss 
Green. ' As always, he's the suave, 
thoroughly accomplished magico- 
comic. The snake gag, where the 
green monster comes out of a basket 
holding the selected card and has to 
be hynotized by the orch to get back 
into the basket, is one of Swann's 
most effective bits. Another is the 
guillotine trick, worked with a plant, 
and gagged up for excellent results. 

Mario & Floria are, of course, 
among the most distinctive cafe and 
hotel room terpers around. Their 
routines arc substantially the same 
as in their recent vaude dates, and 
not much change is necessary since 
. the act retains its novelty. Team 
possesses grace, speed and charm. 
They score in rapid succession with 
aero waltz, tango, ballet and turkey 
trot— all in the dashing ballroom 
motif. 

Enric Madriguera, _a potent name 
for the rhumba-samba addicts, 
further weights the balance for the 
Copa. Don Dennis, vocalist, holds 
over, going over in the production 
' numbers. Jacqueline Fontaine is on 
for a couple of nifty tap numbers 
with and without the smartly-cos- 
tumed line of lookers, while Patricia 
Gilmore is a good-looking front as 
she sings with the Madriguera band. 
Ensembles are attractively presented. 
Herron skillfully batons the show 
music. Mori. 



ing which the Albins gel earthy 
again with a brace of comedy ball- 
room stunts, which sandwich a mild 
Karloff impresh by the guy. Ring- 
siders enjoy the perilous teeterings 
of the distaff member, who almost 
but never quite falls in their laps. 
Bobby May tosses Indian clubs and a 
top hat around dexterously. 

For sock finale the gal line and 
two of the acts — dance and comedy 
teams— are. turned out in red, green 
and silver costumes to match the 
chorines' getup, struttting their stuff 
in front of a huge jungle scene, 
while Marty, Kay, Pat & Jo, band's 
good-looking femme vocalists, chirp 
"Sing a Tropical Song." 

Frankie Masters' boys provide 
smooth dansapation and back the 
acts neatly. Phyllis Mylcs contribs 
ear-soothing choruses during dance 
interludes, while Mischa Novy's band 
does okay as relief crew. Mike:. ■ . 



"Cigarets.' "Walk Up and Down 
Again," "Movies." "Open the Win- 
dow," - Should I Be Hot" are all ex- 
cellent. These include a terrific satire 
un Hildegarde < "Brunnehilde" ) — Mitz i 
Green at the Copa is also mimicking 
the Persian Room chanteuse — and a 
tiptip rib on soap operas. Jose Melis, 
Spanish pianist who specializes in 
Chopin, is a click. Ditto Monica 
Boyer, Santa Dominican, with Latin 
ditties in rhythmic tempos such as 
"Mucho Gusto." "Papa, Open the 
Door" i calypso), "Chu Chi Chi," 
while Thelmn Carpenter, doubling 
from "Memphis Bound," also regis- 
ters with songs. Abel. 



Variety Gills 

WEEK OF JUNE 21 \ 

In connection with hills below Indicate opealn« day of shew, 
whether full or split neck. 



Show Box, Seattle 

Seattle, June 14. 
Sally Rand, Everett Conway, Al fc 
John Allen, Thomas ' & Jenee, 8 
Lowlies, Jerrj/ Ross, Harry Reed's 
Show Box Band; admission, $1.18. 



Sally Rand, always popular in 
Seattle, toplines at this 1,500-seater, 
packing 'em in nightly for record 
$38,000 on two weeks' engagement. 

After a year's layoff, Miss Rand is 
doing okay. She's smooth with the 
fans and revealment stuff, and this 
Navy town is going-for her in •a big 
way. 

Jerry Ross, emcees show as well 
as doing his own stint later on the 
bill. Does a nice job handling the 
show and also clicks with comedy 
gab and naughty songs/in own spot. 

The Lovlies line and three other 
acts round out the bill. The line 
gals are young, nifty lookers, who 
contrib.nice prelude to Miss Rand's 
routine. Everett Conway clicks in 
ventriloquist turn. Al and John Al- 
len score in chatter and hoofing. 
Thomas and Jenee, mixed .duo. 
exude ability and class in their neat 
terping, Trep. 



Jackie Phillips, emcee at Jack Sil- 
verman's Old Rumanian nitery, N.Y., 
to which Eddie Cantor and a sizable 
Broadway contingent junketed last 
Thursday, is a promising young 
comedian of obvious borscht circuit 
antecedents. Much of his stuff is too 
raw which, parlayed with the brash 
lyrics that Sadie Banks gives out, is 
rather bizarre, but seemingly com- 
mercial, in what is fundamentally a 
family nitery where good food is a 
dominant keynote. Phillips has pos- 
sibilities, but' needs material. Mimi 
Kellerman. niece of the famed An- 
nette Kellermann, the swimmer, is 
also featured here. The dancer is 
staging a comeback, having retired 
because of motherhood, and im- 
presses as very likely for the big 
league uptown bistros. She's camou- 
flaged as Mimi Cartier. The six girls 
do acceptable chorus routines, and 
Joe La Porte's quintet gives out with 
versatile dansapation from Latin to 
straight, with a dash of dialectic 
music when needed. Songstress Olga 
Woytova puts ^ the accent on the 
Volga syllables with her vodka airs. 

Abel. 




NKW YORK CITY 
Capital (J I) 

G 't.ombardu Ore . 
.1 ll Me HavlM! ' . . 
.1 oey Adams 
Mark Plant 
P Renins K toy B's 

Stale CSt) 
Jim W'niK 
P & Sally HaVlne.ll 



nick Buckley 
Virginia Weldler 
Ross Jfe I.h iMerre 
Al Gordon 

W'ASHINfiTlCV 
Capitol (il) 
Borrah Minevifch 
l.add Lyon 
Lucky. Girls 




NKW YORK CITY 
Paramount (2ft) . 

.Teriy Walcl Bd 

A Ma 11 Jones 

Gil Lamb . '■> 

Kilepu Harton 

l.vii Shirley 

Boll Coffey 

BlKi'ALO 

Buffalo (SO) 
In' Spots 
Cootie Williams 

Klla Kit KK"! a Id 
I'nke * Poke . 
Ralph Brown 
CHICAGO 
Chicago (SO) 
Sammy Kayo Bd 



l!.l 



Cy Rp«v^)i 
H Jjine ,fe Claire 
KcKBl (SO) 

Lionel Hatuptotv Bit 

2 Zephyrs ' 
B n K NieJiiinBale 
MIAMI 
Olympia (SO) 
Morris Kc Morris { 
Diana Berry 
B Fai-rell ,fc Boom 
Sheila Barrel t 
Stevens Br * Big B 

OMAHA . 
•-. . Ornlieum (SO) 
Sk'imiay Kun.is Bd 
Tari Vance 
Stanton Sis ■ 
(Jills 0'Toole : 



Marilyn Mai'Sll 
Koliini 

Jerry Lee 

.si>Rix«i-ir.i.u 

. . Court. Square 
(21-**) 



Jules & Tita 

:t Harmonica Reeda 

ITal Stone • 

Tom Barry 

:( Stowaways 

Jimmy Givene . 




NEW JQZ& CITY 



N. Y. Nitery Followup 



Look to Nelson 



RKO 



Boulevard IfcooiM, Chi 

(STEVENS HOTEL) 

ChieOflO, June 15. 
Frnnlcic Masters Orch (14) u'itd 
Marty, Kay, Pat & Jo, Phyllis Myles 
and Frank Cook; Copsey & Ayres, 
«ussell & Rence,_ Dolores & Andy_ 
Albpi, Bobby May, tioulevar-&ears 
<12), Mischa Novy Orch (5); $3 
13.30 minimum. 



i 



Another nod to Dorothy Dorben 
'or a sumptuously dressed, niftily 
staged and lighted show in the inti- 
mate revue vein. No small achieve- 
ment, either, is the stunning-looking 
|fne she has gathered when chorines 
»| hard to get in Chicago: ... 
■ standout in vaude acts, Copsey & 
«yrcs follow the Burmese opener by 
«ne line with some East Indian neck 
gyrations. a la Jack Cole, complete 
«r.rf "fnmestonc-studded foreheads 
»na whatnot, that sell, easily. They're 
reprised later for a boogie in which 
35 W> who 's right there with the 
? 1 o,s a., shines. 

Getting trampoline rig on for Rus- 
S « e nee doesn't slow up the. 
iw-movmg proceedings, with the 
°?" ncm ,g duo cutting themselves in. 
weSSrk for a nice slice of applause. 
ili.li » c °ok steps out of the band- 
fiieiilor a well-received rendition of 
'(W. . ■ Be Good," "William Tell 
nW if,i? re and "Twelfth Street Rag" 
. on harmonica and guitar. 
VnJ , r 8owns and a smooth rou- 
Bn«i„ R £ v e,'s "La Valse" by the 
Bomcvar-Dears snap the customers 
«acK to a class atmosphere, follow- 



Monroe Seton, headlining the new 
Leon & Eddie's show, with its star 
Eddie Davis vacationing, is a coming 
comedian. He has yet to find him- 
self. It's a combination of straining 
for effect and material. When he 
has good material, as that uppity 
A&P grocery clerk routine, he reg- 
isters. Art Waner's band and the 
Sidney Sprague femme octet are a 
good mainstay for the rest of the 
revue, which opens with the dancing 
Dwyers doing bolero taps and acro- 
batic legmania to "Humoresque." 
Francine White, with songs, should 
try not to look so "cute"; otherwise 
she's- okay for the league, with "Tree 
Grows in Brooklyn," "Acapulco" and 
"Soldier Boy." Stanley Fischer with 
his harmonica virtuosity doesn't 
need that military trailer about his 
war decorations. This is bound to 
■become an increasing display of 
questionable taste if not properly 
handled. His "Begin the Beguine, 
Lecuona's "Malaguena" and the 
boogie-woogie finale are strong. The 
somewhat startlingly blond ven- 
triloquist, Bob Karl, who works with 
a live midget as an auxiliary "dum- 
my." is a novelty, getting off strong 
with his vocalisthenics. And. of 
course, what's a Leon & Eddie show 
without a stripper. Jean Mode fills 
the bill well. Abel. 

This is Harry James' third trip to 
the Hotel Astor Roof, N. Y., and he's 
claimed to be doing a business that 
in number of covers and gross sur- 
-passes bis- first-two dates despite his. 
long absences from the east. He's 
backed by a band that, while it may 
not be a great outfit, is certainly ex- 
citing and highly acceptable. 

Kids of all ages who follow this 
band to the Astor Roof still seem 
highly gratified by its performance. 
They're served with excellent dance 
tempos, arrangements that seem bet- 
ter than any James has used before, 
fine vocals by Kitty Kallcn and 
Buddy DeVito, and, finally, a 14- 
picce fiddle section that's sock. You 
can't get into the joint— not even 
past the lobby elevator starter— if 
you haven't a reservation. Wood. 

Le Rubin Bleu, which folds for the 
season the end of this month, goes 
out in a blaze with one of its best 
shows as emceed by Julius Monks, 
the artistic director. Incidentally, 
the latter plans on a hotel career in 
the fall where his capabilities in re- 
cruiting a good talent array should', 
interpret itself handily. 'Die show 
which boniface Anthony Mele has on 
lap is headed by Jane Dillon, nee 
Ginger Dulo, who until recently was 
with "On the Town" as understudy 
to Nancy Walker. Miss Dillon is out- 
fitted with an excellent repertoire of 
special material by Bud Buiston. 



- continued from page 3 ss 

far been without an active, fulltime 
executive head of sufficient national 
prominence to carry weight in Gov- 
ernment circles. 

Growing, opposition to method of 
representation by the Hays office in 
public relations and inter-trade mat- 
ters as well, as feeling that Hays of- 
fice represented opposition interests 
has been noted for some time past. 

As previously reported in "Va- 
riety," independents have repeatedly 
expressed dissatisfaction with the 
playing time accorded independent 
releases and with trade practices 
tinder the decree. 

Contention voiced in indie circles 
that as co-members in the Hays 
group- the majors should provide 
more satisfactory trading conditions. 

Several months ago Mary Pick- 
ford, David O. Selznick and other 
indies took the lead in opposing con- 
tinued membership by United Artists 
in the Hays office. UA execs then 
met with Hays reps and declared 
that, as a distributor for independent 
product, the company intended to 
Withdraw from the organization. 
(This was reported in "Variety" 
prior to the Warner Bros, with- 
drawal.) 

Nelson succeeds Loyd Wright, 
who continues as general legal coun- 
sel for the SIMPP. The former WPB 
head inked deal after 10 days of ne- 
gotiations with a committee headed 
by Selznick. 

David M. Noyes, assistant to Nel- 
son on the WPB, will function as v.p. 
of the group while John C. Flinn 
continues as executive secretary. 

SIMPP membership includes Selz- 
nick, Samuel Goldwyn, Walt Disney, 
Walter Wangcr, Sol Lesser, Edward 
A. Golden, Leo Spitz, William Goetz, 
Jesse L. Lasky, Jules Levey, David 
L. Loew. Mary Pickford, Arnold 
Pressburger. Rainbow Pr6ductions 
-i Leo-McCarey-Bing Crosby ), Charles 
R. Rogers, Harry Sherman, Jack 
Skirball. Andrew Stone, Hunt Strom- 
berg, United Artists and Orson 
Welles. '•"..' 



BOSTON 
Hoxton' r;i) 

Ben Woodman Ore 
Dorothy Keller 
Tim Herbert 



John (Nil vert 
SAX l-KANCISCO 
(ioldrn liate c:«> 

Don *. Beverly 
Hector ,(c Vain 



Bill'* Ha j tt'a 

Ethel Gilbert 
Bernte Grauer 
Harold Willard' 
■lack Ryan 
Charles Strickland 
Hum; v Burn* 
Bill Kelney 
Gay 'HI'b Otiartette 

Blue Alice! 
.Mildred Bailey 
Delta Rhythm Boys 
Irene Boi-doui 
Blirron'tt Birds 
Bobby Short 
Cbtttisoii Trio 

Cafe Soeiety 
I Uptown). 
Jimmy Savo 
Josh White 
Dolores Martin 
ilea Kraft 
Gene Field (It) 
I'll II .Moore Ore 

Cnf* SmJelft 
(Downtom) 
Ann Hathaway 
Mary Lou Wm.s 
ioiwnod Smith 
Bd Hall Ore . 

Carnival 
SV Hdveter Dera 
* Mnrrocans 
The Gibrons 
tliaflle Malloy 
ivay a. Karbt • 
Whirlwinds 
Don Mcijrane Ore 
A rt Alooney Ore 
I'arouH"! 
Nan BlaUstone 

Caaino .Rusae 



Stanley Melba Or* 
vvaily Boa« 

Hotel flaim 
Bob Grant Ore 
HildeEarde 

Hotel Roosevelt 
Eddie Stone Ore 

Hotel St Moritz 
D's Del Carmen Bd 

Hotel Talt 
Vincent Lopez Ore 
Hotel Waldorf- A 
Herni'os Williams t 
.< 'a.ntu ' 

Victoria Cordova . 
N Brandwynno Ore 

Iceland 
.Maxellos 
Boyd Heathen 
Lou Martin Ore 
Juliet Mastery 
Detlulnccy A Given* 
Iveily'a. Stables 
Taps Milier.Orc 
Vivian Garry Trio • 
Alda : 

.Hramj Belle's 
l.a Rubio 
Jean Colvln* 
RuUya .Li nn 
Jo Ann Colly** 
AJoma ■ 
Renee 
Kosita* 
Diane Pace 
Carter &*floaa 
Joe (Y.peilo Oro 

I .a Conga 
Bert frohman 
Servandos 3 
Krasers 
.Machlto Bd • 



BOOKING THE NATION'S LEADING INDEPENDENT 
VAUDEVILLE THEATRES 

EDWARD SHERMAN AGENCY 



NEW YORK 

PARAMOUNT BUIL0IN9 



BEVERLY HILLS. CAL 

CALIFORNIA RANK 8LD6. 



COI.I .MKI S 
I'lilnce <*B-*R) 

Mai Ballet Ore, 
Ray Knglinh 



Diosa I'Oflellu 

llllk, I.CKlic 

Tex Rider 
Hillbilly Jamboree 



Warner 



NKW YORK CITY 

Strand (it) 
T.ouis Prima Ore 
fair Bros 
Dane ''lark 
rilff.ADKI.I'HIA 
Karle (*«) 
Roi'lienier 
J Richards Ore 



\ ; 

Tbntniy. Trent 
Kit fy *..M ur-ray 
.N'fiii Wyiin 

WASIII.N't.TON 
Kniie (St) 
ftoxyeltes 
ItelciV Pari : iaTl.-" 
Reuald * Rudy. 
Steve Evans 
Cabot Dresden 



CITY- 
(SI) 



NKW YORK 
Mllsie Hall 

A nehui ina 

Win Dollar 

Edward Keiclielt 
Bernard Briffin 
Wm .hi. 1.1 
Tony Culkis 
Geo cronin 
Sid ('idcaiiate 

Ko»v (SO) 
T *. S Deniarco ' 
John Boles 
The Pitchmen 
Jaekie Gleason 
Roddy McDowell 

. Apollo (SS) 
Wayne Matiilt Co 

LONG ISLAM! 

.lamulea (21-S4) 
Mary .vrrCalllliao .. 
Johnny Cladinore 
Toni D'.Nell 
Hop, Skip * Jump 
— t«i-sz> .. L 

Wells & Jeajielte 



Katherh 
Sammy 
Ted & 



in. Day 
Moss 

I' Adair 
CAMDKN 
Toarra (tS-S*) 
Orlando Sia 
Bobby noxier 
Jean . Bedilli & Joe 
Don »la>a 
MeParlund & Br'n 
CII1CAUO 
Oriental C!l) 
Jean I'arUer 
Krani-es cay 4 
Lenny Kent 
Lerny Bros 
Blair. & Dean 
IIARTFOKII 
Slate ift-t*) 
Vallit'les on loe 
Vlcllydc. . 
The Samuels' . 
Benny Bauer 
KANSAS 'CITY 
Tower («> 
■pBTirSf Doty PheTpl 



Nelson's Value 



Continued from page 3 



Montgomery t'or the lead in "Lamb." 
He is 'negotiating- with Frank Capra 
to direct "Lamb,"' offering James 
Cagnev in return for a Capra pic- 
ture. Cagncy said that "Lamb" has 
been budgeted at $1,200,000. He is 
dickering with Claudette Colbert 
and Jean Arthur (or the femme lead. 

Second Cagney production sched- 
uled, is "A Lion Is in the Streets" 
(Tech), to roll after "Lamb," around 
December. Third on the slate is 
"Only the Valiant" (Tech) sched- 
uled to Mart in March. He plans 
"Port Royal" i Tech) as the fourth. 

Cagney has raw stock for only one 
film at the moment but expects that 
the supply situation will be greatly 
improved by the time he is ready to 
Mart .shooting "Lion." 



Amarica'i Leading iHrftpwuhMt 

AfMt 

EDDIE SMITH 

1501 Broadway 

; Ntw York 



The 
i;rwc 



Dhk< 



enM (,odS 
lo Hill 
AKRON 
alace (SS-Sr.) 
BlDilKtoii Or-) 
■t- Jnines 
l.TnicI; .V- I'liuekles 
ATLANTIC CITY 
Steel Pier i:S-M) 
jllray* l-'anillv 
Lennie (la le 
Dolly Dan IV 
Stun K rainer I 'o 

Ceiie Kropn ltd 
R.MI/I'.'MOKK 
Hippodrome 

'I'he (HcnitH 
:i I(> lion Xis 
Dailnv limyiion 
Mr HaJlafiiinc 

Slate (SI-S.1) 
Al K- i'ontiie Kanion 
ttleaflon X- Sanborn 
Uotmle I'arycr 

• (S4-S7) 
Arthur Donnelly r-n 



Shuvo Sherman 
Uuttell s!« 
Lew Welion ■ . 

Mii.n ti kki. 

Rirentidr (SS) 
.1 ''Seal." Davis ltd 
The Alotlern.-ilj'ea 
i.'ltrlslilie Korsyihe 
i One lo nil i 

rmi.ADHi i iMA 

- Car man (SS) 
lioivell .<• H(ttvj(er 
Hob * M dales 
Jae<|iiciine Murley 

:l Murk Tl inlelK 
IVillow liro\e I'Mrfc 
(S4I li Only) 

Al A- I'olnlie r'alHoir 
Tom Oshorn 
illeason ."C- Sabboril 
Bardo * Xliiclt' 
ROCKKOlin 
I'alnee (SS-SI) 
6'*'l'aylorel i es 
Slr'b'ry riimsell *. .1 
J. J.|i:t;oy Sis 



OlRa Baelanova 
Adia l\ imietzolT 
Simeon Kai'zacff 
a Oodolhan- Ore . 

I opacalmna 
Rnrit: :\(adrigueia 
Mify.i (Ji'een, 
Ru.ssol] Sxvann 
Mario A, .I'loria 
Don Ueiulis 
Joel Herron 

Con Ronce 
Irwtn Polk ore 
Diamond ITorM'sltoe 
Bob Hall 
Johnny Burke 
Kmma Krancis .. 
Haze! 3f.infreau I 
SUtrola Dalo '- 
I'e.'il l.ewin . 
Gloria l.oRoy 
Hilly Banks 
Bill. Qucntmeyer 
Mitchell Brother 
Michael Howards 
Mort R«id Ore 
Vincent Tmver* Ore 

400 Clab 
Benny Goodman Ore 

llacliito Bd 

Havana-Madrid 
Flores Jfc DetJordoba. 

Hal Winters 

I'ilise Jayne' 
Maria l.otiisa Lope'/. 

t'atalino Ore 
Carlos Varela Oro 

Hotel Ambassador 

T.ouis Bctaneourt O 

Jules Lands Oro 
Hotel Astar 
Harry' .fames Ore 

Kitty Kallen 

Buddy DeVito 

irorky ('oreoran 

Juan 'riy.nl 

Hotel Brtmont 
1'lio.a 
Gale Roberts . 

Given Roberts 

Bill Russell 

Kathryn DutTy Dcrs 
Nino Morales Ore 

Payson Re Ore 
Hotel Blltmora 

Henry Buss^ Ore 

Barrys — ' — ■~r^-^'<~-. 
Hotel Co<nmodorr 

Mishei Corner Oro 
Hotel male 

Don Baker Ore 
Hotel Rdlsoa 

Jose i.'orte-/. Ore 
Essex House 

Stan ICnller Oro 

Ruth Cleary 
Hotel l.esiR|lo> 

Momi Kal 

Tapu Kaua 

falhna 

Millie 

.Mokihana . ". 
Harold Aloma Ore 

notel l.lneoln 
Erskine H'klns Oro 

Hotel New YulUrl 
Joan Ityldoft; 
Torl'y Brent 
l*ii it Remains 
Neil t'oiitaine 
Arnold Shoda 
sonny Dunham Ore 
' Hotel t'eiinsvlvmiln 
Geoige 1'axt.bn Oro 

A lau. Dale 

Uttty.Jo Da'iey 
lintel I'lerra 

Dl ijlfntios 



l.a Uarflnlojua 

Harry RioUluan 
l'*rartl;ie Uyors 
Lillian Moora 
Harris Trio 
Danny Daniels 
Soeasses Oro 
Dick Rhodes Oro * 
I alio . Quarter 
Tommy Dii , 
Mazv.one-Abbott D 

lorfa Gilbert 
Shea & Raymond 
Don Saxon 
Harold & Lola 
Hudson Wonders 
Ben Dova ' 
Win! Walsh 
Marty Beck Ore 

Le Bonus Vie* 
lane Dillon 
riietina Carpenter 
Monica Bosar 
lose Mellia 
Cedrlo Wallace I 
l.eon * Kddle's 
Monroe Seton 
Ruth *. II Dwyer 
Francine While 
Stanley Fischer 
lean Mode 
Bob Karl 
Art Waner Oro 

Masts Carle 
Dick Guaparre Ors 
Jean P Murray . 
Lady. Anne 
Alberto Oro 

Old R«»*naalaB 
Olea Woytova 
Sadie Banks 
Mimi Cartiur 
Joe Ijcl'orte Ors 
Refers CSrser 
Piarrr Lefcnurt Ors 
Clark's Hawaiian* 
Harold Green 
Freshmen 
Mars Trio 
Kom Kobblers 
Slg Schati Oro 
KnJvj-'s Root 
Splvy 

(Larior * -Bowls. ■__ 

layne Manners 
Ktork Clab 
Morales Oro 
Brnie Hoist Ors 
Stan Keller Ors 

Versailles 
Jerry Cooper 
Dariene. Zlto 
Jack Harwood 
Gloria Davis 
Kendall Kelly 
Miriam Seabold 
Joe RJoardel. Ore 
Village Bora 
At Robinson "'.' 
Alkali Ike 
Miia Rossiliaoo 
Moore His 
Tiny Clark 
ISddie Ashman Ore 

Zanzibar 
Cab Calloway Ore 
count Le. ftoy 
Day. Dawn & Dusk 
Pearl Bailey 
Bill Bailey 
Peewee Marquette 
Cook St. Brown 
Dorothy Sault.ers 
ClaUde Hopkins Ors 



Buddy Cole and band recorded 
"You and the Night and the Music," 
"My Heart Stood Still,". "Relax, - ' and 
"The Way You Look Tonight" for 

Capitol. . 



41 



LEGITIMATE 



Wednesday, June 20, 1945 



B'way Tailspins; Expect Closings 
Soon; 'Memphis' Provisional Notice 
Posted, But 'Park' 48G, 'Carousel' 47G 



June started with record chilly 
weather but last week the tempera- 
ture skied and a flock of Broadway 
grosses went into a tailspin. Com- 
paratively few shows, were unaffect- 
ed. Anticipated that closing notices 
will go up for a number of attrac- 
tions, especially those that have been 
operating on a close margin between 
profit and loss. Yet two new straight 
plays will enter this list this week. 

It's nip and tuck between "Up In 
Central Park" and "Carousel" for 
gross leaderhip. with "Park" main- 
taining the number one position, 
while "Oklahoma!." "Bloomer Girl" 
and "Song of Norway" sell out re- 
gardless of conditions. 

Estimates tor Last Week. 

Keys: C (Comedy. D (Drama). 
CD (Comedy-Drama). R (Revue), 
M (Musical); O (Operetta). 

"A Bell for Adano," Cort (28th 
weetci .(D- 1,064; $4.20). Lays off for 
six weeks on June 30; tickets on 
sale from "mid-August; heat clipped 
< boxes but still fine gross, around 

$21,500 quoted. 
* "Anna Lucasta," Mansfield (42d 
week) (D-1.041; $3.60). Hot going re- 
flected in matinee attendance; strong 
$19,000 approximated. 

"Bloomer Girl," Shubert (37th 
week) (M-1,382; $5.40). Business 
varied only in number of standees 
and the pace was still around $33,000. 

"Carousel," Majestic (9th week) 
(M-1,681: $6). More than held its 
own last week when count went 
close to $47,000; Guild has fine run- 
ning mate for "Oklahoma!" across 
the street. 

"Common Ground," Golden (8th 
week) (C-789: $3.60). Slipped with 
field last week: takings approximated 
$6,000 but slated to continue. 

"Dark of the Moon," 46th Street 
(13th week) (D-1,319; $4.20). Another 
attraction that held to previous pace, 
with gross rated around $18,500. 

"Dear Ruth," Miller (27th week) 
(C-940; $4 20). Chicago company get 
ting more coin because house i% 
somewhat larger; both outfits clean 
ing up: $18,500 plus. 

"Follow the Girls" Broadhurst 
(62d week) (M-1,179; $4:80). Several 
musicals slipped way off because of 
the weather: takings here estimated 
around $23,000. 

"Foxhole In the Parlor," Barry- 
more (4th week) (D-1,096; $3.60) 
Moved here from Booth; manage- 
ment hopeful of betterment; very 
weak so far: $3,000 or less; "Marinka" 
mentioned to open in this house in- 
stead of the Plymouth. 

"Harvey," 48th Street (33d week) 
(C-925: $4.20). Smashes were not af- 
fected by heat because sold out in 
advance, usual $19,000 registered. 

"Hats Off to Ice," Center (51st 
week) (R-2,944; $1.98). Stood up 
very well until Saturday night, 
which was off in most theatres; but 
okay $25,000. 

"Hollywood Pinafore," Alvin (3d 
week) (M-1,357; $6). Heat wave af 
fected business, especially late last 
week'; takings around $28,000, indi- 
cated strength, however. 

"I Remember Mama," Music Box 
(36th week) (C-940; $4.20). One of 
the standouts not dented, gross 
again being more than $21,500. 

"Kiss and Tell," Biltmore (117th 
week) (C-920; $3.60). Moved here 
from Bijou because this house has 
cooling system; but business dropped 
to around $6,000. 

"Kiss Them for Me," Fulton (13th 
weekt (C-946; $4.20). Was doing well 
enough until torrid weather seared 
-boxoffices; around- $7,000 .last week. 

"Laffing Room Only," Winter Gar 
den (25lh week) (R-1,522; $6). 
Dropped about the same amount 
revue recovered the previous week 
estimated around $27,500. ". 

"Late George Apley,?' Lyceum 
(30th week.) (C-993; $4.20). V.'ill call 
it a season after another week but 
only laying off and will resume in 
August; eased to around $14,000. 

"Life With Father," Empire (289th 
week) (C-1,082; $3.60). Rated off 
with the field but still earns some 
profit; estimated under $9,000. 

"Memphis Bound," Belasco (4th 
week) (M-1,077; $5.40). Sharp drop in 
new spot (moved from Broadway); 
first week here around $14,000; most- 
ly attributed to hot weather; provi- 
sional notice posted. 

"Oh, Brother," Royale (C-1,084; 
$3.60). Presented by Maximillian 
Becker and Peter Warren; written 
by Jacques Deval;. mild in Boston; 
opened last night (19). 

"Oklahoma!," St. James (116th 
week) (M-1,505; $4.80). Visitors find 
It as difficult to get tickets as be- 
fore, and last week's count went a 
bit over $31,000. 

"On the Town;" 44th Street (25th 
week) (M-1,462; $4.80). Quietly 
dropped the top from $5.40, when 
musical moved here from Adelphi; 



(46th week) (C-l. 117: $3.60). Weather 
socked pace; takings under $6,000. 
and. unless moved to house with 
cooling plant. , will stop. 

"Song of Norway," Imperial (33d 
week) (0-1,427; $6). Takings around 
capacitv proves class of operetta, 
which got $41,000, • 

"Ten Little Indians." Plymouth 
<50th week) (D-1,075; $3.60). Went 
oft' as. expected; around $8,500: has 
played nearly a year. ;."' 

"The Glass Menagerie," Playhouse 
(11th week) (CD-865: $4.20). Among 
the sock successes, not dented by 
weather, with count over $18,500. 
' "The Hasty Heart, 1 '' Hudson (24th 
week) (D-1..094; $3.60). Dipped to 
around $8,500; house and show under 
same management, and better than 
even break claimed. 

"Thc^Overtons," Forrest (19th 
week) (CD-1.060; $3.60). New people 
into cast, intention being to stick: 
moves to National, which has cool- 
ing system; slipped to $7,500. . .7 1 . 

"The Voice of the Turtle," Morosco 
(71st week) (C-939; $4.20). Off but 
little considering the long run and 
heat; lays off for summer after an- 
other week; $19,000. 

"The Wind Is Ninety," Booth (D- 
712; $3.6*0). Presented by Lee Shu- 
bert and Albert de Courville: written 
by Capt. Ralph Nelson; tried out in 
Boston; opens . tomorrow (21). 

"Up in Central Park," Broadway 
(20th week) (0-1,900; $6). Gross in- 
creased in somewhat larger house 
and despite some dip on hot Satur- 
day night (matinee capacity): went 
to $48,000 first week, since moving 
from Century. 

VAUDE-REVUE 
"Concert-Varieties." Ziegfeld (2d 
week) (i;626: $4.20). Disappointing; 
business rated around $17,000; no 
announcement of another bill. 
NEIGHBORHOOD 
"Abie's Irish Rose," ..Flatbush, 
Brooklyn: repeat. 

"Snafu," Queensb.oro, L. I.; may 
wind up. 

"Mamba's Daughters," Windsor. 
Bronx. 



Maria Eggerth Opposite 
Kiepura in 'Polonaise' 

Hollywood, June 19. 

Marta Eggerth, opera singer, has 
changed her mind about taking a 
year's vacation and will appear with 
her husband. Jan Kiepura, in the 
stage musical, "Polonaise." 

Show Will be produced by Harry 
Bloomfield and W. Horace Schmid- 
lapp on Broadway. : 



'JONES' TOPS OPERETTA 
MARK IN L. A. AT 45G 

Los Angeles, June 19. 

Smashing the all-time record for 
the Civic Light Opera season here. 
"Carmen Jones" rated $45,000 at the 
boxoffice for its second stanza at the 
Philharmonic auditorium. This tops 
previous marks of $44,800 set by the 
third weeks of "Lady in the Dark" 
and "Song of Norway" at the same 
spot. Management looks for an even 
higher figure on the current and 
final stretch. -•'• .■ 

"Ten Little Indians'' climbed to 
$12,000 for the second frame at the 
Biltmore and should stretch on 
word-of-mouth advertising for its 
third week. Ken Murray's "Black- 
outs of 1945" hit $14,800, as usual, for 
the 155th week at El 'Capitan. Mu- 
sart's "Honey in the Hay" did repeat 
$3,000 for the 24th stanza. 



'O'Brien Girl' in 3G 

Opening at St. Louis 

St. Louis, June 19. 

"The O'Brien Girl," George M. 
Cohan production, is being presented 
locally for the first time in the Mu- 
nicipal Theatre Assn.'s al fresco 
playhouse in Forest Park. The piece, 
with a cast headed by William Lynn, 
Jane Deering, Bertha Belmore. Nat- 
alie Hall, Ann Andre, Fred Harper. 
Earle MacVeigh, James Starbuck and 
George Church, teed off a seven- 
night stand last night (Monday ) and 
copped-' heavy approval from the 
customers. Three weeks of daily 
rains slowed down b.o. activity; a 
mob of 7,000 was on deck. The gross 
was an estimated $3,000. 

"Jubilee," opening piece of the 12- 
week season, wound up an 1 1 -night 
stand Sunday (17) to an approximate 
gross of $50,000. 



Inside Stuff-Legit 

Judith Evelyn, who replaced Arlene Francis in "The Overtons," Forrest, 
N. Y., is playing her first comedy part on Broadway. Previously she had 
been principally known for her long appearance in "Angel Street" and 
as a result many casters had typed her strictly for melodrama. However, 
Miss Evelyn played in no less than 14 comedies or light plays, but those 
appearances were in Canada, London and 1 on the Coast, shows including 
"Once In a Lifetime," "I've Lived With You," "Safe Amongst the Pigs," 
"You and I," "An Ideal Husband" and "There's Always Juliet." 

Miss Evelyn was born in South Dakota, but was brought up in Saskatche- 
wan/Canada, being a graduate of the University of Manitoba, where she 
was the first student director of plays. 



Understood Edwin Lester, producer for the Civic Light Opera Associa- 
tion in Los Angeles and San Francisco for eight years, will check out at. 
the end of the current season, although he may continue to function in 
an advisory capacity. Harmony prevails in the organization but Lester 
feels that the task of producing three or four stage musicals Jn rapid suc- 
cession every year is too heavy to bear. His labors go back 10 years, 
including two as producer for Civic Light Opera before the association 
was formed. His contract runs for one more year, during which he may 
function as supervisor, or produce and direct one show to keep his hand 
in. Meanwhile he is considering offers from New York. 



Reporters shied a\vay from an actress-loses-gems story until they learned 
that Cambridge, Mass., Patrolman Francis D. Dailey's wife has a new babv 
carriage. The records showed that Dailey, a cop only two weeks, found 
the stage door of the Cambridge summer theatre open during wee hours 
of June 13. On a stage he found a bunch of rings and' a diamond necklace. 
He took them to headquarters, where later they were identified as the 
_$2,000_stpc_k of .Elissa Landi, star hi_"Blithe Spirit" at the theatre. "I was 
pressed for time to get" to a parly after final curtain and-forgot- ail-about 
them." explained Miss Landi. Dailey's wife wanted a new pram. She 
has it. '. 



The N, Y. Times Sunday drama section had, apparently, been trying to 
get from Groucho Marx latest word about his plans. for next season. In 
a letter to the section last Sunday (19) Marx denied he was planning, to 
do two plays simultaneously, declaring "Equity would object, and the 
hauling charges would be prohibitive." So, said Marx, "calm down. You 
may not know it, but the N. Y. Times is the last bulwark of journalistic 
integrity, and nothing must appear in it that hasn't been authenticated by 
The Consumers Union, The Racing Form, Dumbarton Oaks and the weekly 
'Variety'.". 



"Foxhole In the Parlor" moved from the Booth, N. Y„ to the Barrymore 
over the weekend, but while the production was moved on Sunday (17) 
it remained on the trucks until the next afternoon. Harry Bloomfield, 
Who produced the drama, was required to post $2,000 with the Barrymore' 
which is operated by the Shuberts, before the setting was permitted to be 
carried into the theatre, and there was delay in putting the coin on the 
line. . : " ■ 

"Parlor" was slated to relight last night, Monday being skipped and is 
scheduled to play Sundays in the new spot. 



A postscript breakdown of "Variety's" own legit boxscore, per request 
from the trade, shows Jack Pulaski (Ibee) leading the muggs with 902 
Other individual staff ratings were: Abel Green (.Abel), 1,000- Arthur 
Bronson (Bron), .867; George Rosen (Rose), .833; Nat Kahn <Ka)i«), .813 
, '*>ee caught the majority of legits (41). Next to number were Kahn's )6 

excellent business, with takings close d s ' Wlth three wron S s - Abel was right in five out of five, but since he 
to 184,000. |. caught so few shows the accolade goes to Ibee. Bron was right on 13 out 

"Sohool for Brides," Ambassador ' of 15; Rose had live out of six. 



Jake Quits Chi With 186 Finale, 
'Ruth' SRO W/£ 'Father 14G 



•Vag. King' Top $18,200 
In 1st Week, Toronto 

Toronto, June 19. 
Ernest Rawley's production of 
"Vagabond King," directed and 
staged by Robert Henderson, grossed 
an outstanding $18,200 at the Royal 
Alexandra here last week and is held 
over for .second week with advance 
sale of $4,900. The 1,525-seater was 
and is scaled at $3 top. Business hit 
this figure despite terrific heat. • 



MULT SRO $37,400, 
PHILLY; OUT SEPT. 8 

Philadelphia, June 19. 

Theatre Guild management is em- 
phasizing in its press copy that run 
of "Oklahoma!" will end Saturday, 
Sept. 8, which would give it a run 
of 20 weeks at the Forrest. Last 
week saw $37,400. 

Scats are now on sale through July 
28. with August locations due for 
distribution soon. At any rate, bet- 
ting here is still strong that "Okla- 
homa!" will stay longer than 20 
weeks. Another angle on the other 
side of the argument, however, is 
that a number of musical producers 
are angling for this air-cooled house 
lor early fall openings, when Philly 
weather- will probably still be hot. 
Striking success last year of "Bloom- 
er Gill" is one reason for that inter- 
est.- Incidentally, Forrest had six big 
musical b.o. hits last season prior to 
"Oklahoma!". 

Theatre Guild has just announced 
American Theatre Society subscrip- 
tion list here for coming season. The 
Lunls in "Love and Idleness," which 
thev have been playing successfully 
in London: "The Hasty Heart," "A 
Bell for Adano," "Foolish Notion," 
"A Winter's Tale," revival, and 
"Dunninger's Daughter" (new) are 
announced. • 



'Marinka' $18,000 

In Final Wash. Week 

Washington, June 19. 
For its final week at the National 
"Marinka" did estimated $18,000. It 
ran into blistering heat or the gross 
would have been higher. Harry 
Stock well went into the show at Sat- 
urday matinee, replacing Jerry 
Wayne. He was here all week re- 
hearsing. 

The Munsey Trust Co., owner of 
the National, announces that rumors 
the house will be sold are unfound- 
ed;- The financial institution has 
made a comfortable profit on its 
investment. With the installation of 
a cooling apparatus the playhouse 
will run 12 months of the year. 

The American Theatre Society, 
with 12,000 subscribers here, are an- 
nouncing that Alfred Lunt and Lynn 
Fonlanne will come in with Terrence 
Rattigan's "Love in Idleness," to be 
followed by "The Hasty Heart" and 
"A Bell for, Adano,!' as next season's 
prospects. The pre-Broadway en- 
gagement of S. N. Behrmari's "Dun- 
nigan's Daughters" will also take 
place here. 



'Rain' (George-Kilian) 
Sags to $9,600, Frisco 

San Francisco, June 19. 

Capacity houses continue at Cur- 
ran, where San Francisco Civic Light 
Opera drew $31,900 for "Desert 
Song" in $3.90-top, 1,776-seat house. 

"Rain," with Gladys George and 
Victor Kilian, sagged to $9,600 at 
1.550-seat. $3-top Geary. 



Current Road 

(Period Cotierifjp; June 18-30). 

"Blackouts of 1945"— El Capitan, 
Hollywood (18-30). 

"Carmen Jones"— Phil. Aud.. L. A. 
(18-23); Curran, Frisco (25-30). . . 

"Dear Ruth"— Harris, Chi (18-30). 

"Good Nile Ladles"— Plymouth, 
Bost. (18-30). . 

"Jaeobowsky and the Colonel" — 
Blackstone. Chi. (18-30). 

"Life With Father" (2d Co.) — 
Erlanger, Chi. (18-30). 

"Marinka"— Shubert, Boston (18- 
30). 

"Oklahoma!" (2d Co.) — Forrest. 
Philly (18-30). . 

"Rain" — Geary, Frisco (18-23); 
Aud., Santa Cruz (24); Aud., Oak- 
land .-(25); Jr. College Aud., Sacra- 
mento (26); Civic Aud., Pasadena 
(28); Mun. Aud., Long Beach (29). 

"Red, Mot and Blue"— Gr. North- 
ern, Chi. (18-30). 

"Snafu"— Colonial, Bost. (18-30). 

"Ten Little Indians" (2d Co.). — 
Biltmore, L. A. (18-23); Geary. 
Frisco (25-30). ■ 

"Voice of Turtle" (2d Co.) — Sel- 
wyn, Chi. (18-30). 



. Chicago. June 19, 

"Jaeobowsky and the Colonel" 
folded Saturday (16) with $18,000 on 
its final week, leaving five of the 
eight legit houses here dark. (That's 
not counting the Shubert, which is 
skedded to open in the fall after 11 
years* shuttcrment.) The three that 
are open.- meanwhile, rolled merrily 
along last week, with $20,500 capac- 
ity for "Dear Ruth," $14,000 for "Life 
Willi. Father." and $19,000 for "Voice 
of the Turtle." 

Only bright spot for Loopers is on 
the dim horizon— Aug. 12. to be ex- 
act—when "Goiid Night. Ladies" is 
skedded to return to the Blackstone 
The summer doldrums are sneaking 
up earlier than usual this season. 
Estimates for Last Week 

"Dear Ruth." Harris (9th week) 
(1,000; $3.60). Brightest spot in town 
with $20.500— capacity. 

"Jaeobowsky and the Colonel," 
Blackstone (5th week) (1,200; $3 60) 
Got nice $18,000: Theatre Guild fold- 
ed it Saturday (16). 

"Life With Father." Erlanger (3d 
week) (1.500; $3). Schools are let- 
ting out. matinees arc belter, so the 
trend is upwards, from fair $11,000 
in opener to $14,000 in third stanza. 

"Voice of the Turtle," Selwvn (37th 
week) (1,000; $3.60). Only $1,500 off 
capacity. Long-termer got $19,000 
this time. 



'WIND 90' MILD $6,000, 
DITTO 'BROTHER/ HUB 

Boston, June 19. 

Shubcrls have closed the Wilbur 
for redecorating, but the Shubert and 
Plymouth have just had cooling sys- 
tems installed and hope to stay open. 
Heat wave hurt b.o. biz all round 
this week. "Good Night. Ladies" is 
still zipping along at the Plymouth 
in its 12th phenomenal week. 

The Cambridge Summer Theatre 
broke six-year b.o. records in first 
week, opening with "Blithe Spirit,"; 
starring Elissa Landi. Advance sales 
good for "Snafu" at Colonial, and 
"Marinka" at Shubert. opened this 
week. The Proyincelown Playhouse 
at Cape Cod's tip opens July 3 with 
"Blithe Spirit" and will put on two 
new ones during summer, the Pal- 
frey-Day "Inquire Within" and Hal- 
sted Welles' "The Gods Sit Back." 
Estimates for Last Week 

"Good Night, Ladies," Shubert (1,- 
500; $2.50). Satisfactory $13,000. 
Moved to Plymouth Monday (18). 

"Oh Brother," Plymouth (1,400; 
$3). Mild $6,000 in 2d and last week. 
Week before, $7,500. 

"The Wind Is 90," Colonial (1,500; 
$3). Mild. $5,500. 

"Blithe Spirit," Cambridge Sum- 
mer Theatre (400; $1.80). Fair $4,- 
000; balcony was closed for repairs. 



Acme Agcy. Show-Cause 
Order Gotten By Atlas 

Following revocation of its license 
by N. Y. License Commissioner Paul 
Moss, the Acme ticket agency, head- 
ed by Mike Atlas, has obtained a 
show cause order. It was to have 
been argued last Thursday (14) but 
the matter was put over for a week. 
A temporary stay makes the license 
valid ' .pending the hearing, the 
agency operating although, because 
it's under suspension by the enforce- 
ment board of the ticket code, it 
does not receive legit allotments. 

Atlas argued that while the code 
order prevents his agency from 
getting regular allotments for shows, 
he cannot_be prevented from buying 
tickets from Tjoxoffices to~supply his 
customers. Code only applies to 
legit, and the agency handles tickets 
for other attractions such as ball 
games and fights. 

There were four counts of over- 
charging against Acme, one claimed 
to have been proven through the 
aid of Max Sonino. Latter ' is the 
husband of a daughter of the late 
Frank Gillmore, former head of 
Equity, which, with the League of 
New York Theatres, formulated the 
code and is employed by the code 
board to check up on agency prices. 

Moss contends that Atlas did not 
bring his staff to the license hearing, 
otherwise other cases of Acme 
charging more than the law allows 
could have been proven. In the 
case of John Ahearn. whose license 
was also cancelled, he offered no 
defense. Moss had on hand several 
bills to customers proving over- 
charging. 



Sgt. Samuel J. Bagal, known in 
profesh as Sonny Dahl, was awarded 
the Bronze Star Medal in France for 
special services work with 9th Air 
Force." 



Wednesday* June 20, 194S 



LEGITIMATE 



45 



Withdrawal of at Least One Musical 
Expected to Solve B'way Booking Jam 



Tightness of the summer booking-* 
situation on Broadway, so far as 
musical shows are concerned, was 
primarily caused by the absence of 
cooling systems in two theatres— 
the Century and Adelphi— both of 
which berthed hits ("Up in Central 
Park" and "On The Town." respec- 
tively). Likely that business for 
both attractions would have been 
socked anyhow during -the summer 
"because the houses are not directly 
in the theatre district. It's possible 
that the problem" will be solved by 
the withdrawal'of at least one musi- 
cal directly on Broadway.' 

the New 



Miller, Wilson, Harris 
Hop Off to England 

Plane priorities having abated, 
three legit managers have gone to 
England. Within the past week or 
so Gilbert Miller, John C. Wilson 
and Jed Harris hopped over, first 
two having theatre interests in Lon- 
don. Other managers are likely to 
go across and expectations are that 
several current West End attrac- 
tions will be on Broadway produc- 
tion Schedules next season, one 
("Love in Idleness," with the Lunts) 



Karlweis Has Heart 

Attack in Chicago 

Chicago, June 19. 

Oscar Karlweis, co-star with Louis 
Calhern in "Jacobowsky and the 
Colonel," suffered a heart attack 
Sunday (17) and was taken to the 
American hospital here, where he's 
to stay indefinitely. . Condition fair. 
Attack came a day after.. "Jake" 
folded, following — successful — fl ; ve- 
week run. 

Rest of the cast have gone their 
separate ways, with Jack York, com- 
pany manager, staying on to look 
after Karlweis. 



■ramming arose when „., ; .««.«• , 
York Times ordered the Shuberts to already being definitely arranged, 
vacate the 44th Street, which it owns Next showman due in England is 
and" which now has "Town" (pub- Max Gordon, said to have been as- 
lication will soon raze the building), signed on an Army entertainment 
plus the insistence of the Shuberts mission, Bob Milford being slated to 
in keeping "Dark of The Moon." a accompany. Mike Todd, who was 
drama, at the 46th Street. Latter is abroad on Army entertainment 
designed for musicals but, to fore- business and who returned recently, 
stall their growing opposition, the j then planed to the Coast, is back in 
City Investing Co., from getting New York, preliminary, presumably, 
possession of the house, "Dark" has to going over again for the same 
continued, there. City bought the j purpose, . 
46th Street but the Shuberts may. 
retain tenancy as long as "Dark" 
plays there. Dispossess -proceedings 
were filed by City recently, but an 
error in attorneys' papers caused the 
action to be dropped and restarted: 
Month's Extension 
The Times has extended the lease 
on the 44th Street until the end #f Continuance of "Laffing 
July instead of June 30, but where . Only" through summer at 

"Town" will be moved then isn't Winter Garden. N. Y., is not defi- | i ayec ; f or six wee k s , including the 
agreed upon. Mention of the Winter nite . indications being the Olsen j Boston tryout. because of the in 
Garden getting the revue would j and Johnson revue will lay oft- 
mean that "Laffing Room Only " ; for » couple of months. Business 
would close I dropped markedly early this month. 

Nearly live" months' advance no-- | and although, it recovered. last 
lice was given bv Godfrey Nelson, i week's heat wave sent the gross 
secretary or the Times corporation. ! tumbling again. If the O. & J. show 
who notified the Shuberts to vacate lays off the paucity of theatres 

suitable for major musicals will be 
lightened. Possible successors men- 
tioned are "On The Town." 44th 



laffing Room' May Not 
Play B'way This Summer; 
Seen Touring Next Fall ^ 



'Memphis Crisis 
On Sliding B O. 

John Wildberg's "Memphis Bound" 
is panning out poorly as a commer- 
cial venture, despite the notices, and 
from this stems a crisis which has 
arisen with his attorney, who also 
represents some of the producer's 
important backers. - 

The lawyer. Francis S. Leyien. 
had advised against the colored Gil.-: 
bert & Sullivan undertaking, and 
when further capital was. : needed— 
the show cost almost double the 
j anticipated $80,000 production in- 
I vestment— the attorney saw fit to 
| protest Wildberg's heavy costs. This 
included a $13,000 ballet and kill- 
ed items, deemed not commercial. 
| New material is being injected 
Room j j n i 0 "Memphis Bound." Belasco. 
the n. Y., that. 'process having been de 



Too Many Shows on B'way (or This 
Time of the Year; 'Worst' Weekend 



Eight-Week Run of 3? 
Concerts in H'wood Bowl 

Hollywood, June 19. 
Hollywood Bowl's 24th season of 
Symphonies Under the Stars opens I 
July 10 with a program of Bach, 
Tschaikowsky and Wagner, batoned j 
by Leopold Stokowski for the in- 
augural. Paul Whiteman takes over 
the podium July 14 with a Gersh- 
win Memorial Program. Season 
runs eight weeks with a total of 32 
concerts. 

Guest stars: this . year include 
Yehudi Menuhin, Jan Kiepura, 
Marta Eggerth, Jeanette MaeDon- 
ald. Oscar Levant and Artur Ruben- 
stein. The Ballet Theatre will ap- 
pear in nine 'performances. 



Hollander Draws 
7{ Yrs. Probation 
On Extortion 



Rap 



♦ There are too many shows on 
Btoadway for this time of the year, 
it was conceded in managerial cir- 
cles last week,, when torrid weather 
suddenly arrived and grosses dived 
in many instances. June didn't bust 
out all over because of temperatures 
around 50 degrees and less, but last 
week the thermometer shot upward 
to 90, which sent 1,000,000 out of the 
city over the weekend. Saturday 
night attendance dropped in so many 
theatres that it was called by many 
j the "worst" in a long lime. 

Including two premieres, there 
were 33 attractions on the list start- 
ing tliis week, one show being a 
vaude-revue. Same week last year 
24 shows were lighted, plus two re- 
vivals and a vauder. Closing notices 
were in order: after last week's 
slump, and the number of shows 
lighted will be further reduced by 
June 30, when at least three hits will 
lay off for six weeks or more. 

When the list of musical flops dur- 
ing 1944-45 was surveyed the ques- 
tion of high ticket scales was dis- 
cussed, with some showmen figuring 
that too many were scaled at $6 top. 



Louis Hollander, former head of 
the Theatrical Costume Workers 
Union, who pleaded guilty of at- 
tempted extortion from costume Then again, in some instances man- 
plant owners last year, was granted \ agers felt that if the scale was low- 
a suspended sentence but put on er patrons might figure the shows 
probation for seven and one-hall | weren't up to major standards. How 



the 44th Street on June 30. The 
Shuberts were aware they were 
taking a chance In booking "Town" 



sistence by Harry Wagstaff Gribble 
that mostly Gilbert and Sullivan 
("Pinafore") be used. John Wild- 



berg assigned Gribble to supervisory 
direction and he had to say what j 
was to go into the colored musical. | 
Gribble is now disassociated with 
"Memphis" and the authors are aim- 
ing to provide more laughs to the 
book. Writers are Albert Barker 



into the house, but are reported .1 Street, or "Manuka," trying out in j and Sally Benson, Don Walker and 



peeved at the Times, though the 
managers had a most liberal rental 
arrangement, paying only the taxes 
plus $10,000 annually. On that basis 
the Shuberts cleaned up during the 
run of "Winged Victory" and then 
"Follow the Girls." latter having 
recently moved to the Broadhurst. 
Guessed Wrong 
Shuberts didn't figure thai, build- 
ing priorities could be secured until 
after the •defeat of Japan, while: the 
Times management evidenced clair- 
voyance by notifying the showmen 
long before V-E Day. Early this 
month the Times was advised 
by the Bethlehem Steel Co. that 
girders for construction could, be 
expected by N o v e m b e r. Pub- 
lisher thereupon speeded prep- 
arations for the addition to its 
plant, which backs up to the 44th 
Street. Figured that by the time the 
present building is razed and exca- 
vation is completed the steel will be 
on hand. 

• Extension of the lease on the 44th 
Street for one month was granted as 
a courtesy to the American Theatre 
Wing and its Stffge Door Canteen, 
winch occupies the basement in the 
building.. Canleen committe e, 
headed by Jane Cowl, called on the 
limes publisher and explained there 
had not been sufficient notice to fina 
new quarters. Shuberts claimed that 
t-aiUcen officials had been told 
»oout the notice to vacate, but Wing 
|^ 0 P^_dec.|ared_aiey_knew_ nothing 
™out it until two weeks ago. The 
t-anteen had cuffo rent. 

nj £ 44th St, ' eet was Purchased by 
the Times i„ 1943. which needs the 
fcue for expansion. New building 
,wru approximate 50';, of the size of 
.we present plant and is needed be- 



Boslon 

Chic Johnson has expfessed the 
desire to retire lo his elaborate dairy 
farm upstate. In past summers when 
O. & J. were are at the Garden he 
spent a number of weekends check- 
ing up on his farm, on which he has 
thousands of chickens. As "Laffing" 
does not give Monday performances 
both Olsen and Johnson have jour- 
neyed out of town on 7}h War Loan 
Drives recently. 

O. & J. are reported pencilled in 
for Chicago around Labor Day. 
"Laffing" to reopen the former 
Majestic there, house to be called 
the Shubeit. 



Clay Warnick having revised the 
original score, plus giving the show 
new numbers. 

Wilclberg. currently on the Coast, 
leaves Friday ( 22 r from Hollywood, 
according to present plans. He is 
setting "Belle Br.odie," next-season 
Broadway musical, while out there. 



cause of 



amped pressroom space, 



a so for t|„, storage of paper. Daily 
'-»9w«W..th* former Little theatre 
now cancel Times Hall .separated 
r om (he Sll . ecl b • Saldi 

£?•*}>• P'Werty having been 
IS Sl) '»e time ago. It was in- 
4 -g*d to use the Little site for a 

tri Z^"u am '* a,ld lor delivery 
"•■■cks but the pi an WBS shclvodi 

am. rts ai ' e "'Ported installing 
AifeiJ?" of L ' ooli| ig system at the 
CC^" 1 ' "Town" moves 



Joe Leblang's Estate 
In OK Financial Status 

A recent meeting of heirs of the 
late Joe Leblang and the late Tillie 
Leblang Jasie revealed that the Le- 
blang Ticket Agency is in its best 

mlirUTADCDA ACCW condition financially since the ticket 
. LlUlll UrtlVA AjjW. magnate died in 1931. The depres- 

cui/vrn am Tinrjumr siOM was 0,1 when he died ' and 8 

oNAubhl) ON infcAIKfc ba,ik |ie headed faiied m- 

j volving his estate. Men assigned by 
Civic Light Opera Assn., which j , ne Aate bank j ng 

commission super- 
closed ils second 10-week season of vjscd the business for years, but all 
operetta revivals at the Masonic that h K | c btedness has been liqui- 
Temple, Detroit, early this month. L^ted. Before Mrs. Leblang Jasie 
may not resume next year principal- j passcd away i ast yeal . she purchased 
ly because it cannot use the theatre j a numoel - of claims against the.es- 
under the same performance sehed- j tate a , ld presented them to her 
ule as heretofore. Temple has con- I daughters, who operate the agency 
traded with the Henry Ford Co.. | and are t | le principal heirs, 
which will use .the spot for 52 Sun- In ac ; c |ition to the ticket business, 
day evening shows, and it's figured Leblang batked shows and pur- 
Civic would not be able lo operate cnaserl theatres, one such property 
profitably with Sabbath matinee and being the '48th Street/which houses 
n i g h t performances out. Max 
Koenigsbeig, managing director of 
the Civic p roject, is angling for an- 
other spot, one prospecT'lreTiiig the. 
Capitol, a picture house- ..'.";■ 

Last year Civics profit was around 
$70,000. while this year's net was ap- 
proximately $30,000 claimed. Total 
takings were not materially less but 
there was a 20'r increase in operating 
costs, higher salaried people having 
been used, If and when the operetta 
bunch, get's going season may start 



years by Judge John Mullen in N. Y. 
Geueral Sessions court last week. He 
faced a prison term of between two 
and a half to five years but it was 
understood the court was lenient 
after being advised of a petition by 
union members, who had benefitted 
by increased pay when the defend- 
ant was president of the costume 
workers. 

Alleged that unionists, an AFL 
group, slowed down and "developed 
colds" suddenly, not reporting for 
work, with the result that costumes 



ever, there's the case of "Oklahoma!," 
which is $4.80 (actually $4, the bal- 
ance admissions tax), and that mu- 
sical has passed the two-year mark, 
still selling out. 

Revising Scales 

Managers of some musicals that tilt 
the price to $7.20 at the weekend 
thought it over when trade dropped 
last Saturday (.16) and may quietly 
remove the extra price. One success- 
ful musical reduced the top without 
announcement, "On the Town,". 44th 
Street, going to $4.80 from $5.40, 



for Broadway productions were de- | w hich was the top when the show 



layed, all at Hollander's suggestion 
when higher pay was being nego- 
tiated. Hollander intimated he 
would call a strike at the Brooks and 
Eaves plants unless he was given 
$5,000. The amount demanded was 
reduced to $3,000 and marked money 
was passed to him in .a small 44th 
street cafe. Two detectives observed 
the transaction. Hollander being ar- 
rested and indicted. 

Since he pleaded guilty Hollander 
has been unable to get work, and 
the court. evidently agreed with the 
petitioners that he had been pun- 
ished en<»ugh. 

There is another Louis Hollander, 
officer in a similar CIO union,- who 
is not to be confused with the one 
involved. 



the smash comedy, "Harvey." About 
three years ago, when the theatre 
was faring badly, it was leased tq 
"Mike" Todd for $20,000 annually, just 
about enough lo pay fixed charges. 
Todd's lease expires Nov. , 30, but it 
is expected that a deal will be 
agreed upon whereby "Harvey" will 
continue at the 48th Street, with the 
Leblang estate participating in the 
house's profits. Todd's profit since 
"Harvey' 'opened has been more 
than $2,500 weekly. "He claims the 



GOVT. FILES TAX LIENS 
VS. JELIN FOR $23,234 

Max J. Jelin, Jerseyiie who be- 
came financially involved on Broad- 
way last season when he tenanted 
the Belasco theatre, was last week 
officially declared to be tangled in 
tax irregularities in addition to his 
other headaches; The Government 
has filed tax liens against him total- 
ing $23,234. Mentioned too were 
Molly Jelin, his wife, and J.elin Pro- 
ductions, latter corporation including 
the Belasco lease (later cancelled 
through dispossess) and a flop show 
he put on. 

" Liens are fbi~llnpa7d withholding! 
employment and other taxes. The 
Government is loath to start criminal 
proceedings in collecting taxes 
where there is property or other 



was at the Adelphi. Overscaling is 
doubtless an error in judgment. 
There are six musicals at $6 current- 
ly, four being smash hits, but two 
woujd probably be faring better at 
more popular scales. There are seven 
-straight plays with a $4.20 top, ac- 
tually $3.50 to the box office, the bal- 
ance being tax, and while the' price 
is 50c more than the former rate, 
all those shows are standouts. 

A feature of the early spring pe- 
riod was the readying of nearly a 
dozen shows produced by newcom-' 
ers. Half of those attractions folded 
at tryout and nearly all were distinct 
failures. Several that withdrew be- 
fore coming in were reported being 
revised for • showings next season, 
but such plans are uncertain. 

Among the spring dozen produced 
by newcomers only "Kiss Them for , 
Me" is on the boards, through an 
j assist from the cast, which took a 
. cut. Those which flopped included 
I "The Depp Mrs. Sykes," which came 
I to town, as did "Lady in Danger," 
j "Star Spangled Family," 'Too Hot 
I for Maneuvers" and "It's a Gift." 
| Plays that disappeared, mostly out 
! of town: ' Marriage Is ' for Single 
\ People," "I'll Be Waiting," "Dinner 
'' for Three," "Merely Coincidental" 
| and "Devils Galore" (stopped in re- 
i hearsal). 



Dixie French Retired 

As a Lieut. Colonel 



u tile fall and extend through the booking contract for the show is 



with him. not the theatre, in wbyh 



COBURN'S YEARS' AT M-G 

p. . Hollywood, June 19. 
forth ■ « CoblMT > returns to Metro 
on/,? 6 . ' 1 ,lnle in low years on a 

T^w'S deal in " The Green 

G^!? tuie W, H b * Produced by LeOn 
quet a " d dil ' e<:te d by Harold Buc- 



holiday season 

"Show Boaf drew the lop gross i event it's probable some sharing 
for. the season just ended with -.tak- I pi an w ill be figured out . -with the 
ingS of nearly $61,000. The G real j Leblang estate. There is a $300,000 



Richard E. (Dixie) French has 
been retired from the Army with 
the permanent rating of a Lt. Colonel 
and is eligible to retirement pay due 
assets owned by delinquents. Nature ! that classification. John Golden's 



Waltz" being . runner-up with $-17,500. 
"Tlu'ee Musketeers", and "Mile, 
Modiste" were low grossers, getting 
around $24,000. Average cost of op- 
erating was $32,000 weekly. . 



Carrillo As 'Bad Man' 

Hollywood. June 19. 
Leo Carrillo. currently- playing in 
"Mexieana" at Republic, will return 
to legit as title roler in "The Bad 
Man," to be produced by Henry 
Duffy. 

Play opens Aug. 24 in San Fran- 
cisco for four weeks, with Chicago, 
Boston and New York hi the offing. 



mortgage on the 48th Street. 

Estate also is interested. In the, 
Sheridan Square, a picture house, in 
Greenwich Village operated by 
Loe'w's. which gels 50';, of the profit. 
There are others interested in the 
house, which is owned free and 
clear. Recently the Leblang girls 
incorporated Gray's Cut Rate Ticket 
Office, for although the former bar- 
gain sale system of selling tickets 
is virtually extinct, they wished to 
protect the name. Originally, en- 
trance to Leblang's was through 
Gray's drug store at 43d and Broad- 
way, building having been .razed 
.tears ago. ■' . .'', \ 



of Jelin assets were not sel forth. 

New L.A. Legit Project 

Hollywood, June 19. 
New theatre project, SAF Pro- 
! d, ;etious. has been formed here to 
I present English-langiu'ge plays with 
j Jewish themes, devoted'" to a por- 
trayal of the worldwide struggle for 
I t lerance; 

; Company is lining up players from 
! the stage as well as the film studios. 



UNION CITY STOCK RESPITE 

Murray Brown stock folded at 

Grieff theatre, Union City. N. J.. 

due to lack of cooling system. Will 

reopen Sept. 3. 
Brown has laid out a 16- week 

route of resort theatres for the sum-. 

mer, opening at the Casino. Monroe. 
IN. Y., July 2, with "Old Shoes.".! 
! Company will play two bills a week 
j in all spots. .' 



former general manager went into 
I uniform originally in 1916 and af- 
i ter the first World War was on 
! Army reserve with the rank of 
I major for 20" years! When he re- 
joined, French's rating automatically: 
l dropped to captain; he was promoted 
, twice since being reinducted arid has 
had eight years of active service in 
the two conflicts. 

Last winter he entered the Gen* 
. era! Staff school at Fort Leaven- 
worth. Kalis., and it Was expected 
(that, he would remain in uniform 
, indefinitely. Retirement was or- 
I dered. however, when it was estab- 
lished that injuries sustained on the 
i Normandy beach are permanent. 
While directing landing operations, 
he was struck by a landing craft. 
Col. French was brought back and 
operated. . on at Halloran hospital. 
Statcn Island. He expects to rest 
for some time before returning to 
show business. 



46 



LEGITIMATE 



Wednesday, June 20, 1945 



'Okla.!' Snarl on Gratis Musicians 
Drops Show From Bond Matinee 



Broadway shows will start giving*— ; 

special 7th War Loan matinees next | blithe Spirit' to Open 

Monday (25) but there will be 15 | .g eason 3 Haylofts 

At least three theatres have 



such performances instead o{ 16 as 

originally if^^^gS^ I booked "Blithe Spirit" as their open 

St. James, is the show that is on me | Uni - „„ )im> T h P Casino 

list, and while there are other, mu- 
sicals not participating, its disaffec- 



tion was a keen disappointment to 
Theresa Helburn and Lawrence 
Langner ' of the Theatre Guild. 

"Oklahoma!" gave a bond perform- , • pi aV eris Holvoke 

ance during the last drive, around i and the Vallej Pla e.s, Holyoke 
$10,000,000 in bonds being sold in ex- I Ma**, wiU ditto June 25. 



ing strawhaf attraction. The Casino, 
Newport. R. I., will open its 18th 
season June 25 with the Noel Coward 
plav. Maria Gambarelli starred. The 
Woodstock Playhouse, N. Y., will 
also open on June 28, with "Spirit 



change for tickets 

After it was thought the show 
was committed to the bond perform- 
ance, an unspecified number of 
men in the "Oklahoma!" orchestra 
said they would not play the show 
unless paid, and just before ads put 
in Sunday's (17) papers by New 
York department stores, which are 
disposing of the bonds and tickets, 
were okayed, the title was stricken 
from the copy. It was proposed that 
other musicians be asked to play the 
performance but ' that would have 
required rehearsals with the players 
and the others in the pit, so it was 
decided to drop the show. 

Recalled that when out-of-town 
bond performances were planned, 
the touring company of "Oklahoma!" 
in Philadelphia had a similar situa T 
tion. the orchestra refusing to play 
• gratis. Local 802 of the New York 
musicians union was not at fault; in 
fact, that organization okayed the 
matinees immediately and urged the 
stagehands to do likewise, there be- 
ing some delay on that end because 
of the annual election. . 

"Follow the Girls" (Broadhurst) 
"On the Town" (44th Street) 
"Laffing Room Only" (Winter Gar- 
den > are also not on the list for one 
reason or another. Those attractions 
which responded pronto when re- 
quested to play the bond matinee 
went on the list, and those, that 
didn't weren't Urged to join up. . 



Partnered at Westboro 

Worcester, June 19. 

Robert Haag, radio actor, partners 
t bis season with Bob Daggett in the 
Red Barn theatre. Westboro, Mass. 
StVawhatter, closed last summer be- 
cause of travel- restrictions, opens 
June 25 for 11 weeks. 

Company includes Stuart Nedd, 
Murray Hamilton. George Zoritch, 
Betsy Staples, Curtis Wheeler, Bar- 
ton ■-. Stone. . Robert Myers, Leah 
Easton. (Miss) Wesley Ward. Leone 
Ehrenreich. Marguerite Geha and 
Betty Kil patrick. 

Mary Ann Den tier' returns as 
stage director. . ' 



Stock Exchanger Asks 
OK to Get Kicked Around 

Chicago, June 19. 

Bob Pollak is probably th« only 
drama critic in the country who had 
to get permission from the N, Y. 
Stock Exchange to become a critic. 

Seems that if any member of the 
Exchange wants to engage in an out- 
side activity he has to be okayed, 
so that's what Pollak did early last 
year when he became manager of the 
Chi office of H. Hentz &; Co., which 
has been a member of all stock and 
commodity exchanges 011 the books 
since 1856. 

Casing the shows for the Chi Daily 
Times is strictly an avocation with 
Pollak. He has'been associated with 
one N. Y. exchange house or another 
for 21 years— ever since graduating 
from the U. of Chicago in 1924. He 
started writing criticism for The Chi- 
cagoan tan imitation of The New 
Yorker, which folded shortly after 
Martin Quigley Publications introed 
it here about 18 years ago), and then 
joined the-' Times' staff in 1935 as 
music critic. 

Another H. Hentz & Co. affiliate is 
George Price, the actor -broker. 



Mike Myerberg Sued on 'Skin 
Production by British Actress 




London, June 8. 

Mi-io fo-wttt tmXtucttttn *l <»'«• «)""'» 1,1 
three *<•(» by Beiijmnlri Britten.' JMMellu 
by Mwrtagu Slater, bwNHt "» }! e ™i g ?, l '' o b .„ 
lioetn. . Conductor, Reginald lSo.idl.ll. 're- 
sented bv tlm tfovernoi* of 8a«>«f » ™«ll» 
■ •" M.A. m Sadler .1 



Play on Broadway 



The 



Private' Life of the 



Tl.i 



11 l'( 

uni»nUtr> 

by Bet.ui 

10 1 li- Ku« 

Vicrtpl : . 
niiisit- !)>' 

and '! s. iimi.i. 

(II 



>tt All ,Nh I i. 
Inlay in tin 
lil ttrerhl. i 

M-| K.-lltl-V. 

le.v-lwd. 



.looter Peur'a 

. , . , . . ..loan. (H'tHiS 
,,V. .Kd(tli PuKfes 
. . . Blanch's Tnrnen- 
.'■-. . . Mlintta Bower 
. . . Iloderlik .lone* 
.Ownn RrunniKaii 
, Kdmund DonlPV.v 

. ..Tom I'lllliei I 

. . . . .Susa Stncliov 



t>y arrnnKenienr tyltli i*.V*. 
Wells. London, .lime 7. '4 
Pel.er (iritnen. . . . . . . . . . . 

Ellen- OrCord 

Boar Landlady 

Xle'ee • •' • • • • 

Nier« * ......... . 

Balah ode ...... . . 

I.».«.vei' Swallow 

Ned Kowe 

ReolnV.-. ... 

Dwioi' ThiiilK. . 

This is a grim, sober affair with 
which to reopen the famous home of 
opera and ballet after five years. It 
is the first opera of a 31-year-old 
composer who is said to have- been 
commissioned to execute it by Kous- 
sevitzky in memory of his wife. 

Based on a poem by George Crabbe 
called "The Borough." it is splendidly 
produced and a certain hit with 
opera fans who enthusiastically wel- 
comed the first British opera for 10 
years. But it. is unlikely to attract 
the lay public. Story opens with an 
inquest on a fisherman's apprentice 
who died at sea. The verdict of ac- 
cidental death does little to square 
the sailor in the eyes of the villagers, 
who view him with suspicion and 
awe. A boy is taken from the work- 
house to help him and he is mur- 
dered by the half-crazed man who 
fears the lad will disclose his ill- 



London, June 19. 

Gwen Mannering, London actress, 
has served writ on Michael Myer- 
berg, New York producer, alleging 
breach of contract o£ her British 
rights to "The Skin of Our Teeth," 
the Thornton Wilder play that won 
the Pulitzer -prize on Broadway two 
years ago. Actress maintains she 
started negotiations' for English 
rights of the play as early as Octo- 
ber, 1943. with negotiations com- 
pleted February 14. 1944. Contract 
was signed by David. .Henley, Lon- 
don head of Myron Selzniek agency, 
on behalf of Myerberg, which called 
lor English rights and 25% of pro-, 
ducer's share in film rights. 

English version of "Skin." pro- 
duced and directed by Laurence 
Olivier and starring his wife Vivien 
Leigh, opened in London middle of 
last month to become a boxoffue hit. 



Hi I 



llunns 
Opeiied 

I'nUec* 

Unert and KIs- 



t a.sl -. 

Hive I) 
Hlllxalietli Neumann, 
fleiasi-Aleritt, WUlinl' 
alt. Kliina KdIiiiii 



Uiiasei 



NEW BALLET GROUPS 
TO TOUR NEXT SEASON 

— Severarnew-ballet ensembles have 
been added to next season's concert 
lists, to indicate the continuing hold 
the longhair terp art- has on the 
American public. In addition, stand- 
ard vaude dance acts are increasing- 
ly breaking into the field, attracted 
by the lush pickings.* 
. Nitery-vauders. Rosario and An- 
tonio, with a supporting company, j treatment 

Hunted by the fisherfolk. the guilty 
man. on the advice of a solitary 
friend, puts to sea and scuttles his 
boat, thus saving him from mob ven- 



ns in mille t ion of doe- i , 

ee- tifts mine ai-enes) I have been signed for a full concert 
i Knuiisii vprsiun i.y t our next season. Other new dance 

niii-i-ted W lieitlititd 1 , , . -i, - i j n> 

ils.hieii i>y l,eo Ktrz: ' ensembles to tour will include Mar. 
r. r-iiniliivieil By'juset rina Svetlova. the -Metopera pre- 
u , "■' 'll. 1 lc " niiere darjseu.se. with two other soJo 
nan-. < iav- I dancers: the Foxhole Ballet troupe 



Toledo's Cap Goes 

Legit From Burley 

Toledo, June .19. 

The Capitol, long a burlesk house, 
will be known as the Town Hall 
theatre when it reopens Nov. 1, 
after remodeling, to become this 
city's only legitimate play house. 
Name , was announced by the 
Shuberts who will operate. '■ ■ 

Flora Ward Hineline will be in 
charge. House will seat 1,100. 



DiviKhl Mnriielil. John A. 
DtifTleld, l.n.nviir Rmh. 
'Ytteo .(liiet/., Ritiieil P^i, 
slnMiard Meulicil. 



Anittu-: \ 
Kla me 

Mullen. Lothar Re 

JtPHtpt- Sotidci-Rai-d 



't'opa. Brainetd 
•Miincai'el Bell. 
Mitm'Ufc J'Cllis. 



Bett'iltl Brecht's documentary play 
about lite in Germany under the 
Nazis, presented in a revised version 
with the original 17 scenes cut to 
nine, has its moments of power and 
terror by the. very nature of its his- 
torical subject as well as by some 
fine dramatic writing. But other 
than that, the play is dated by the 
times and defeated by its own de- 
fects. It is very uneven. The scenes 



Kurer. ! of six, headed by Brant Mouradoff, 
' ! now completing a six-month GI 
tour of Italy and France; an ensem- 
ble headed by Alicia Marsova and 
Anton Dolin, who closed recently in 
"Seven Lively Arts," and a troupe 
headed by Leonide Massine. Irina 
Baronova and Andre Eglevsky. 
These are in addition to the Ballet 
Theatre and Ballet Russe companies, 
both of which are heavily booked 
for next season. 

The lap-harmonica team -of Paul 
Draper and Larry Adler, which 
grossed $100,000 in a 16-week tour 



"Niiisnnce" Suit— Myerber* 

Myerberg, in New York, described 
the Mannering action as a. "nuisance 
suit," producing a photostatic copy 
of their agreement as well as cables 
and correspondence in the matter. 
Actress, he showed, signed agree- 
ment Feb. 14, '44, under which terms 
she was to produce "Skin" in Lon- 
don by July 1, '44. "with a reputable' 
cast and director" satisfactory to 
Myerberg. A further six-months' 
option was agreed on, if a first-rate 
cast had been selected by July 1, 

Late June, according to Myerberg, 
Miss Mannering advised that "Skin" 
had been impossible to cast, and 
asked for an extension. Myerberg 



geance. . declined to do so without an accept- 

Not a single amusing sideline able lineup. A return .cable asked 
lightens this gloomy tale, but its tell- j again for the extension on the plea 
ing and staging is superb. j of good-neighbor relations; It also 

Singing lives up to the tradition of v \ a ;, n ^ that war conditions had de- 



this renowned company, with chief 
honors going to Peter Pears in the 
title role; Joan Cross, as the sym- 
pathetic schoolmarm. and Edith 
Coates, as the buxom innkeeper. 
Laurels also go to fine orchestra Un- 
der conductor -Reginald Goodall. 

. •• Clem. 



At-Rpn 
of ('lull 
Krank.-r 
A 111 



this season, will tour as fully the i-bn. Odeon 



riaiiilia 

Buenos Aires, June 5. 
lie . Comedy ' Tliejiire'« pindue.tl 
Aden'n iianalatntion of llirf ,-Jli 
plar. in three acts. Sia>i''d 
dp Zavnllii. I>lrei(ed by Atniiiinde 



are frequently overlong and talky. ! coming year, and also play full 



OMAHA'S LITTLE THEATRES 

Omaha, June 12. 
f Omaha has suddenly broken out 
in a rash of little theatres. 

Instead of only one of these, the 
Omaha Community Playhouse, in its 
20tli successful year, now has the 
Omafia Civic . theatre and the new 
Negro little theatre on the far north 
side. 



■EAUTIFUL WITHOUT GLASSES 




"id* Mark ft , i 

alieud to ti-levlslan! As an adilltiamt 
li"li> tn viair nitiattivcneHs In the comlnii new 
ili-lil nf telcvl.lim. 

Se^ (lib difference these Aina/lnn tnvls|hle 
rl-jiltr innl,i,'nl;ahle) iensos make In yiillp an 
(m:i 1 1 lire I I'oine In and Try Thoml Nn alill- 
u:iUan! itulelt delivery. Insured agalaitf l'i>s. 
K-ily I'.iynicnt-. 

BETTER SI U II I 

CONTACT LENS, let.. 

100 W'.st 42nd St., Now York City 
Corner iltli Ave. Chllkerln) 4 2385 

Open from 10 a.m. to 6 a.m. 



Though hard-hitting and blunt, the 
play lacks a- certain subtlety. • 

The amateurish, dragging quality 
of the production also hurts the play. 
The auditorium of City College of 
New York at 23d street a no? Lexing- 
! ton avenue isn't especially suited for 
plays, and haphazard handling of the 
simple props opening night didn't 
help. There is some line acting in 
the Theatres of .AH Nations group 
i composed largely of refugee talent 
with a sprinkling of Broadway 
names), with familiar figures over- 
shadowed by unknowns. Dwight 
Martield, Vilma Kurer, John A. Topa 
and William Malten contribute good 
bits. The veteran team of Albert 
and Else Basserman are satisfactory 
in a drawn-out scene of a couple 
scared to death that their son might 
inform on them, and Clarence Der- 
went. as an hapless Nazi' judge, is 
good after an uncertain start. The 
run was limited to six performances. 

Bron. 



Christmas week at City Center, N. Y 
Mia SIavensl<a. ballerina who has 
been on three tours with an ensem- 
ble for Columbia Concerts, will, how- 
ever,' not tour next season, and is re- 
ported looking for a part in a Broad- 
way musical. 

Of non-dance vaudei s who stepped 
into the concert field the past year, 
the team of Libby Holman and Josh 
White won't tour next season, al- 
though attracting good biz the past 
term. Miss Holman. traveling with 
an unusual overhead of managers, 
special lights, etc.. found expense 
too high to make the venture 
profitable. 



Legit Follow-Up 



"LIFE WITH FATHER" 

(Empire, '<S, Y.) 
- "Lite With Father" is not nearly as 
good a show as it was more than 
five years ago when it opened at the 
Empire theatre in New York. It has 
| lost pace and lacks the apparent 
spontaneity that Howard Lindsay 
and Dorothy Stickney gave to the 
comedy when they originated the 
lead roles of Clarence and Vinnie 
Day. Chalk it up, perhaps, to too 
many east changes. 

The lead pair has changed a num- 
ber of times since the show first 
opened: now they are Wallis Clark 
and Lily Cahitl. The part of Father 
demands a broadly played character- 
ization, but Clark, the film vet, seems 
to be overdoing it somewhat. Miss 
Cahill is quietly restrained as 
Mother. . Kahn. 



SAMUEL FRENCH 

SINCE l«30 

Play Brokers and 
Authors' Representatives 

2.1 Weal 4Ath Street. New Sork 
nil West 7<h Street, Lt» Angrlen 



HOLLAND THEATRE MAN SAFE 

London, May 31.- 
Mack Van Lier, managing director 
Tuschinski's theatres, Holland, has 
written to his friend, Sidney Burns, 
London agent, that after over two 
years in concentration camps in Hol- 
land and Germany, he is now liber- 
ated. 

He's now with the Canadian 
Liberation Army. 



Kaufman's 



Continued from page 1 



30, 



n-Mn> 
i 'la iidla ....... 

David 

Mrs. ttru.ivn . . . 

Berllin 

KYilx. . . .'. 

.Tm-rj .. 

JullH.., . ...... 

Mndtiine Baii-i 



Iheitlre, Huei 



A-lrcx. April | 



. rMhi f Ian-en 

.Knriii'i'' Atvari'V: Dins-dado 
.... . . ... . MilHRniK de tn Vega 

. . .'. . -\Tii i in Kiitsa" l-Vriui tide'-/. 

.Illnii Vltnla 

...... :> . .-. Milliard.! Xiiveifn 

.' Allla Unman 

dlni. . . . . . MaiKai-ila Cnroini 



layed casting, although the same 
conditions prevailed, Myerberg 
points out. when the contract was 
signed. No cast names were ottered, 
he said. Until the July 1 date ex- 
pired. 

Various cables and letters subse- 
quently suggested different names 
for the production, without definite 
signatures (Gertrude Lawrence's 
name was once offered, although' 
Miss Lawrence's manager in New 
York assured Myerberg he knew 
| nothing about it), and Miss Manner- 
ing even asked Myerberg. to ascer- 
tain if Fredric March and Florence 
Eldridge (the Broadway originals), 
were available: Myerberg finally 
answered a July 18 cable on July 
19. repeating he was unable to grant 



it is .encouraging to note ' that | a " extension because the terms had 



George S. Kaufman had in mind 
when he wrote "Hollywood Pina- 
fore"? If so, how much does he think 
they should get? $125,000 for 13 weeks 
is no fortune, no, but it's not bad 
eating money. A man could get by on 
it, anway. People have got less and 
not starved. But seriously, there's 
no question but that George is on 
the right track. Obivously he feels 
that the writer in Hollywood should 
get more dough. He's fighting for 
Bob Sherwood's cause, and Sidney 
Kingsley's, arid possibly Morrie 
Ryskind's, all of whom would un- 
questionably like more dough. Who 
wouldn't? (Among such Hollywood 
writers it is not described as "more 
dough." but "even more dough.") 

As for myself, you could, have 
floored me with a feather when I 
learned that somebody, anybody, 
felt that I was underpaid and under- 
privileged. To tell you the truth, 
that hadn't occurred to me. Could I 
have been blind? But now that I 
think about it. why not? Good luck 
to you. George Kaufman! Success to 
your cause, which I also think of as 
my cause! Fight on, George! We're 

all behind you! Vi. . -_ r . 

• NNtmriHy Johnson, 



translations of U. S. or British plays , 
are becoming quite frequent on the | 
Argentine stage, and this may pro- I 
mote better understanding of Anglo- ' 
Saxon qualities among the Latin 
Americans, Obvious from the start 
that this particular show was like- 
ly- to attract through the interest 
aroused by the Hollywood film pro- 
duction, recently shown here, and 
curiosity over the screen star, Delia 
Garces. in the title part of the legil- 
er. Trie play itself has dubious ap- 
peal for Argentine audiences, accus- 
tomed to less abstract fare. Even at 
the first performance it drew only 
perfunctory applause from a non- 
comprehending public. Hence, it 
was not surprising that this play had 
so short a run. "': 

Delia Garces is new to the legiti- 
mate stage and should understand 
that even if she-is one of the -few in- 
telligent Argentine actresses, as far 
as legit is concerned, stars cannot 
appear overnight. In this stage ver- 
sion of "Claudia" she offered a 
painstaking copy of the film version, 
but marred her performance by an 
unfortunate accentuation of phras- 
ing, intended as childish, but result- 
ing only in annoying coyness. 

Enrique Diosdado. the Spanish ac- 
tor, gave evidence of greater acting 
experience, but his David was a 
morose and irascible version of Rose 
Franken's understanding and human 
character. Milagros de la Vega, as 
Mrs. Brown, was disappointingly cold. 

This was an unusually careful pro- 
duction as far as all other details 
were concerned. But the "play, ex- 
cellent as it may be. was not one 
best suited for Argentine audiences. 

A'id. . 



George Stone returned from Mex- 
ico City to write added music for 
Maxwell Shane's forthcoming legiter, 
"Love Song." 



Burleigh a 2d Looey 

Pittsburgh. June 19. 
Word has just reached here that 
Frederick J. Burleigh, former direc- 
tor of Pittsburgh Playhouse and be- 
fore the war co-owner with Mrs. 
Alexander Dean and director of 
summer South Shore Players at Co- 
hasset. Mass., has been com.mis- 
sioned in the field in the Philippines, 
being upped from sergeant to second 
lieutenant. 



not been lived up to, and a July 25 
cable from^ Miss Mannering ac- 
knowledged* his cable. In August, 
'44, said Myerberg. negotiations were 
started with Olivier, Myerberg sign- 
ing in January, '45. 

Miss Mannering who, according to 
Myerberg, had paid $5,000 advance 
for the original agreement, last fall 
threatened to injunct the Oliviers or 
anybody who put on the play, Hen- 
ley advising Myerberg that he didn't 
think she would sue because she had 
no case at all. Actress also stated 
in a cable to Myerberg she'd ask for 
$10,000 to cover her advance and ex- 
penses, plus a royalty of 2Vx% on 
the Olivier production. 



Mielziher, Williams ~ 
On Dallas Rep Board 

Dallas, June 19. 

Jo Mielziner, the scenic designer, 
and Tennessee Williams, playwright, 
have accepted election to the board 
of trustees of the Dallas Civic Rep- 
ertory Theatre. 

Mielziner was here last Week ad- 
vising on both theatre and sets. Wil- 
liams is making Dallas '•Tiis tem- 
porary headquarters while 'writing 
a new play. 



$500 CATHOLIC PLAY AWARD 

Chicago. June 19. 

Annual award of $500 for a play 
representative of Catholic philoso- 
phy was established last week for 
the National Catholic Theatre Con- 
ference by the Most Rev. Bernard 
J. Sheil. senior auxiliary bishop of 
Chicago, at conclusion of the bien- 
nial convention of the organization 
at Loyola' Community Theatre here. 

A Negro theatre group from 
Richmond. Va.. first Negro Catho- 
lic organization ever to apply t° rt 
membership, was admitted to th c 
conference by unanimous vote. 



CHATTER 



Broadway 

"lean Arthur and her mother east. 
Doc Herb Kalmus, Technicolor 



"Angel 



p j X3 j. Leveiuhal will tour 
sheet" next season. ^ lMU 
u,,<ic Box Canteen, on lower Fifth 
a^nue? celebrated its third birthday 

-George Jess'el's mother seriously 
ill on the Coast. Two nurses in con- 

of William Moms 
agency Coast literary department, in 
town for a month. . . ' . 

Jules C. Stein, MCA prexy, back 
to the Coast Monday with a couple 
days' stopoff in Chi. .■ 

Some theatres didn't get ice for 
cooling plants last Friday (15), and 
audiences sweltered. , , .' • 

Yesterday' (Tuesday), which was 
Eisenhower Day, was also Jimmy 
Walker's 64th birthday. .'; 

'20th-Fox Family Club stages its 
third annual boat trip outing to Bear 
Mountain today (Wed.). . . ' 

Douglas Dick. ex-U. S. Navy, 
signed as lead for John Wildberg 
production, "The Hump " 

The Bob Gillhams at the Hamptons 
for the summer; and the Charlie 
Reagans at Atlantic Beach.' 

Jack (.MCA) Bertell birthday-par- 
tied Anna Sosenko, manager for Hil- 
degarde, at the Monte- Carlo. 

Ida Lupino cocktail particd yes- 
terday (Tues.) at Shercy-Netherland 
prior' to starting eastern hospital 
tour. .. - » ."' 

Paul Dullzell of Equity received 
felicitations from union heads and 
others last Friday U5> .on his 69th 
birthday. , , . 

Allen Joslyn, in town between 
20th-Fox films, will probably do a 
play this fall before going back to 
Hollywood. 

Hildegarde visited the Copacabana 
Sunday night to see Mitzi Green's 
clever .takeoff on the Hotel Plaza 
chaiitooseyi •"' 7' "''"' . '■- ■■ 

Joe Haz.cn "has 'taken -a place at 
Arrowhead for his family, for the 
summer. He's east to pick 'em up 
and move them west. 

• Will Yolen, Warners' director, of 
special events, elected prexy of Pub 
licity Club of N. Y., succeeding Wil 
liam P. Maloney of BBDO. 

Joe Laurie, Jr., emceed bond show 
at Capitol theatre, New London, last 
week, collecting over $10,000 for 
Martin Branner's "Winnie Winkle" 
pix. House raised 150G in all. 

Mrs. George Brown will visit her 
family in the Pennsy Dutch terri 
lory. It's her first trip east in six 
years. The Par studio publicity chief 
returns at the end of the month. 

Cpl. Harvey Stone, Joe Laurie, Jr. 
Fred and Paula Stone, Wesson Bros., 
Balzar Sisters, Orlando Sisters and 
Latin Quarter Girls added to Forest 
Hills Stadium Red Cross benefit Sun 
day night (24). 

Expression of sorrow, in a resolu- 
tion of praise, was tendered John W 
Hicks, Jr., late president of Para- 
mount International, by the foreign 
managers of the Hays office at a 
meeting last week. 

Charles Drury, vet -musical direc 
tor, who batoned pit crews for "Zieg- 
feld Follies," "Scandals" and other 
Broadway musicals, is music director 
for USO-Camp Shows' production of 
"Oklahoma!" overseas. 

Photostatic copies of his marriage 
certificate, mailed out by S. Jay 
Kaufman, who married Florence Vir- 
ginia Aquino June 3 (with Judge 
Ferdinand Pecora officiating) dis- 
closed that the "S" stands for Sil- 
man. 

Howard Smith Pierson, third son 
of H. Wayne Pierson to enlist in the 
Manncs, now boot training at Parris 
Island. Jeff, his elder brother, is 
with the 6lh Marines" at Okifiawa, 
anci Jack, formerly of "Variety," is 
m the Marianas. 

-The heat chased Al Jolson back to 
Hollywood over the weekend, al 
though he came east for the "Rhap 
sody in Blue" premiere. However, 
with H. M. Warner west and J. L. 
■Warner in Europe, he decided to go 
where its cool. Bought a house at 
Santa Monica. 



Andrews and plans to have it re- 
decorated in American style. 

Arts Theatre club revived Nikolay 
Gogol's comedy,' "The Government 
Inspector." Stays until June 24. 

Cicely Courtneidge resting at 
Capri prior to her return to London 
to start rehearsing in new musical. 

Prince Littler has accepted post of 
prez of Variety Artistes Benevolent 
Fund, succeeding the late George 
Black. 

New bill at Victoria Palace has 
Anne Shelton, Rawicz and Landauer, 
Billy Caryll and Hilda Mundy, and 
Leslie Strange. 

Firth Shephard production of 
Father Malachy s Miracle" will fol- 
low "Tomorrow the World" at 
Aid wych theatre. , > 

Bono Colleano, Jr., as result of 
click in Two-Cities Films' "Way to 
the Stars," given longtcrm contract 
by J. Arthur Rank. 

Charlotte Frances to direct Rosa- 
linde Fuller in —Madame Bovary," 
dramatization of Flaubert's novel by 
Constance Cox, for James Lavall. 

Angela Baddeley and Frank Leigh- 
ton' will co-star in "Chicken Every 
Sunday," which Firth Shephard is 
staging at the Savoy to" succeed "The 
Assassin." 

Richard Dolman replaces Cyril 
Ritchard in "Gay Rosalinda" when 
latter withdraws for Noel Coward's 
new musical. "Sigh No More," in 
which he'll co-star with wife, Madge 
Elliott. 

Will Roland back from six weeks' 
vacation in New York and off to 
Germany -to take charge of enter- 
tainment there. Formerly with 
USO-Camp. Shows, Roland is now 
with SHAEF. 



London 



Bebe Daniels, back in town after 
eight years in England. 

Lee Sabirison in town to start re- 
hearsals ! "~on the Arthur Grossman 
legit production,. "Trio." 

Jimmy Wakely and Lee "Lasses" 
White returned from six weeks of 
touring in the Southwest. 

Ward Bond, film actor, suing David 
H. Myerson for damages of $106,200 
as a result of leg injuries sustained 
in an automobile accident last July. 



Chicago 



Sam Clark, talent agent, out of the 
Army. 

Vaughn Monroe's orch succeeds 
Les Brown crew at the" Panther 
room of the Sherman hotel on Fri- 
day (22). . 

■'. M-G-M exchange will hold, annual 
outing at the Lincolnshire Country 
Club on July 28. 

Ben Bartelstein, of Bartelstein The- 
atres, confined at Mt. Sinai hospital, 
following heart attack. 

Ted Lewis' 53rd birthday was cele- 
brated with a party last week at the 
Latin Quarter, given by owner Ralph 
Berger. * 

' Jack Dowling, war correspondent 
on the Chicago Sun, has written a 
play which his father, Eddie Dowl- 
ing, may produfce.. 

BUI Galligan, former -manager of 
the Commercial theatre, appointed 
regimental recreation officer in Ger- 
many, and upped to lieutenancy. 

Jack ' Rose, of the Manta & Rose 
circuit, appointed chairman of the 
amusement division of the Com- 
munity and War Fund for 1945-46. 

Danny Thomas visited local pals 
last week en .route to his home in 
Toledo. After a 10-day vacation he'll 
head back to the Coast and then go 
on a USO overseas trip' to the South 
Pacific. i ;••'." 



Charles Clore takes over London 
Wimo next month. 

Beatrix Lehmann elected prexy of 
British Actors Equity. 

Louis Golding scripting for Mario 
^mpi at Two Cities Films. 
in „v?f ence Desmond off to Germany 
w «itertain the British troops. 



sW, x l?X p a s cal expects to trade- 
SepTe m b^ Csar and C,copatra " in 
thofc t Giel R"d set for a four 

^cteberv v" dia andSEAC area 

AsIS^ 110 " h »s sent out Arthur 
in or a . fCw weeks in vaudeville 
«Hj provinces. 

Winwn s » Crowd" winds up at 
on te»„ G < ard ? n end of Jul y and Socs 
Back Aufiust - 



August. 

Ga*ik"» !?• Lon don, French baritone 
' r,.?. 1 ^"' has landed pic pact 



Wii^'S 11 National. 
Wl » Fyffe takimr o 



Fyffe taking over hotel at St. 



Hollywood 

John Gunther in town on a lecture 
tour. • ' 

Bill Carter to Chicago for legit 
work. 

Lauren Bacall laid up with throat 
trouble. 

Pvt. Donald O'Connor in town on 
furlough. 

Leslie Fenton vacationing at Ar- 
rowhead. 

Don De Fore and family east on 
vacation. 

Bing Crosby returned from a bond 
selling tour. 

Mrs. Spike Jones suing bandleader 
for divorce. 

Constance Bennett divorced Gil- 
bert Roland. 

Irving Rapper returned from Mex- 
ican vacation. 

Bud Watson joined the Everett 
Crosby agency. 

Martha Elba, Cuban film star, in 
town for. tests. .; 
. ■ Tessa. Bl ind changed her film name 
to Vaness Brown. 

Walter Winchell shoves off for 
New York June 26. 

Rick Ricketson in from Denver for 
National Theatres huddles. 

Roger Mitchell, French diplomat, 
hosted by Charles Boyer. 

Murphy McHenry joined Edward 
Small as publicity chief. . 

Sonny Tufts returned from three 
weeks of hospital touring. 

Pat O'Brien and family moved to 
Del Mar for the summer. 

Felix Feist shoves off next week 
to gander Broadway plays. 

Dusty Anderson, screen actress, 
divorced Capt. Charles Mathieu. 

Joan Fontaine drew her final de- 
cree of divorce from Brian Aherne. 

Lillian Kramer shifted from Rus- 
sell Birdwell to Young & Rubicam. 

Pat Phelan. screen actor, gradu- 
ated from' Long Beach High School. 

Ben Kalmenson and Jules Lapidus 
east on a tour of Warners exchanges 
- W. Ray Johnston, Monogram chief, 
returned from four weeks in New 
York. 

Pied Pipers shoved off on a cross- 
country tour, to wind "up in New 
York. ■' ■ 

Lauritz Melchior chief speaker on 
the Danish Independence Day pro 
gram. 

Gilbert Seldes arrived from New 
York to lecture on the future of tele- 
vision. 

Gary Cooper to Tulsa. Okla., to 
preem his picture, "Along, Came 
Jones." 

William Saroyan in an Army hos 
pital at Tacoma, Wash., with a leg 
injury. 

Hollywood Canteen Symphony or 
chestra celebrated its third anni 
versary. 

James Wona Howe entertaining 
Chen Chich, Chinese ambassador to 
Mexico, : 

Joseph ■ von Stei nberg resigned as 
production consultant to David O 
Selznick. 

Edgar Kennedy returned from 
southern tour, of 24 Army and Navy 
hospitals. 

Joan Leslie's fifth anniversary with 
Warners was celebrated with a stu- 
dio party. 

Mary Elizabeth Downing moved 
from 20lh-Fox legal staff to the Nat 
Dcverich agency. 

John J. Jones. Chicago theatre op 
erator. bought the Richard Thorpe 
home in Beverly Hills. 

Lieut. Col. Bon Lyon and his wife 



Pittsburgh 

By Hal Cohen 

Goldie Kunce joining Kathryn 
Duffy line at Glass Hat, N. Y. 

Edith Skinner, of Tech drama fac- 
ulty, will teach a summer course at 
NYU. 

Ferdinand Fillion resigned as 
president of Pittsburgh Drama 
League. '"'"'" 

Red Pringle doubling between Hol- 
lywood Show Bar, and Tommy Car- 

lyn's band. 

Frank Jermia. pianist with Mark 
Lane's band at Villa Madrid, going 
into the Army. 

Ted ..Weems opens week's engage- 
ment at Bill Green's Terrace Gar- 
den on Friday (22). 

Beckley Smiths— he's the WJAS 
newscaster — celebrated silver wed- 
ding anni last week. 

Dave Rubinoff having the old fam- 
ily home remodeled and will move 
his wife and child here. 

Lennie Mann replaced Ken Wil- 
liams as vocalist with Bruce Carl- 
ton's orch at Penn-McKee hotel. 

Mrs. Maurice Spitalny in St, Joe, 
Mo., seeing her son, Lt. Jimmy 
Spitalny, before he goes overseas. 

Robbie Thompson, young son of 
WJAS* Bob Thompson, convalescing 
at West Penn hospital after an op- 
eration. 



OBITUARIES 



Columbus 

* By JLyle Stuart 

Joe Olson readying series of sports 
broadcasts. • " 

Carl Johnson joined announcing 
staff at WBNS. 

Keith Tyler guesting at KOIN Ra- 
dio Institute at Oregon. 

Eddie Rickenbacker expected in 
town for preem of "Captain Eddie" 

"Dugout," local nitery, charged 
with having large quantity of black 
market meat. 

WCOL program director Howard 
Donahoc seeking a farm "on the out- 
skirts of town." 

Martha Jane Babbington subbing 
for WCOL's Carolyn Haught on 
RKO Matinee." 

Lt. George Hoessley, son of WHKC 
station manager Harry Hoessley, 
home after liberation from German 
prison camp. 



Travel Bureaus 



Continued from pate 1 



business." Airline passengers in the 
main are willing to pay more to get 
where they're going. So prices have 
zoomed, and everybody's cleaning 
up. All the "bumped" passengers 
can do is burn against the airlines, 
against themselves, and the "travel 
bureaus." .-. : 



Getting Tougher 

Hollywood, June 19. 
Film folk who travel between New 
York and Hollywood are clue for 
increased transportation headaches; 
starting about Aug. 1 and running 
through next M ai 'ch. Office of De- 
fense Transportation will require 
right of way for troops bound from 
the European front to the Pacific 
battle zones. Film execs and sales- 
men, already restricted, will be more 
so when the new regulations go into 
effect, especially in the areas west, of 
Chicago. Air travel in that zone will 
be practically impossible without 
high priority. 



AMELIE RIVES 

Amelie Rives, 81, author-play- 
wright, in private life, Princess 
Troubetzltoy, died at Charlottesville, 
Va., June 15 after a long illness. As 
Amelie Rives, she won national fame 
in the 1880's as a fiction wrijter. Her 
last work was a play, "The" Young 
Elizabeth," done in 1937. The story 
most closely associated with her was 
"The Quick or' the Dead." .: 
. Three of her plays were produced 
on Broadway. They were "Prince and 
the Pauper," produced at the Booth 
in 1920; "Love-in-a-Mist," at the 
Gaiety in 1926; "Allegiance," written 
in collaboration with Prince Trou- 
betzkoy, at Maxine Elliott's in 1918, 
and "Fear Market,' 'at the Booth in 
1916. 

Survived by two sisters. 



PERCY HASWELL FAWCETT 

Percy Haswell Fawcett, 74, retired 
legit actress and widow of George 
Fawcett, who had been a legit star, 
died at Nantucket, Mass., June 14. 
She had been on the stage for more 
than half a century. ' 

Mrs. Fawcett, whose stage name 
was Percy Haswell, made her debut 
as a child actress in 1885 in "A Night 
Off" at Daly's theatre, N.Y. She 
toured with Otis Skinner in "The 
Honor of the Family .".and also ap- 
peared with E. H. Sothern and J. E. 
Kellerd for several seasons of reper- 
toire. She also played with Maurice 
Chevalier in several pictures, includ- 
ing "Innocents of Paris," 

Her last stage appearance was 
with the Fawcett Players at the 
Wharf theatre, Nantucket, in 1943. 
Survived by a daughter. 



WILLIAM E. MADDEN 

William E. Madden, 64,' former 
theatre manager for the old F. F. 
Proctor Circuit houses and 'others, 
died at Elizabeth, N. J., June 12. He 
had made his home there for a num- 
ber of years. 

When motion pictures were in 
their infancy, Madden is reputed to 
have been the first owner and op- 
erator of a nickelodeon in New Jer- 
sey. He later became aligned with 
the Proctor interests, managing the- 
atres in New York and New Jer- 
sey until taken over by the Keith- 
Albee interests. After that he had 
managed a number of independent 
theatres in New Jersey. 

Survived by four sisters. 



JOHN FLEMING 

John Fleming, 70, vet Shakes- 
pearean actor who appeared on the 
stage of the Bijou and other early 
Chicago theatres, died in Chi re- 
cently. 

Husband of Emma Boulton, also 
professional, who survives, Fleming 
started in show business in vaude, 
praying a comedv tramp-with-fiddle 
act for years on all the major cir- 
cuits. 

He was also with the George 
Roberson and Abe Rosewall stock 
companies, playing in San Francisco, 
Portland, Spokane, Seattle and other 
Coast cities. Last engagement • was 
in the "Dead End" road company in 
1936. 



LT. PAUL THOMPSON 

Lt. Paul Thompson, 27, former 
Hollywood agent, died in action 
April 27 on Okinawa, according to 
word received by his father, David 
Thomas, agent. 

Lt. Thompson had been decorated 
five times for meritorious service in 
the Aleutians and the South Pacific. 



GUS SHY 

Gus Shy, 51, stage and screen 
comedian, died June 15 in Holly- 
wood after a long illness. For more 
than 30 years, Shy was a featured"- 
comic-dancer in Broadway musicals, 
including "Desert Song," "New 
Moon" and "Good News." 
* His work in "Good News" prompt- 
ed the late Irving Thalberg to sign 
him for Metro's film! version of the 
stage show. For the last eight years 
he had been associated with the 
Louis Shurr agency. Burial will be 
in Buffalo, N. Y., his home town. 



ARTHUR NELSON BERRY 

Arthur Nelson Berry, 58, vaude 
and 1 screen actor, 1 died June 12 in 
Hollywood following a long illness. 
In his later years he played char- 
acter roles in pictures. 

Survived by widow, Elizabeth, his 
former vaude partner and now 
screen actress, . and a son, Arthur, 
Jr., a lieutenant in the Navy. 



GEORGE MERLE 

George Merle, .71, composer of 
popular songs and retired Brooklyn 
letter carrier, died last week in 
Brooklyn. He had been a member 
of ASCAP for 31 years. 

Merle composed "Ragtime Dixie 
Band," "Can You Beat?'' "Down in 
My Bungalow" and "I'm on My Way 
to Old Broadway." 



John Hutchins, 45, dramatic coach, 
who handled many film stars, died 
June 14 in N. Y. As dramatic coach, 
he is credited with having helped in- 
struct Cary Grant, Ginger Rogers, 
Lauren Bacall and others of stage 
and screen. • ,;■ 

Mrs. A. Sherman Hitchcock, au- 
thor of the weekly radio program, 
"How to Enter Contests and Win," 
died in Hartford, Conn., June 12. 
Also magazine writer, she had been 
with WTIC since 1940. - 



John Tiggott Turner, 85, father of 
Terry Turner, RKO exploitation de- 
partment head, died June 16 at his 
home in Baltimore. Burial was yes- 
terday (19). 



Mother of Ben Grimm, 87, adver- 
tising manager for RKO-Radio Pic- 
tures, died in N. Y., June 17. 



Mother, 79,- of Harry Green! vaude 
and nitery performer, died in New 
York, 'June 17. 



MARRIAGES 

Carol Gould to Harold Steinman, 
Buffalo, June 12. Bride is a vaude 
singer; groom is producer of "Skat- 
ing Vanities." , 

Donna Reed to Tony Owen, Holly- 
wood, June 15. Bride is screen ac- 
tress; groom is talent agent. 

Judy Garland to Vincente Minnel- 
li, Hollywood, June 15. Bride is 
Metro actress; groom is film director. 

Adelyn Hood to A. J. Phipps, 
Pittsburgh, Jun# 18. Bride is radio 
actress, known as "Aunt Carolyn." 

Dora Lee Panta to Louis Rapp, 
Schenectady, N. Y., June 17. Groom 
is manager of Fabian's Plaza in that 
city. 

Doris Dox to Parker Sherwood, 
Schenectady, N. Y., last . week. 
Groom is manager . of the Strand 
theatre in Schenectady. 

Deanna Durbin to Felix Jackson, 
Las Vegas, Nev., June 13. Bride it 
Universal singing star; groom is pro- 
ducer. 

Carol Bruce to Milton Nathanson. 
Minneapolis, June 17. Bride is mu- 
sicomedy songstress. 

BIRTHS 

> Mr. and Mrs. Scott McKee, son, 
Hollywood, June 12. Mother was 
Margaret Power of the Broadway 
stage; father is legit arid screen ac- 
tor. 

Mr. and Mrs. Chester Schaefer, 
daughter, Hollywood, June 9. Father 
is a film editor at Metro. 

Mr. and Mrs. Carl Nater, daughter, 
Burbank, Cal., June 10.. Father is 
in charge of educational^, at Walt 
Disney Studio. 

Mr. and Mrs. Art Scott, daughter, 
Hollywood, June 12. Father is a 
screen writer. 

Mrs. Charles Springer, son, Pitts- 
burgh, June 11. Mother is the 
former dancer, Peg Layton; father, 
Pitt musician, died a month ago. 

Mr. and Mrs. Phil Laterman, 
daughter, Pittsb4irgh,' June T2:"M6th- 
er is the former Dorothy Rosenberg, 
of radio's Singing trio, Sophisticated 
Ladles. 

*Mr. and Mrs. John North Bleich, 
son, Pittsburgh, June 4. Mother is 
the former Betty Jane Hess, Broad- 
way showgal. ■ ' 

Mr. and Mrs. Reginald Mont- 
gomery, daughter, Los Angeles, 
June 6. Father is a songwriter. . 

Mr. and Mrs. Michael Lash, 
daughter, Hollywood, June 14. 
Father is a film cartoonist. 

Mr. and Mrs. Lldyd Richards, 
daughter, Hollywoou, June 9. 
Father U a unit manager at RKO: 
; Mr. and Mrs. Ted Voightlander, 
daughter, Santa Monica,' June 10. 
Father is lenscr at Metro. . 



New Agency 

Alma Bahlke, elub date booker, 
and Helen Assad, radio actress, have 
formed a Cincinnati talent office, 
tagged Ace Entertainment Service. 

Associated with them will be Tony 
Salamack, former bandleader, who 
will be in charge of the music de- 
partment. 



48 



f/ AfilEfY ■ Wednesday, June 20, 1945. 



w 



Fragrant sweet skin 
wins Romance ! 



"I use my complexion soap for a daily 
beauty bath. Lux Soap has ACTIVE lather." 



When the music changes from swing to soft, you want 
him to draw you closer . . . whisper the thrilling words you 
love to hear. So take this lovely star's advice: "For the 
daintiness that wins romance and holds it, try a Lux Soap 
beauty bath. It leaves skin soft, sweet— perfumed with a 
delicate fragrance that clings!". 



FIGHT 
WASTE 

Soap uses vital war materials. 
Don't waste it 




9 out of 10 Screen Stars use it- 
It's the soap that leaves skin SWEET! 



2 DOWN AND 1 TO GO -- ON TO TOKYO! 

Let's Hit 'Em With War Bonds 



War 




FubllRhed Weekly »t ISt West 40th Street, New York TO, N. T„ by Variety, Inc. Annual subscription, $10. Single copies, 26 cent* 
knitted *• »ccoud-cl»» matter December 22, 1905, at the Post Office at New York, N. Y„ under tb« act of . Uarcli I, 1179. 
COPXIUGHT, 1915, BY VARIETY, INC. ALL RIGHTS RKSFJtVED 



VOL. 159 No. 3 



NEW YORK, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27, 1945 



PRICE 25 CENTS 



PRODUCER-DIRECTOR CRISIS IN PIX 



Bob Shayon, Back from Europe, Tips 
Radio to Sell Peace as Well as Soap 



By ROBERT LEWIS SHAYON 

'At 8:15 p.m. April 22, lour radio 
producer - directors, Tony Leader 
(then NBC), Frank Telford (Y&R), 
Bill Robson and I (CBS), left the 
ATC airfield at Washington, D. C, 
in a C-54 bound -for Newioundland, 
the Azores, Casablanca and Caserta, 
Italy. We each carried a B-4 and 
Musette bag, and we ' wore officer 
uniforms with war-correspondent 
patches. In our wallets were AGO 
cards, which gave us the rank of 
Captain if we should be. captured by 
the enemy. We were, wide-eyed ci- 
vilians on a GI holiday. We were 
brass-conscious and excited as kids. 

. We were bound for an approximate 
30-day tour of the Mediterranean 
Theatre of Operations (the "forgot- 
ten" Italian front) to pick up authen- 
tic background material for war 
programs. We were to eat, sleep, 
talk with GIs, get shot at, find out 
what it's really like to fight a war. 
The trip was the result of two years 
of pleading with War Department 
officials and radio executives. When 
they finally broke down, chiefly 
through the efforts of Ed Byron (Di- 

.'. (Continued on page 24) 

Alien Prop. Custodian 



On Seized German Pix 

Washlngon, June 26. 

The Alien Property Custodian 
called off its scheduled auction of 50 
seized . German and Austrian films 
last week, but, at the same time, 
spokesmen for the agency hit back 
at critics who claimed a flood of 
Nazi propaganda was being un- 
loosed on the country. 

"Our invitation for bids made it 
clear," said one spokesman, "that the 
films would have to be passed on by 
a censorship body appointed by the 
custodian. But critics of the aucti&n 
jumped to the conclusion that be- 
cause the films were German-made, 
they were dangerous. There were 
absolutely no propaganda films in- 
cluded. Most of them were of pre- 
Nazi make." '/ " 

Prank J. McNamara echoed this in 
(Continued on page 27) 

TODD MULLS MUSICAL 
AIR SERIES fOR FAIL 

Mike Todd is mulling an ambitious 
venture into radio programming, for 
Possible fall sponsorship aimed at 
transplanting on the air some of the 
top Broadway musical shows of a 
contemporary and early vintage. 

Idea would be along lines of the 
^BS "Lux Radio Theatre" presenta- 
tion of pix adaptations and the 
WHUcoming U. S. Steel -sponsored 
theatre Guild dramatic shows on 
we Blue, although with a purely 
mustcomedy-operetta format and 
with Todd demilleing the 60-minute 
Program. 



Ken Murray's 'Blackouts' 
Moves Into 4th Year 

Hollywood, June 26. 

Ken Murray's show, which started 
out as "Blackouts of 1942," moved 
into its fourth year and 1,639th per- 
formance yesterday (Monday) at El 
Capitan theatre. Since June 24, 1942, 
it has played to more than 1,800,000 
customers, equaling the population of 
Los Angeles. ." 

More than 75 changes have been 
made in the cast since opening night, 
with Murray and Marie Wilson as 
the only remaining members of the 
original troupe. Miss Wilson has not 
missed a show since opening night. 
In four war loan drives, "Blackouts" 
has sold $7,472,800 in bonds. 



SJ/s $14,000,000 
Confab 'Gross' 



By ARTHUR UNGAR 

San Francisco, June 26. 

Within the last two days, this town 
saw the last act of a play that opened 
nine weeks ago when 46' nations 
gathered to try to form a world se T 
curity organization. And the finale 
was boff stuff. 

The cast had been increased to 50 
nations, and President Harry S. 
Truman came in to emcee the finish. 
A half million people from Frisco 
and environs turned out to greet 
the Chief yesterday (Mon.). Only 
500 were permitted at the airport, 
100 of them newspapermen. 

The . press corps, radiomen, still 
S (Continued on page 55} 

SAGA OF 'CONVERSION/ 
FEMME POET'S SONG 

They say the closer a soldier goes 
to zone of combat, the more mature 
his thoughts become.. By the time 
he's in' actual combat, he's no longer 
a boy, but a full grown man with 
deep religious convictions, some- 
thing the majority have rarely had 
before. 

It's perhaps because of this that 
the poem "Conversion," written by 
a Kansas City pediatrician's assist- 
ant, Frances Angermayer, has had 
ttje widest circulation among our 
fighting men than possibly any other 
similar piece, except the Bible. The 
pdem has now been made into a 
song and in its first 10 days of pub- 
lication has attracted more mail at 
the Bourne offices than any other 
piece they've put out. 
, One aspect of the tune is the fact 
that individuals are reported buying 
as much as 15 copies, presumably 
for distribution to servicemen. 
"Conversion" first appeared in a 
(Continued on page 27) 




EYE LEGIT, 
FOR MANPOWER 



Hollywood is combing the Broad- 
way legitimate theatre ranks and ra- 
dio for producers and directors this 
year. With manpower reserves at a 
low ebb, production department 
execs at several major film com- 
panies report that the dearth of cap- 
able producer's and directors has as- 
sumed critical proportions. 

Ranks of younger men, who would 
normally have been eligible for 
training and development were, of 
course, depleted by the military serv- 
ice demands during the past few war 
years. During this period, also an 
unusually large number of the older, 
established production men have 
gone into independent units. Fur j 
ther, it is pointed out, most of the 
name producers returning to civilian 
life from the- armed services are get- 
ting out on their own instead of going 
back on major lots. .-'.' 

A large proportion of ace man- 
power has thus been lost to some of 
the studios. Most serious loss, it is 
said, is that sustained through the in- 
ability to develop a backlog of 
younger men for the sort of emer- 
gency which has resulted from the 
swing to independent production. 

Several studios have had reps in 
the east in recent months scanning 
lists of possibilities for producer- 
director berths. * 

While story -material and acting 
talent continue high on the list of 
critical studio requirements, the pro- 
ducer-director shortage is currently 
reported the No. 1 headache. 



Teter Pan' Slated As 
B'way Legit Musical 

Los Angeles, June 26. 

Sir James M. Barrie's "Peter Pan," 
once a dramatic starrer for Maude 
Adams, Will be staged here as a 
play with music by Russell Lewis 
and Howard Young, who recently ac- 
quired the rights. 

Piece will be produced in Los An- 
geles, with plans calling for a show- 
ing on Broadway. 



Aid of Picture Industry, like Radio, 
Sought in Plan for 50,000,000 Jobs 



Eisenhower USO Tribute 
.Going to Units Overseas 

USO-Camp Shows was so pleased 
with the unexpected tribute General 
Eisenhower paid it in his Waldorf- 
Astcria, N. V. speech last Tuesday 
(19), that officials are photostating 
the paragraph, and sending it to 
every unit overseas. 

The General said: "There is a 
spiritual side to the soldier's life 
that is often starved. I mean his op- 
portunities for recreation, for feel- 
ing v close to. his home folks. One of 
the ways that that can be helped is 
through entertainment sponsored by 
USO. . They have done magnificent 
work and sent great artists to the 
field that have made the soldier feel 
he was back on Broadway." 



2,000-Seaters 
A Cafe Future? 



Niteries seating 2,000 or more, 
playing name bands and $10,000 
names from Hollywood and radio, - 
and where a couple can be enter- 
tained for a $10-note or less,, are 
being envisioned as the night club 
of the future. 

Such niterjes are being seen by 
operators as having expensively cos- 
tumed book shows, produced with as 
much care as a musical comedy, 
which will be sufficiently attractive 
to bring on the not only top enter- 
tainers, but writers now concentrat- 
ing in other fields, 7 ■.: 

This trend of thought is partially 
the. result of the high salaries cur- 
rent in the nitery field, which many, 
think will continue for some years 
postwar. For the most part, "present 
high salaries are made up in higher 
bills to the patron, but in spots of 
(Continued on page 55) '.'■ 



PW Tbesps in Naziland lived Up To 
Old Tradition, Acted While Starving 



Foodeasies Next? 

Foodeasies are on the way. 

That doesn't mean black mar- 
ket groceries and butchers, but 
more like the Volsteadian speak- 
easies—in short, where you 
can get good red meat any time, 
any day, OPA notwithstanding. 

Anyway, that's the theory of a 
certain group of bonifaces who 
have "eating clubs" in mind, 
memberships paid in advance 
(very fancy), to cater to the 
epicurean. 



•f Typical Yank ingenuity— in build- 
ing a theatre and an acting company 
against terrific odds while a prisoner 
of war in Germany — was displayed 
by Sgt. William H. Snyder, former 
N. Y. commercial photographer, who 
returned home recently after a year 
and-a-half imprisonment in Stalag 
3B, Furstonburg, near Berlin. 

An infantryman, Snyder enlisted 
in '42 and wrote and emceed GI 
shows in camp. Shipped overseas 
ensuing year he was captured at Sa- 
lerno Sept. 13, '43 aiid sent to the 
German camp, to be released a 
(Continued on page 24) 



By NAT KAIIN 

The motion picture industry is be- 
ing asked to join in a concentrated 
effort by industry as a whole in the 
postwar reemployment program. 
War Mobilization and Reconversion 
Director Fred Vinson has been re- 
quested by the Committee for Eco- 
nomic Development to. enlist the aid 
of Hollywood in a .program that 
would employ the use of films as ah 
educational medium with which to 
help cope with the situation of cre- 
ating or re-creating approximately 
50,000,000 postwar jobs. 

The CED is a non-affiliated na- 
tional group of businessmen whose 
only purpose is to provide jobs in 
peacetime. It has fanned out to al- 
most 3,000 communities and counties 
throughout the United States. Paul 
Hoffman, president of the Stude- 
baker .Corp., is its president. 

In asking .the picture field to co- . 
operate in its reemployment pro/ 
gram, the CED is seeking the aid of , 
a second amusement industry me- 
dium. Several weeks ago, in a story • 
carried exclusively in "Variety!" CED 
plans were revealed for a Blue net- 
continued on page 24) 

GI's Burn at Memphis 
Mayor's Mimcrowism' 
Vs. Rochester in film 

"Germany, June. 14. 
Editor "Variety": 

My April 11 issue of "Variety" 
finally caught up to me. a few days 
ago, near Frankfort-am-Main, Ger- 
many, Where I'm busily engaged in 
the popular GI pastime . . ."Swealin* 
out the boat." Oh glancing at the 
front page, my eye was instantly 
drawn to your • article, "Jimcrow 
Nixes Rochester" (in the film "Brew- 
ster's Millions"). To say that it left 
me burning, is putting it mildly! AH 
I needed was an ashtray." Of all the 
asinine, stupid, Hitleristic reasons 
for banning a picture, this one took 
the furMned spittoon! 

Last night, still sizzling over the 
incident, I went to a nearby German 
beerhall that had been converted by 
the American Special Service, into a 
theatre. Yes, you guessed it. The 
film was "Brewster's Millions." Now, 
(Continued on page 27) 



N, Y. WASTA' TO CHI, 
NEW CO. FOR BROADWAY 

Chicago, June 26. 
John Wildberg reported Monday 
(25) that he'd closed a deal with 
James C. Thompson, operator of th« 
Civic theatre, to bring "Anna Lu- 
cast" and the original N. Y. cast into 
the house, now dark, late in Sep- 
tember. 

Producer, stopping over here whil« 
enroute Hollywood to N. Y., said he'i 
readying a second company to con- 
tinue the show on Broadway. 



MISCELLANY 



V&RtEfr 



TPViIm-stlay, June 27., 1915 



C. 6. Cochran's Preview of What He'd 
like to Include in His Film Biog 



By HAYDEN TALBOT 

London, June 19. 

Charles B. Cochran, ankle deep in 
the last half dozen editions of 
••Variety," talked for two straight 
hours today about the picture J. 
Arthur Rank is going to make out 
of His life story. The reason for the 
scattered sheets on the floor' about 
his desk was, according to his own 
admission; because "Variety" had 
him guessing. 

"With Jolo's passing," he said, "1 
took it for granted the X-Ray ap- 
paratus which I always suspected 
he used to see through closed doors 
and soundproof walls, and so got 
beats which ordinary show business 
sleuths missed, was kaput for the 
time beiriS, anyhow. Biit breaking 
this story shows "Variety" is still 
very much on the job in London. 
As has happened so often in the past 
and as, I suppose, will go on. happen- 
ing in the future, Fleet Street scribes 
have got their first Upon to a live 
news story -through the columns of 
a show rag published in New York. 

"In the main the "Variety" story 
is correct — hut my end won't be 
anything like the figure quoted. A 
little matter of income tax was over- 
looked in that cabled account. But 



and Pollock were concerned the 
mere fact of my asking when to 
cable the money was good enough. 
And between them they managed to 
convince Arnold Rothstein I was a 
man of my word—and Rothstein 
kicked through with the money. 

"It seems to me this will" rttake a 
grand sequence — with me '. utterly 
bewildered on this side of the water 
and a grand trio of sports on New 
York gambling on my word .being 
as good as cash; \ 

"My experiences in Hollywood are 
rich in film possibilities— especially 
when Louella Parsons and her bus 
band took me to the Friday night 
fights at the American Legion .Sta- 
dium — and tried to explain the finer 
points of the game to me. When old 
Frank Moran spotted me, oldtime 
fighters just popped lip out of the 
ground and fairly swept me off my 
feet. Big Ed Kennedy and Leach 
Cross and a dozen other oldtimers 
flocked around me, and the next 
thing I 'knew they had .me. in a 
saloon up the street drinking my 
health. This so impressed Louella 
she wrote a piece in her column an- 
nouncing Arthur <!) B. Cochrain 
(that's how she spelt it) as the big 




♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦»«♦♦>♦♦♦♦♦♦ ♦♦♦♦♦♦ ♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦ ♦♦♦♦♦ 



SCULLY'S SCRAPBOOK 



, shot money man behind British 
frankly I need the money, and have | Mms 



158th WEEK ! 
KEN MURRAY'S 

"BLACKOUTS OF 1945" 
El Capitan Theatre, Hollywood, Cal. 

v K.eep >m ImiBMrig, Kth — one 
good year deserves niioiher.'.' 

JACK OAKIE. 



no objections to admitting it. Which 
reminds me of other days when— 
twice— I turned down offers for the 
film rights to my life story. The 
first time was when I was in New 



End It At 50 

"As I am to have the final say in 
the making of the picture I mean to 
insist on cutting it short— as regards 
my career. Unlike Cagney's inter- 



York shortly after publication of r etation o£ Geol .g e M . Cohan, and 
my first book 'Secrets^of a Show- ^ c , ing through of Flo Ziegfeld 
man. Bob Rubin of MGM made me the buler end _ ]ike the final 
a swell offer, but I turned it down [ tsges q( (he W oodrow Wilson pic- 
Mickey Bal- 1 tui . e _ my idea is to bow out in my 
(.Continued on page 27) 



CAPT. GENE MARKEY OK 
FOLLOWING OP IN D. C. 

Washington, June 26. 

Capt: Gene Markey., head of "the 
Navy Pictorial Services, underwent 
an abdominal operation this past 
weekend at the. Naval Hospital at 
Bethesda, near here. His condition 
is reported good. 

Markey has been in the hospital 
for some days as the result of a 
tropical ailment picked up while he 
was in the Far East for the Navy. 



flat. Later, in London, 
coil made me an equally templing | 
• offer — after the appearance of my 
second .book, 'I Had Almost For- 
gotten.' I said ho to him, too. 

"The reason was the same in both 
cases. The thought of seeing myself 
on the screen embarrassed me too 
much. I had told them both it would 
be okay with me if they could make 
the picture without including me in 
the cast of characters. But they said 
it was unthinkable. And not being 
hard pressed for cash at the time I 
stood my ground. Now, of course, 
things are different. 

It's Happened Before 
"Get me right. It wouldn't have 
embarrassed me in the slightest to 
figure in sequences showing me 
broke to the wide. Everybody in 
show business knows it's happened 
to me plenty of times. But it has 
always been my own money I've 
lost— or when it's been a borrowed 
bankroll I've paid back the lender. 
Ahd this reminds me. 

"Besides having appeared with 
Richard Mansfield on the stage in 
New York, I worked as a single in 
Tony Pastor's Niblo's Garden before 
getting the stagestruck bug out of 
my system and deciding to horn in 
on the business end of showdom. 
Beginning that phase of my career 
ahead of P. T, Barnum's circus- 
plastering 24-sheets on country barns 
— 1 wound up running a xircus of 
my own. And this is by no means 
the only part of the autobiographical 
picture which will have America for 
its locale. 

''There was the time back in the 
winter of 1913-14 when Harry Pol- 
lock had persuaded Willie Ritchie to 
fight anywhere in the world in de- 
fense-^ rris^Tght'weight title — if any 
mug silly enough to lay $25,000 on 
the. line for his' end; ;win, lose or 
draw, could be found. Now in those 
days 25 grand, even for a heavy- 
weight fight, was a lot of dough. 
But, convinced I was on a good 
thing, I cabled Pollock' I'd pay 
Ritchie his terms for a fight in Lon- 
don against Freddie Welsh. You see, 
Welsh had already to fight for noth- 
ing—to get a crack at the title. • 

Quick Action 

"In my cable I asked Pollock to 
let me know where I was to send 
the money to, but I waited a week 
without a reply. When I cabled 
again the answer staggered me. Pol- 
lock said the money had already 
been put up in New York and he^ 
and Ritchie and George Considine 
were sailing for London , the next 
day. It was one of those things no- 
body could be expected to figure out. 
I had sent no money, but there it 
was — in New York. 

"When (he party arrived here Pol- 
lock explained what had happened. 
It seems Ritchie, suspicious and im- 
patient, demanded to see the cash 
with his own eyes — and quick. So 
Considine asked him if tomorrow 
morning at his bank would be 
quick enqugh. When Willie agreed, 
Considine got busy. .So far ' us he 



A.&C.4-WK.VAUDET0UR 
TO AID CHARITY FUND 

Abbott and Costello have added 
the Steel Pier, Atlantic City, to their 
vaude tour, making a total of four 
dates they will play prior to return- 
ing to the Coast to resume pic 
work. Pier date is for three days 
starting Aug. 10. Comics will start 
at the Roxy theatre. N. Y., July 3 for 
three weeks and then the Hippo- 
drome. Baltimore. July 26, and fol- 
low with the Ea'rle, Philadelphia, 
Aug. 3, 

Proceeds of tour— will gO" to the 
Lou Costello. Jr.. Foundation, a chil- 
dren's fund being started by Costello 
in memory of his late son. 



New H'wood Fleshscraper 

Hollywood, June 26. 
New six-story home for agents 
and advertising outfits will be 
erected'at Vine and Selma streets, in 
the heart of the radio district, on a 
site recently acquired by Dave 
Covey. 

Construction will start as soon as 
building materials are available. 



Ingrid Bergman Shoves Off 
To Join Benny Overseas 

Ingrid Bergman left Monday (25) 
by plane for Europe to join the Jack 
Benny unit touring the ETO. 
Actress was held back by • sore 
throat in N. Y. last week when unit 
flew over. Benny unit now includes 
Larry Adler, Martha Tilton, Con- 
stance Dowling and Dave LeWinter 
as well. 

Film, actress, in addition to mak- 
ing p.a.'s with Benny and in a com- 
edy routine, reportedly will try out 
a 15-minute version of Maxwell An- 
derson's new play "A Girl from 
Lorraine" which the Playwrights 
Co. plan for Broadway in the fall, 
with Miss Bergman and Raymond 
Massey starred. 

Bob Hope and Jerry •Cplonna left 
N. Y. yesterday (Tues.) for Europe 
to tour Army bases and hospitals. 
Unit also contains Gale Robbins, 
Patli Thomas. James Brunan,- Ruth 
Dennas, Jack Pepper and Roger 
Price. 



By Frank Scully * » 

"... - . ' Garlic Point, June 23. 

Observing that General Hap Arnold had' gone to the French Riviera for 
further convalescence, I got to thinking how show people pointed the way 
for him. For they discovered the place as a summer resort. It fitted into 
their layoff season. Old wrecks, dowagers, retifed colonels and motheaten 
royally had been using the place for generations as a winter resort. But 
they usually went home after Easter, leaving the whole coast free for the 
summer. \ 

So youth and gaiety moved in and. because the weather remained warm 
from May to October, bathing trunks and espadrilles became the order of 
the night as well as day. No fog came in with the tide. Why? No tide.. 
A sirocco blew gently oft the African coast every day and fluttered among 
the bright colored awniiigs, sunshades, and shorts. Playwrights went there 
to write plays, stars to rehearse them, critics to preview them. ", ... 

While paging through the private lite of Gertrude Lawrence, due for a 
sneakview under the title of "A Star Dances" in the July issue or Ladies 
Home Journal, I- came across the inside story of "Private Lives." It gave 
me a shock to discover that it all happened in 1930 when we were prac- 
tically neighbors on the Riviera. \ - 

Noel Coward had written the play in Burma between Burma sbayes lor 
his old playmate of Miss Italia Contin's dancing class. After reading the 
script Mile. Lawrence,, who usually was long on wires, tried to economize 
for a novelty, and cabled: "Play delightful stop nothing wrong that can t 
be fixed." 

What she claimed she meant was that she was sure she could free her- 
self from a contract with Andre Chariot to play the part, but Coward 
assumed she thought she was being hired as a script writer and by the 
time he caught up 'With her. on the Riviera he was still burning with a 
steady blue flame. 

Miss Lawrence and Helen Downes had Captain Molyneux's villa on Cap 
D'Ail. Besides Playwright Coward, the villa's guests were Will Powell, 
the Hollywood thin man, and G. B. Stern, the lady novelist, who wrote 
"The Matriarch." Each day the playwright and his femme lead rear- 
ranged the furniture and rehearsed "Private Lives," while the guests wan- 
dered in and out carrying tall, cool drinks and hardly noticing that the 
leading lady was busting phonograph records over the actor's head with a 
zeal*people reserve for authentic feuds. 

Some scenes seemed routine for the Riviera, but they looked pretty 
blue when viewed later in the Lord Chamberlain's corner of St. James' 
Palace. Coward, the Chill of London back in his bones, underacted them 
and got by the'eensor. 

I caught the play at the brand new Phoenix theatre in Charing Cross 
road. It was presented by C.C.L. Not until reading "A Star Danced'' did 
I learn that C.C.L. had nothing to do with Chariot but stood for Cochran, 
Coward, and Lawrence. Clever people, those Chariot russes. 



Bellamys Divorcing 

Katherine (Mrs. Ralph) Bellamy 
has gone to Reno to divorce her 
actor-husband. It's their second re- 
conciliation attempt. 
r They have an adopted son, around 
7, and he has a daughter, 16, by a 
previous marriage. 



Hargrove Finally Gets 
High School Diploma 

Raleigh, N. C, June 26. 
One student will receive a. diploma 
at Central High School, Charlotte, 
N. C, and he didn't attend a single 
class all year. The student is none 
other than Charlotte's Sgt. Marion 
Hargrove, author of "See Here, Pri- 
vate Hargrove!" formerly a member 
of the staff of the Charlotte IN. C.) 
News. 

Hargrove attended Central High 
school but never got his diploma. 
Dr. E..H. Garinger, principal, agreed 
to award him a diploma on the basis 
of his story. 



Postwar Show Biz Major Topic At 
TwfrDayl^^ 



Present-day problems in the enter- 
tainment field and" their effect on the 
post-war setup held the limelight at 
last week's two-day parley (22-23) of 
the Independent Citizens Committee 
of the Arts. Sciences and Professions 
at the Waldorf-Astoria, N. Y. Prom- 
inent figures in legit, films, and radio 
• see separate story for last-named) 
bounded off at -panel discussions, 
pointing out present dangers and 
giving suggestions. for future expan- 
sion in their respective fields. 

Walter Greaza of Equity showed 
that even in a boom lime like the 
past season only 35% of available 
manpower in legit was employed. Of 
1,400 members in the stagehands 
union, 1.000 worked this season; of 
350 designers, 167 were employed: of 
536 agents and managers, 356 had 
jobs. About 2.000 actors out of 9,000 
available had work in the 85 pro- 
ductions staged. Citing their \va;'es 
as against idle weeks, Greaza con- 



cluded that more people yearly are 
leaving the profession for more se^ 
cure fields. The coming postwar 
slack calls for some .quick, deep 
thinking, he said. The theatre ought 
to be a vital and essential part of 
American life, he stated, but it isn't. 

Margaret Webster, also indicating 
that the theatre was shrinking while 
ironically enough a theatre audi- 
was growing, suggested that a series 
of City centers be established 
throughout the country, with. New 
York's City Center as a model. Each 
center would maintain a resident 
company, with groups visiting each 
other's town, to insure steady em- 
ployment as well as sufficient audi- 
ences. 

On the film front, a speech by 
Theodore Strauss, Coast scripter, 
pointed out that , the world citizen- 
ship . responsibility assumed by 
Hollywood. with the war must carry 
over to peace times. 



Woollcotl and Frank Harris V> 

Another by-product with a Riviera footnote resulted from reading about 
that unsolved acrostic billed by Samuel Hopkins Adams as "A. Woollcotl,." 
One of the mysteries of show business (.there must be others) is how a guy 
could be habitually low man in "Variety's" legit critics' boxscore and climb 
higher with each wrong guess. Woqllcott was the Algonquintessence of 
this phenomenon. 

I first met the original Smart Alec at the other end of the Riviera from 
Cap D'Ail. That was Cap D'Antibes. He had' just dissolved a literary 
partnership with the old "World," which was netting him 12 G's a year, 
and had rented a villa at least as swank as Capt. Molyneux. But instead 
of William Powell and G. B. Stern, his guests were Harpo Marx and Ruth 
Gordon. 

Woollcott seemed to be rolling in dough and it occurred to me at the 
time that if I only could guess wrong more often maybe I too could be 
mistaken for a son-of-a-banker. 

In contrast to Woollcott's luxurious layoff, G. Barnum Shaw was putting 
up a few doors away in what amounted, by contrast, to a well ventilated 
chicken "coop. It was a third class hotel. Shaw, too, had been a dramatic - 
critic in his day. There was no one to keep a boxscore in London in the 
90's, but opinion which has survived the 1917 and 1944 blitzes rates Shaw 
as a very good critic. It was Frank Harris who took him away from art 
galleries and concert halls and put Shaw to catching shows. What's more, 
he raised him from $15 to $50 a week. It was the turning point of Shaw's 
career. From catching he turned to pitching and 1 pitched himself into the 1 
millions. 

For- Shaw to be forced nevertheless to count his shillings when on a 
holiday,, while dramatic critics from America rolled around in dough: was 
a headshaker for the old boy. Of course, the difference was taxes.: In his 
book Sam Adams passes into aisle seats the legend that Woollcott quite 
literally lived off his friends, and limited 1 his circle of acquaintances to 
those who would make reasonably readable New Yorker profiles. At first 
I was disposed to doubt that even here Woollcott batted 1,000. Then I ' 
recalled how I, a lowly mugg, was invited to come over from Nice to Cap 
D'Antibes for lunch with him and how I soon found myself etlchered into 
the role of liaison officer between Woollcott and Frank Harris. It was my 
task to arrange a luncheon between Woollcott and Harris. Ruth Gordon 
came along too. At the end of the luncheon Woollcott said he'd like a set 
of Harris's biography of Oscar" Wilde autographed for a friend. The friend 
was Harpo Marx, who had two other books to his name. Woollcott had 
to spell out the name. The Marxes, as far as Harris was concerned, had 
stopped at Karl. . 

"How much will it be?" Woollcott asked, more as a formality than any- 
thing else. - : . ,>,. . .:. 
I stuck in my Irish* oar and said, "200 francs." , 
I said it because I knew Harris needed- the money and Was in a woozy, 
terminal state and quite prepared to give his books to anybody who showed 
the slightest interest in his writings. In fact he would meet mortal ene- 
mies on the Promenade des Anglais and buttonhole them before they could 
escape. His fading memory had completely blotted out the war which had 
split them apart. He would invite them to luncheon next day and load 
them with his books on parting. 

So when Woollcott asked, "How much?" and expected a gift, I butted in. 
After all, Harpo could pay, and Woollcott had been rolling out so many 
1,000 franc notes it was getting tiresome. So I decided he should honor 
an author in the best way it is possible to honor one, by buying- his books. 

But the insiders who cased Woollcott as a guy who would 1 ripen tony 
love or hate into a magazine article were right. Throwing all accuracy to 
the winds, he worked this little luncheon into a whole page for the N sw 
Yorker, giving old Harris a bad notice that really burned. He had Han-is 
down to peddling his. books as Ike Meltzer peddled papers 'outside the 
American Express office. - What' Harris would have done to Woollcott if his 
mind were alert enough to have caught the insult, I can well imagine. A"- 
bantam with a beautiful overhand. right, he'd have slugged Woollcott right 
back under the freshman benches of Hamilton college — which is at Clinton,' 
N. Y„ just outside Utica, for, those who have always wondered. Utica.' 
The Century goes-through there awful fast, - .<;■ 



Bea Lillie Joins W 
Radio Troupe Overseas 

Beatrice Lillie lett by plane for 
Europe last Friday (22), to join up 
with the '•'Information Please" 



troupe for a tour of Fiance and 
Germany under USO-Camp Shows 
auspices until Aug. 15. 

Comedienne, will then return to 
London for short holiday and go out 
to China-Burma-India to entertain 
under ENS A. auspices (British 
equivalent of Camp Shows). • 



Wednesday, June 27, 1945 



PICTURES 



s 



PK BALANCE OF PO WER TO PROD. 

Rank Yens U.S. Theatre Outlets, 
Distrib Setup; 0.0. Showcase Deal 



Lasky Win Hook Up Where He Can 
nrow Stars; Dicker for 'Bloomer 



n 



Jesse L. Lasky plans to set releas- 
ing deals for future product with 
any studio which has the stars 
and agrees to make them available 
to him for those stories which he is 
lining up. 

Lasky currently has a one-picture 
commitment with RKO and, though 
this may be extended after he com- 
pletes his first picture late next fall 
or early winter, he told "Variety" 
that he will negotiate only where he 
can secure the best casting. (Lasky 
has John Wayne on loan from RKO 
for his first. He signed Claudette 
Colbert, independently of any stu- 
dio, for the same production.) 

Lasky is dickering for the screen 
rights to "Bloomer Girl," musical in 
which Metro has a minor financial: 
interest. It is understood that Lasky 
is prepared to negotiate for the 
screen rights. to the property on a 
percentage basis, a type of arrange- 
ment which Metro has thus far re- 
fused to enter into as a matter of 
company policy. 

In addition to "Bloomer Girl," 
Lasky is dickering for several other 
story properties. He came east to 
close deals, where possible, and to 
attend the preem of "Rhapsody in 
Blue" (which he produced for War- 
ners), at the Hollywood theatre, 
N. Y., last night (Tues.). 

LeRoy Joins Lasky 

Hollywood, June "26. 

Mervyn LeRoy will function as 
director and co-producer on "Thanks, 
God, I'll Take It From Here," co- 
starring Claudette Colbert and John 
Wayne, and slated for RKO release 
under the banner of Jesse L.. Lasky - 
Mervyn LeRoy Productions, Walter 
McEwen, Lasky 's partner, will con- 
tinue as an associate. 

LeRoy is under contract to direct 
"The Robe" for Prank Ross, but the 
filming of that picture will be pushed 
back to late December. Until that 
time, LeRoy will be off the Ross sal- 
ary list. 



Travel to B.O. Only? 

Exhibitors this summer expect 
to get another hot weather busi- 
ness break because rail travel 
will become so difficult that 
usual summer vacations may 
have to be abandoned. 



RKO Extends Its 
B.R. for Indies 

RKO is continuing to buy heavily 
into independent production units via 
studio-distribution percentage deals 
which also provide for some financ- 
ing by the company. 

Latest of the; percentage deals, 
with RKO providing studio facilities 
and putting up end money, is with 
Jesse L. Lasky, who is scheduled to 
start shooting in the fall. 

Among other important produc- 
tion-distribution deals of a similar 
kind are those with Eddie Cantor, 
who is slated to start rolling in the 
fall; "The Bells of St. Mary's" 
(Rainbow); and "The Robe" (Frank 
Ross), which Mervyn LeBoy is to di- 
rect. . • 

RKO administration, in this way, 
figures to get around the difficult 
producer-director, talent and story 
shortages while cutting in on a mar- 
gin of profits from outside product 
in addition to distribution fees, ■ 



HARRY SHERMAN LOOKS 
SET TO RELEASE VIA UA 

Harry Sherman is set to close a 
releasing deal shortly with United 
Artists for one or more features 
which he has lined up for production 
at his California Studios. Understood 
that Sherman rjas completed financ- 
ing arrangements and plans to go 
into production as soon as distribu- 
tion dear is finalized. , 

Sherman, who has been dickering 
fo^an outlet for some time, has un- 
til recently been stymied by the raw 
film situation. With indications that 
raw stock supplies will be made 
available, Sherman's deal with UA 
»s scheduled to be inked shortly. 

Resumption of the "Hopalong 
Cassidy" westerns, which Sherman 
formerly released through Para- 
mount, remains Indefinite as result 
of differences which have arisen be- 
tween the producer and Bill Boyd, 
who starred. 



Rep, Cantinf las Deal? 
What's Buzzin', Cousin? 

„ Hollywood, June 26, 

Cantinflas, top Mexican comic, who 
gently pulled out of a deal with 
HKO, may hook up with Republic 
tor one or more films to be produced 
oy that company in Mexico City. 

Tito Guizar, Republic contractee, 
nas an ambition; to turn producer 
aw uoVnegotiating with Herbert J. 
rates for the job of handling one or 
wo -of, the company's Mexican pro- 
auctions. Cantinflas and Guizar are 
(•ousins and are reported willing to 
;.«'<•* together. 



s «egel Vice Sistrom On 
Berlin Pic, Latter's Rest 

. „ Hollywood, June 26. 

l*~ amount named Sol C. Siegel to 
atiT T J °seph Sistrom as producer 
Skie Vi " e Picture, "Blue 

res S J strom 'js checking, out for a long 
est - "nder doctor's orders. 



PTA BEEF ON MLINGER' 
AND 'FLAME' IN ALBANY 

Albany, June 26. 

A protest to Police Chief Phillip 
Coffey by Mrs: Joseph F. Coffee, dis- 
trict chairman of the Parent-Teach- 
ers Association and new president of 
the Albany Mothers' Club, against 
the admission of children to "Dil- 
linger" at Warners' Ritz, and of 
"Flame of Barbary Coast," at Fabi- 
the chief, resulted in- a pledge by 
the Chief that he would station of- 
ficers at both theatres to prevent 
kids from going through the gates 
unescorted. Chief Coffey notified 
the managements of the complaint. 

Tbey were quoted as stating that 
it was not their policy to admit 
children alone during school hour 
days and in the evening. 




Balabans Bretton Woods 
Luncheon, in Absentia 

Barney Balaban, president of Para 
mount, will be among sponsors of a 
luncheon to be tendered 10 leading 
Congressmen tomorrow (28) by the 
Business & Industry Committee for 
Bretton Woods, Inc., but Will not be 
able to attend due to absence in Eu 
rope. As a member of thS advisory 
board of the committee, the Par 
president is among those_in various 
fields who will pay tribute via the 
•luncheon to the 10 members of the 
House Banking & Currency 'Commit- 
tee for their efforts in winning over- 
whelming non-partisan House ap 
proval for the Bretton Woods legis 
lation. 

The Bretton Woods committee has 
issued a report, "The Motion Picture 
Industry and Bretton Woods," out- 
lining the stakes of the industry "in 
the stability , of international ex- 
change rates, in the expansion of 
world trade and in the opportunity to 
make investments abroad without 
fear that earnings will be blocked 
; , .. or that investors will receive 
little gain from their, capital." 

20th-Fox Mogul* West 

SpyroS Skouras, 20th-Fox prexy: 
Joseph M. Schenck, executive head of 
production, and Murray Silverstonc, 
20th-Fox International Corp. presi- 
dent, left New York for the Coast 
over the past weekend to gander 
new product. 

Otto Bolle, of the International de- 
partment, accompanied. Mike Todd 
also joineU the party. 



VIA OWN DISTRIB 

Balance of power within the mo- 
tion picture industry, which has re- 
cently been swinging . slightly in fa- 
vor of production as against distri- 
bution or financial interests, appears 
likely to veer still further in that 
direction during the reconstruction 
era. ' 

Indications are that frontline film 
producers will emerge a more domi- 
nant force as a result of postwar 
producer - distributor realignments 
currently in the making. 

, Conditions now point to consum- 
mation of the objective of several 
leading producers who have long 
been planning to control their own 
sales forces. Premium on produc- 
tion ability is evidenced in the anx- 
iety on this score at some of the 
major studios. 

Plans for new distribution organ- 
izations and new producer-distribu- 
tor groupings (previously reported 
in "Variety", as a probable postwar 
development) are keeping pace with 
and being constantly re-surveyed in 
relation to gradual release of man- 
power from war industries' tind an 
anticipated increase. in availability of 
supplies, particularly raw film. 

At least five new releasing groups 
are currently in the planning Stages, 
although some of these are of limit- 
ed potentials.. due to lack of promi- 
nent leadership. 

How They Stack Up; 

Among most prominent units look- 
ing to control of their own distribu- 
tion are: 

1. International Pictures (William 
Goetz-Leo Spitz). Deal for a hook- 
up with RKO, a la 20th Century- 
Fox, at one time a possibility, now 
looks cold. Spitz-Goetz, with ample 
finances at their disposal, have long 
had a distribution organization of 
their own in mind. 

2. Selznick International. David 
O. Selznick, with chances of secur- 
ing a dominant position within 
United Artists obscure (both Mary 
Pickford and Charles -Chaplin re- 
main unwilling to dispose of their 
holdings X has been angling for his 
own distribution organization. . As 
first reported in "Variety" he was 
considering use of the Ross Federal 
(checking service) offices as a nu- 
cleus for physical distribution, but 
later dropped this plan. 

3. J. Arthur Rank. Reports per- 
sist - of affiliation with U. S. pro- 
ducers in a new distribution setup. 
Samuel Goldwyn, David O. Selznick 
and others have been in contact with 
the Rank interests. 

4. Samuel Goldwyn, in affiliation 
with some other unit. 

,5. One or two independent exhib- 
itor groups. 

There, is, of course, possibility that 
Rank may consider a tieup with the 
Goetz-Spitz unit, although he did 
not meet either of these principals 
while in N. Y. or previously. 

Apparently in line with possibility 
that such producers as International 
Pictures, Samuel Goldwyn and pos- 
sibly Walt Disney will swing to 
other releasing arrangements, RKO 
-is- planning to. increase, its.own, film 
output. 

With some 20 important independ- 
ent production units, in addition to 
many others of lesser importance, 
established, many - » variations and 
alignments are expected wherein 
the producer influence will domi- 
nate. 



New Gold Rush 

Hollywood, June 26. 
There is a second gold rush 
out here, but this time it's in 
gold stocks instead of gold nug- 
gets. Stars and other citizens 
are buying up gold stocks, most 
of them selling for pennies and 
shooting up, because the Gov- 
ernment : has lifted the gold min- 
. ing ban. 



Tax Plan Break 
For All Show Biz 



Washington, June 26. 

Bureau of Internal Revenue last 
week authorized a plan under which 
businessmen can obtain advance as- 
surance for a period of five years on 
the treatment of their depreciation 
deductions for purposes of the in- 
come tax and excess profits tax. 

Plan is expected to be helpful to 
show biz, particularly pix and ra- 
dio. . . 

A business man who wants to ob- 
tain such an agreement is requested 
to consult the Internal Revenue 
agent-in-charge in the district in 
which he files returns. 

"This," explained Commissioner 
Joseph D. Nurian, Jr., "is another 
of our steps to make the application 
of the tax laws more definite and 
certain and at the same time to be 
of all possible assistance to business- 
men insofar as the statutes and regu- 
lations permit. 

"The new plan makes it possible 
for a businessman to get written 
assurance that the specific rates mu- 
tually agreed upon by him and the 
bureau will not be disturbed for at 
least five years, except on his own 
request." ,, . 



-f J. Arthur Rank interests are seri- 
ous about the acquisition of show- 
case theatres in strategic locations 
in key cities in various parts of the 
U. S., beginning with New York, 
according to informed sources. This 
has previously been denied by Rank. 
He may lend-lease houses, on an in- 
terim basis, pending acquisition of 
4h©7-type-of-4heatr-es-which the Rank 
organization considers most suitable. 
Theatre interests in N. Y. have been 
approached by Rank reps. 

Rank, as previously indicated in 
"Variety," has been considering plans 
for distribution and exhibition in the 
United States. Whether he steps in 
on the extensive scale called for will 
depend .on the type of deals offered. 
He may hot close deals, except pos- 
sibly for one or two theatre outlets, 
Until several months after he re- 
turns to England. ■'. ' 

Rank, from accounts, has been ap- 
prised of problems confronting non- 
theatre owning film producers in the 
U. S. Rank, of course, has the ad- 
vantage of controlling exhibition 
outlets in Great Britain, a territory 
which represents around . 50% of 
total foreign rentals for American 
films.. This position in England would 
facilitate representation for Rank's 
films here to some extent. 

Problem of raising U. S. dollar 
funds to establish a substantial foot- 
hold for his enterprises in America 
is not likely to prove as difficult now 
as it appeared a year ago. . British 
government controls use of fund? ac- 
cruing to British subjects in foreign 
countries, but since British films are 
now regarded as the standard-bearer 
for British goods abroad, any plan 
to expand exhibition of British films 
•;' (Continued on page 27) 



New 'Walk' Outlet Sought 

Hollywood, June 26. 

Lewis Milestone is hunting a new 
release outlet for his Superior pro- 
duction, "Walk in the Sun," follow- 
ing the collapse of negotiations for a 
distribution deal with 20th-Fox, 

Understood the percentage asked 
by 20th-Fox was too high to suit 
Superior. :'■ 



DE SYLVA MUCH BETTER 

Hollywood, June 26. 

B. G. de Sylva's condition shows 
marked improvement in the past 
three or four days. 

Producer, however. Is not ex- 
pected to leave the hospital for at 
least another three weeks. 



SAGA OF AL SCHMID 
TO PREEM IN PHILLY 

Philadelphia, June 26. 

"Pride of the Marines," Warners' 
filrriization- of the life of Al Schmid, 
Philly's blinded hero of Guadalcanal, 
will have its world premiere at the 
Mastbaum here Aug. 9. 

Odd twist to.- opening will be the 
fact that Capt. Everett Callow, who 
as head of local Marine public rela- 
tions office helped in the production 
of the picture, will help promote and 
publicize the preem as head of ex- 
ploitation department of Warner 
theatres. Callow recently received 
an honorable discharge from* the 
Marines and returned to his old post 
with the Warner outfit. 

Many of the scenes in the film 
were shot here last winter. 



Picket Line-Breaking 
Thesps' Names Listed 

Hollywood, June 26. 

Strategy committee of the Confer- 
ence of Studio Unions in the motion 
picture strike sent out the first list of 
players who have crossed the picket 
lines during the walkout. List con- 
taining 16 names was mailed to, 9,600 
union locals throughout the country. 
Further lists will be sent out from 
time to time to keep locals acquaint- 
ed with picket violations. .' > 

Committee declared locals in all 
parts of the land are sending letters 
approving the boycott, and in many 
cases making voluntary contributions 
to the strike fund. 



>'.; Riskin Rolling 

Robert Riskin has taken office in 
the California Studios (Harry Sher- 
man) and is preparing his first pro- 
duction since resigning as chief of 
the Overseas Bureau of the Motion 
Picture Division of the Office of War 
Information, 

. Riskin is. lining up his independ- 
ent organization. 



WARNER, ZANUCK MAY 
STAY ON IN EUROPE 

Jack L. Warner may go to Moscow 
and extend his stay abroad about a 
month beyond the period of the film 
industry junket, - 

Darryl Zanuck, planning some 
pictures for German consumption, 
from the American viewpoint, plans 
doing likewise. He has expressed 
opposition to the proposed U. S. 
Government ban on film entertain- 
ment for the' Germans, 




Trad* Mark Registered 
POUNDED BY SIMB SILVERMAN 
Published Weekly by VARIETY, Inc. 

Sid Silverman, President 
1G4 Weet 46tb St.. New York J 9. N; Y. 



SUBSCRIPTION 

Annual $10 Foreign til 

Single Copies..... ......25 Cent* 



Vol. 159 



no 



No. 3 



t:.y'--, INDEX 

7TII WAR LOAN 4 

Bills 49 
Chatter . . . . . . . ........... . , .55 

Film Reviews.............. 16 

Foreign .............. . 17 

House Reviews. .50 

Inside Legit. ; .', . .'. . . .. 53 

Legitimate . . ... . 51 

Literati , . ........ . 54 

Music ^. 42 

New Acts. ........ ..v...... 49 

Night Club Reviews, ....... 49 

Obituary 54 

Orchestras ................. 42 

Pictures 3 

Radio ............ /. .. ZQ 

Radio Reviews............. 34 

Frank Scully . , . . . . .. ........ % 

Television ................. 33 

Vaudeville 46 

War Activities ............. . 4 

-.. ; ' DAILY YAK: K.ry . 
(Published In Hollywood by 
Daily variety, T,td> 
flQ a Year— SIS Foreign 



WAR ACTIVITIES 



Wednesday, June 27, 1915 



Seattle's $11,000,(1 Bond 1-Nighter 
A Nat l Record; Showmen Hypo 7th 



Seattle. .Tune 26 ♦ 

Bond preem at the Fifth Ave. 
broke all local records—maybe na- 
tional—for a theatre, grossing sales 
of over $11,000,000. 

For the Bin War Loan, a record 
bad been set by the local Orpheum, 
at $10,750,000. Banks cooperated in 
sales, giving out theatre ducats. 

Five shows to date for the "th Wat- 
Loan have grossed sales of about 
128,000,000. , . 

Highlight of the Fifth Ave. show 
■was actual work of the Coast Guard 
trained police dogs. 

Cincy's S1,X2I,225 

Cincinnati. June 26. 
Bond sales of $1,321,225 resulted 
from the 7th War Loan show and 
auction conducted Friday (22) night 
in the RKO 2.100-seat Shubert 
theatre. Two-thirds of the amount 
was realized from advance sales to 
seatholders. Ed Wynn was guest star 
of the stage show, which had Toby 
Tuttle, WLW comic, as emcee. Joe 
Duncan, tobacco auctioneer of Owen 
ton, Ky .7 -hypoed the bidding for 40 
miscellaneous items that were do- 
nated. Music was by the 578th In- 
fantry Band from Ft. Thomas, Ky., 
opposite Cincy. Screen feature was 
the local preem ol "Conflict"' (WB). 

691.140 Total 

Harrisburg, Pa., June 26. 
War Bond sales totaling $691,140 
have been accounted for in recent 
weeks at four 7th War Loan events 
sponsored by local theatres. Three 
othe,r events, scheduled for the com- 
ing week, arc expected to shove this 
total well over the $1.000 000 mark. 

Gl Show Sparks 
N.Y. Final Drive 



H'wood Stars to Trek East 
For DC, NY Bond Finale 

Hollywood, June 26. . 
Film and radio stars have been 
invited to a blaze of patriotip fire- 
works to wind tip the War Loan 
drive at the foot of the Washington 
Monument in the national capital on 
the night of July 4. 

Hollywood contingent, now In 
course of recruiting, will appear the 
night before in the Infantry Show 
at the Yankee Stadium, N. Y. Both 
appearances by request of Henry 
Morgenthau, Jr., Secretary of the 
Treasury. 



Just WAC-y 

Philadelphia, June 26. 

FBI agents last week picked 
tip a dame on charge o£ wear- 
ing her WAC uniform despite 
fact she had been discharged 
last January. 

Reason the gal gave was that 
she wore it because she was able 
to get into the Aimers at re- 
duced rates. She was held in 
$1,000 bail by the U. S. Commis- 
sioner. 



GI Tells Mates Off, Lauding USO; 
Talent Menu at Paris Canteen Lean 



GI's Have Enuf Indoor 
Entertainment, Outdoor 
Stuff Gets Todd Buildup 

The occupation armies in the Euro- 
pean theatre of war are surfeited 
with indoor amusements. USO-Camp 
Shows, etc.. and Mike Todd is con- 
vinced that the freedom of being 
able to come and go. as with a 
carnival replete with sideshows or a 
circus, is a cinch for .the overseas 
boys. Likewise baseball. He will 
plug the idea of the big leagues per- 
mitting its stars, in tandem, to go 
overseas for 4-6 weeks to augment 
the many good semi-pro p'layers 
within the GI ranks. Todd, with an 
honorary title of brigadier general, 
has been scouting entertainment for 
the Army. 

The circus idea clicks with the 
Army, from understanding, but the 
difficulty is to get American tan- 
bark, troupers. The Hamburg circus 
idea, previously advanced, is NG, 
and even a pretty circus, within 
Switzerland, which appealed to Todd, 
was automatically ruled out because 
50% of its personnel is Germanic. 



Expectations are that the 
"Mighty Seventh" will roll up si 
new bond sale record, the drive 
moving into its final week with 
$20,000,000,000 sales already 
chalked up. Although the drive 
ends Saturday, the accounting 
period will run 'through July 7, 
with various industries, enter- 
tainment included, still sched- 
uling bond events to swell the 
safe total. 

The 7th War Loan drive will reach 
a thundering climax Tuesday, July 3, 
in N. Y. when the mammoth war 
spectacle, "Here's Your Infantry," 
will be staged at Yankee Stadium, 
sponsored jointly by the U. S. Treas- 
ury and the film industry of Greater 
New York. Actual battle scenes, at- 
tacks on Jap pillboxes, exploding 
landmines, bazooka shooting, flame- 
throwing, mortar and tank work, 
Will be reenacled by 500 war vets. 

Admission will be ,by bond pur- 
chase only, sale to be handled by 
630 film houses in. Manhattan. Bronx, 
Brooklyn, Queens and Richmond 
boroughs and Westchester County. 
In addition to the war spectacle, a 
stage show enlisting Abbott & Cos- 
tello, Helen Hayes, Judy Canova, 
Edward Arnold, the DeMarcos and 
Nicholas Bros., and others, is prom- 
ised. Spectacle starts at 8 p.m.. with 
anticipated sellout ensuring sale of 
over $7,500,000 in bonds. 

. Film houses and chains are hitting 
the bond drive's home stretch with 
renewed efforts, Brooklyn houses 
are going in tor special events like 
auction bond nights, raffling off 
steaks, butter, eggs, even fur coats. 
Loew's Kings theatre, Brooklyn, will 
hold a "Million-Dollar Bond Show" 
Friday (29) night, with Earl Wil- 
. son, Maurice Rocco, Oscar Homolka, 
Grant Mitchell, Frances Heflin. Gil 
Lamb, Lawrence Brooks, Jan Mur- 
ray and others present, with, a capa- 
city house and a $1,057,000 bond sale 
expected. - 

An all-star sports bond rally spon- 
sored by iilindom's WAC at Times 
Square, N. Y., Thursday (21) netted 
$127,500 in bond sales. Seven Loew's 
neighborhood houses in N. Y.,- w> h 
bonds for admission Friday (22), 
racked up another $1,120,000 in sales. 

A three-hour bond show honoring 
George Gershwin was skedded for 
Times Square last night i26) with a 
lineup of stars to assist. Ten RKO 
nabes are sked for bond showings 
tonight i27). 

.Up to June 17. Loew's theatres na- 
tionally had sold $14,730,850 in bonds 
to 166,980 buyers. In N. Y. Loew's 
Pitkin led the parade, with 7,105 
sales totaling $773,350. Nationally, 



Col. Cowan Joins Hays 

. . Hollywood, June 26. 
Col. Lynn Cowan, former vauder 
and later a cafe operator in Java, is 
back in show business, this time on 
Joe Breen's staff in the Will Hays 
office. 

When- the Japs moved into Java, 
Cowan enlisted with Uncle Sam as 
film officer for the Pacific area. In 
his earlier days he was a member of 
the Bailey & Cowan team. 



'Purple Heart* Censors 
In CM Put Vets On 
Strict Hospital Diet 

< ... Chicago. June 26. 
Need for a local "military Hays 
Office" to pass on acts booked by 
USO and Red Cross into hospital 
wards and auditoriums is seen here 
as the result of capricious censor- 
ship quirks in the six big hospitals 
tor wounded vets in the immediate 
area. Acts are agreed that the vets 
—whether they're stationed at Army, 
Navy or Marine hospitals—all com- 
prise, the same type of audiences, yet 
material that'll pass the blue pcncil- 
lers in one installation won't get by 
at all in another. ■- '- - ; - 

Publicity given Vaughn General 
Hospital's branch of the Purple 
Heart circuit in suburban Mayw'ood, 
which houses 2,400 wounded vets, 
has, for instance, marked it as one 
where acts have to be careful, by 
dint of performers passing the word 
around among themselves that it's 
out-of-bounds for anything but the 
most innocuous material. That the 
vets themselves are the victims of 
the kind of bluenose attitude that 
will clamp down on Kay Kyser, as 
revealed in "Variety" last Dec. 5, is 
obvious. Acts, as a result — particu- 
larly nitery talent — prefer tp play at 
other installations in the" Vicinity and 
thus avoid any unpleasantness. 

Entertainers bound for Vaughn, to 
give an idea, are handed a form let- 
ter at the last minute, which warns 
them to bypass anything even faintly 
resembling blue material, such as 
Kyser's. preference to his wife, Geor- 
gia Carroll ("Lay off. boys, the 
beachhead has been established "). 



Ludwig Berger Freed . * 
From Nazis in Holland 

Ludwig Berger, film director, who 
was taken prisoner by the Nazis 
in 1940 and held as a Dutch hostage, 
is alive, according to word received 
by Mady Christians, who's in cur- 
rent Broadway show, "I Remember 
Mama.", . 

Living now. at 99 Voiidelstrnat, 
Amsterdam, Holland, lie is trying to 
reestablish contact with his friends. 
Berger was nabbed by the Germans 
during the. invasion of 1940 when he 
was visiting his mother, who since 
has died. He has finished a book 
based upon his film career. 

USO Actors See Places 
Abroad They Wouldn't 
Ordinarily, Sez Benny 



♦ . Salzburg, June 2. 

Editor, "Variety": 

The May 2' "Variety 1 just got in 
with the usual quota of CBI, SEAC 
and other_ Pacific command beefs. 

We here in the ETO have known 
all along that guys in the Pacific 
consider us in the same category as 
the Times Square Commandos, satis 
Hershey bars on their sleeves, back 
home. They seem to feel that fight- 
ing Japs is tougher than battling the 
Kraut was; that because we hit 
paved roads occasionally we've got 
tor had) a cinch compared to their 
landhopping, Mebbe so. I d un no, al- 
though chances are that, inasmuch 
as jt requires multiplication instead 
of addition to make my point total 
equal 85,. I'll find out soon enough. 

But about these beefs on ENSA, 
USO et al. Why don't the boys quit 
that stuff? I think I'm well, out of 
the rookie stage in this man's army, 
with four years under my belt, and 
I learned plenty about what an .88 
sounds like while taking that pleas- 
ure jaunt to Munich sponsored by 
Patch's Tours before V-E Day, but 
I've never yet felt that! I'm uO a 
hero; tb) a guy who is doing more 
than anybody else in this man's 
show. 

All this talk about "we didn't let 



Jack Benny, who took off last 
week for another overseas trip, this 
time to Europe, frankly observes 
(hat USO-Camp Shows entertainers 
are enjoying an opportunity to view 
history-ih-the-m'aking and see sights 

and places which normally they'd i commitments stand in our way when 



never attempt in peacetime. 

"In short, if I ever went to Africa," 
says Benny, "I'd probably wind up 
at Shepherd's. Cairo, which is' a road 
company Savoy or Claridge's, Lon- 
don. I'm sure I'd never have gotten 



Uncle Sam called" is just that much 
bunk. Outside of the volunteers and 
regular army 30-year lads, a helluva 
lot of us would have been more 
than willing to allow commitments 
cancel our trip to the various thea- 



to Tel Aviv, Palestine, and the like, i t res of operations, but those draft- 



the Capitol in Washington leads with 
6,765' sales for total of $698,875. 



Show (Bond) Boat -_, 

Cleveland, June 26. . 

Chartering the steamer Theodore 
Roosevelt, the Variety club held 
what was believed to be the first 
floating War Bond auction last Fri- 
day (22), shooting lor a goal of 
$150,000 in bond sales. Instead it 
went over the top for $275,000 in "E" 
bonds.' Approximately 300 prizes 
were auctioned 1 off on the free three- 
hour cruise, with Chief Barker M. B. 
Horwitz as the skipper. Highest 
bids were for hams (of the sugar- 
cured variety), nylon stockings,, car- 
tons of cigarets and likker. 

Twenty theatres donated season 
passes worth $100 each and heavily 
plugged the nautical auction in film 
trailers. Raffled items were round- 
ed up by a committee of showmen 
consisting of Morrison Orr and Nat 
Wolf, co-chairmen; Eddie Bergman, 
Oscar Bloom, I. J. Schmertz, Robert 
Snyder, Meyer Erine, Tony Stern, 
John Kalafat, Joseph Krenilz, Jack 
So'gg, Leroy Kendis and Matt Good- 
man. During its last rally the local 
Variety club sold $82,000 worth of 
War Bonds. . 

Ed Wynn, stage comedian, helped 
to hypo a "big business ' bond auc- 
tion to an all-time record for Clevie- 
land last Thursday 1 21 > at Hotel Car- 
ter. Sponsored by the Cleveland 
Chamber of Commerce and Cleve- 
land Athletic club, the affair drew 
600 corporation representatives, who 
rang up $153,107,400 for the 7th War 
Loan campaign, exclusive of E Bond 
sales. ■ ' ' ' v. 

It' was Wynn's first bond appear- 
ance in this war, he admitted, but 
he made up for lost time. Comedian 
sharpened the auction's pace by 
mugging and shouting "Don't let it 
go. George," to auctioneer George 
Schneider when bids didn't go well 
over the $1,000,000 mark. Biggest 
laugh came when Wynn faked a 
faint on table after getting a bank 
president to bid $10,000,000 for an 
Iwo Jima flag-raising poster. 



EDDIE DOWLING'S SON 
INJURED IN ACTION 

Chicago, June 26. « 

Word was received here Monday 
(24) that John Graham Dowling, son 
of Eddie Dowling and Rae Dooley 
and vet war correspondent for the 
Chi Sun, suffered a fractured right 
ankle in action in the Philippines 
Saturday (23) and is in a Manila 
hospital as" a result. Learned that 
Dowling jumped with the 11th Air- 
Borne Division at Aparri, on the 
northern tip of Luzon, leaping from 
one of the first planes over the field. 

Dowling returned to the Pacific 
theatre recently after his first leave 
in more than three years of covering 
the war in the Southwest Pacific 
and- Burma. Notified of the accident 
was his wife, the former Patsy 
Shafer, to whom he was married re- 
cently during his leave in Chi. She 
is secretary to a Sun exec. 



And that goes for every other the- 
atre of war." 

Benny cites how he got to Aus- 
tralia last time when he wired Gen- 
eral MacArthur for special permis- 
sion to visit Sydney and Brisbane, 
with proviso, of course, that Benny 
would extend his stay in the Pacific, 
as an entertainer, so much longer. 
And at that Gen. MacArthur had to 
get special OK from Washington. 
He says that otherwise he might 
never have enjoyed the rare experi- 
ence of fraternizing with the Aus- 
sies, about whom he is, frankly, 
"slightly herls." This reason for that 
says Benny, is that after they ex- 
press the usual amenities about lik- 
ing an artists on the radio or in pic- 
tures, the Aussies just accept, you as 
one of them: they proceed with their 
usual social life; and. above all, don't 
bother a visiting "Hollywoodian with 
the usual cliches, "is. it true about" 
so-and-so. '•• 



N. Y. Canteen's Intensive 
Hunt for New Quarters 

American Theatre Wing and its 
Stage Door Canteen committee are 
on an intensive hunt for new N. Y. 
Canteen, quarters, it being necessary 
to vacate the present quarters un- 
derneath the 44th Street by the end 
of July, Date of exit was first fixed 
as June 30 but a month's grace was 
given by The New. York Times, 
which owns the property, which is 
to be razed for an extension of the 
daily's publication plant. Tardy no-, 
t ice from the Shuberts. who gave 
the basement cuffo to the Canteen, 
put the Wing" people in a dither. 
Lee Shubert is chairman of the 
committee assigned to find hew 
quarters. 

Committee is determined to con- 
tinue the Canteen without interrup- 
tion. The Rainbow Room, Radio 
City, closed for three years, is one 
spot being considered but the Edison 
hotel is more favqred; the large 
room on the street ' level, formerly 
1 he Folios Bergcre night club, is be- 
ing angeled for. It is oil the 47th 
street side of the building. 



Capt. Earl Breitbard, who used to 
handle radio publicity for Mike 
Jacobs, is now in Paris, in charge of 
publicity for Special Services and 
Activities of USO units in Army 
charge. T/5 Harold Gary, ex-Broad- 
way legiter, is on the staff. 



Maurice Evans Cited 

Major Maurice Evans, Broadway 
Shakespearean star now with Special 
Services entertainment division in 
Hawaii, where he has been staging 
show.s for GIs, was decorated re- 
cently with the" Legion ot Merit. 

Citation said "the high standard 
of his productions was unsurpassed 
in the annals of troop entertainment 
in the field." 



N. Y. to L. A. 

Edd.i" Cantor. 
Sid Garfield. 
Sol Hurok. 
Walter Huston. 
Harry Kilby. 
Lawrence Langher. 
Paul MacNamara. 
Armina Marshall. 
Harry Romm. 
•Jonie Taps. 
Joan Teazel. 



L. A. to N. Y. 

M. A. Anderson. 
Joe Bigeiow. ' \ 
Milt Bronson. 
Robert Corbin. 
Pal Costellc. .. \ 
Sid Fields. 

Al Grossman. •-. 
Dorothy Haas. • 
Connie Haines. 
John Hodiak. 
Harold Hopper., 
Betty Hutton. 
Joe Kirk. 
Aleen Leslie. 
Jules Levey. 
Bob Matthews. 
John McNully. 
Maureen O'Hara. 
John U. Reber. 
Sam Sax. 
Denny Shane. 
Mary Singer. 
Sam Stiefcl. 
John Wildberg. 
Jesse Zunser. 



dodging laws were too damned 
tough and we all know it. 

If an Ann' Sheridan finds the go- 
ing kinda rough in India, tell the 
boys to look around the evac hospi- 
tals ancl see how many GIs have 
found the same going loo rough for , 
them after being trained for the 
grind. And ask any of them if they 
would volunteer for a trip to CBI, 
Germany, or any place else if they 
were fortunate enough to -have a 
civilian rating. But enough of that 
stuff. 

Paris Nlterles Fold Early 

I hit Paris recently and the Stage 
Door Canteen statt was ail hyped 
up about the coming visit of Sol 
Lesser, who's gonna make a flicker 
on the joint. The place is prettier 
than the NY Canteen, but it sure 
lacks the entertainment available in 
the NY and other state-side soldier 
cafes. Paris night life, cut down to 
one- show a night, because most 
places fold at 11 p.m., when the 
Metro stops running — and a cab in 
Gay Paree is just a memory these 
days — can't afford to send any talent 
from their own shows over to the 
joint to entertain the boys. Result is 
that with the exception of a couple 
of acts that make their own time 
there is very little pro entertain- 
ment available. Best of the lot thst 
I saw there is a chanter named Ro- 
berta, a striking gal with a husky 
a-la-Neisen voice who will give 
Gertie a run in the torch league if 
she ever hits the States. Balance of 
the entertainment is usually made 
up of French Wacs and other local 
amateurs whose talent is strictly 
nix. 

Sole American entertainment. I 
saw there— and outside ot the Army 
bands that hit the place twice week- 
ly, the Army and USO don't send 
anything down there for some rea- 
son, although the total attendance is 
45' ».' American — was Sgt. Guy Ren- 
nie. vet Hollywood and 52d Street 
emcee who is now on a jeep show 
assignment here. Rennie, who was 
with the 8th Air For.ee SSO, dropped 
in one night and did a grand 15 
minutes of mugging, chattering and 
singing. He was ideal tor the place 
as he parlays enough French to be 
able to tell his gags in both English 
and French and so reached every- 
body in the audience except the 
handful of Poles, Russians, etc. It 
was Guy's first appearance in Pans 
since he emceed the show at Les 
Ambassadeurs a decade or so ago. 
and he couldn't play any return 
dates as his pass was a one-nighter. 

While I don't expect to be hang- 
ing around here for long, it's obvious 
to all of us here that unless the fra- 
ternization ban is lifted the USO job 
for the 400,000 GIs who will be left 
in these parts will be a tough one. 
This non-fraternization is tougher to 
take than anything I've run into .vet 
and keeping morale up in the occu- 
pational forces will be a full-time 
job for a lot of brasshats. Hence the 
story on USO's hyped-up postwar 
program is indeed a cheering one. 

Cpl, Curt Weinberg. 



Wednesday, June 27, 1945 



PQsatifr 




is getting 

royally 



. . . and gosh 




love it! 




Had the best picture of 1944— Now 
we've got the surprise hit of 1945! 




Zr - 7 



Keep your ear to the ground for 
amazing box-office news .... 



Ptfa&tEff Wednesday, June 27, 1915 



It surprised 
>an francisco 

>y out-grossing "Practically 
ours" by 20% and 
topping "Susan" and "And 
fow Tomorrow"! 



IT AMAZED 
MINNEAPOLIS 
by running 'way ahead 

of one of the year's top 
Technicolor hits. 

IT STARTLED 
>ALT LAKE 
>y topping the figures 
kecorded by "Susan" and 
I "Salty O'Rourke" at 
J larger house. 



IT STUNNED 

LOS ANGELES 

and HOLLYWOOD 

by out-grossing "Bring On 

The Girls," "Rainbow Island" 

and "And Now Tomorrow." 




IT ASTOUNDED • 
ATLANTA 

with one of the Paramount^ 
top grosses of all time. 




IT DUMBFOUNDED 
NEBRASKA 
with a new all-time high 
record at the Stuart, Lincoln. 



IT ELECTRIFIED NEW 
ORLEANS by running 
ahead of "Salty O'Rourke." 




PICTURES 



Wednesday, June 27, 1945 



Cantor Sparks Hearst-RKO Bataan 
Rally; Bostonians Shefl Out $19,500 



By MORI KRUSHEN 

Boston, June 26. 

Approximately 13,500 Bostonians 
shelled out $19,500 'net alter admis- 
sion tax) Sunday (24), packing the 
Boston Garden for the salute to 
"Back to Bataan" (RKO) show head- 
lined 1 by Eddie -'Cantor, who was cre- 
ated aii honorary citizen of the state 
of Massachusetts by Governor Mau- 
rice Tobin amid the resounding, 
cheers and applause of the audience. 

The Garden show was the climax 
to a swift-moving two-week exploi- 
tation campaign staged for "Back to 
Bataan" by Terry Turner, RKO ex- 
ploitation director under S. Barret 
McCormick, ad-publicity chief, in 
collaboration •with the Hearst news- 
papers in Boston. Proceeds are be- 
ing turned over to. the community 
for the creation of a service center 
f#r GI wives and .mothers. Eddie 
Cantor, incidentally, contributed $500 
personally to the fund. 

More than seven by-line writers 
on the three Hearst newspapers — the 
Record/ American and Sunday Ad- 
vertiser— as well, as staff reporters, 
were assigned, to handle the tieup. 
Among these were Austin Lake, 
George Holland, George Clarke, Jack 
Conway, Sam Cohen, Dave. Eagan 
and John Gilooley covering the news, 
feature and sporting pages. 

While Hap Kerns, publisher of 
the three periodicals, allowed front 
page breaks liberally, RKO, para- 
doxically, at first found itself unable 
to buy more than normal maximum 
of 400 lines of advertising space for 
tl.e opening of the film at the Keith 
Memorial theatre because of the ra- 
tioning system on such copy. Tur- 
ner was obliged to take the matter 
up directly with Kern, who finally 
consehted to 600 lines of paid space 
for the opening day only. 

Other Boston dailies, while not 
participating in a Hearst-sponsored 
shindig, apparently could not over- 
look the press confab set up with 
Brig.-Gen. Carlos Romulo, commis- 
sioner to the United States from the 
Philippines, who is on Gen. Doug- 
las MaeArthur's staff. Romulo 
planed in from the United Nations 
Security Conference in San Fran- 
cisco, for. the "Bataan" preem Sat- 
urday (23), and planed out of .Boston 
at 5:30 a.m. Monday (25) to return 
to the confab. Romulo made a simi- 
lar personal in connection with 
RKO's "Behind the Rising Sun." 

"Back to Bataan" preem covers four 
exchange' areas with 150 theatres 
participating. In addition to Cantor, 
lineup included- Benny Goowian and 
his orch from the RKO Boston the- 
atre; Jesse L. Lasky. Jackie Miles, 
Romo Vincent, John Wayne, An- 
thony Quinn, Ellen Drew, Monica 
Lewis (new singer with .Cantor); 
Leonard Sues, and others. 

Following his arrival last Satur- 
day (23) Cantor journeyed to Camp 
Myles Standish, around 50 miles out- 
side of Boston, with his troupe, to 
entertain around 7.000 convalescing 
wounded and repatriated American 
servicemen, 2,500 of whom had been 
rescued from Nazi POW camps. 

Walter Howey, Hearst exec, set 
the "Bataan" promotion with 
Turner. 



Rep's Plaque 

Parents' magazine gave Re- 
public a plaque thjs week in 
recognition of the Company's 
10th Anni, presentation being 
made to Herbert J. Yates, Rep 
proxy. -":''-■ '.'- 

Plaque read that it was "a 
tribute to a decade of progress 
and achievement in the pro- 
duction of wholesome, popular 
American motion picture enter- 
tainment." 



Republic Moves 
Into Big League 

By MIKE WEAR 

Tenth anniversary of Republic 
moves the company up into the 
ranks of major producers, what with 
a $20,000,000 expenditure for pro- 
duction and expansion set by Herbert 
J. Yates, head of the corporation. 
Typical of the way Rep has moved 
up in the acquisition of top produc- 
tion talent is the signing of Frank 
Borzage, Alfred Santell and William 
K. Howard to contracts. .'•'■■• 

It's a long stride from the time 
that the merger of several competi- 
tive companies was arranged by 
Yates in 1935, to form Republic Pro- 
ductions, Inc., and Republic Pictures, 
the distributing unit, operating via 
franchise agreements, to the present 
big setup. Yates had gone into the 
film business originally in 1918, with 
various laboratory enterprises, final- 
ly resulting in the organization of 
Consolidated Film Industries. His as- 
sociation with picture - financing 
heightened his interest in actual pro- 
ducing and distributing, with Re- 
public emerging as a result. 

From the small quarters in the old 
Mack Sennett studios, Yates de- 
veloped the lot into a modern, 
streamlined plant with 14 stages. The 



Korda Out of M-G (Brit), 
v Ben Goetz Replacing? 

London, June 26. 

Rumors are again current here that 
Sir Alexander Korda is out as head 
of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer British 
Studios, Ltd., and that he may be re- 
placed by Ben Goetz. 

There has been so official con- 
firmation of such a trove, although 
there have been difficulties in get- 
ting Metro's British production unit 
under way. 



Vaude Comeback 
Via New Pix Idea 

. Hollywood, June 26. 
Vaudeville very likely will make 
its comeback via films, if projected 
plans by several studios go through, 
enabling companies to turn frozen 
assets into solid coin and giving 
public, a heavy trend toward the 
halcyon days at the old Palace, on 
Broadway. Studios arc gathering 
together clips from old filmusicals, 
with specialty numbers which were 
lensed, and ultimately trimmed, be- 
ing spliced together. Plan is to com- 
bine these acts into five-reel fea- 
tures, which can be played as com- 
panion pictures on double bills. 

For years studios have shot over- 
quota numbers required for any 
given musical, knowing full well that 
trimming would have to be done in 
order to meet required footage., 
Often two sequences would be made 
of one player, with producers de- 
pending upon audience response to 
see which one would be kept for 
finished product. Both acts might be 
on equal basis but arbitrary selection, 
put one before other. 

Metro is the first firm to carry 
plan into action. Culver City plant 
has assembled footage deleted from 
past musicals and made a vaudeville 
film revue from clips. Studio execs 
first saw film and waxed enthusiastic 
over possibilities. Later sales execs 
were given a screening with result 
that George Murphy was called in 
and lensed for special footage to, act 
as emcee, to. knit together the entire 
entertainment. Thus Metro has re- 
. deemed what was otherwise con- 
swing over to the large number of | sidered lost footage at little expense 



No Pickets' Armistice as Strike Into 
16th Week; Multi-Lingual Placards 



Bing's Parlay 

.. Chicago, June 26. 

Readers of the Chi Times' in- 
quiring reporter column were 
startled last week to come across 
Bing Crosby in the illustrious 
company of such military moguls 
as Generals Eisenhower, Patton 
and Clark. Two for Patton, one 
for Eisenhower, one for Clark, 
and one for the Groancr— that's 
how fiye Chicagoans'lined up to 
answer the question. "Who do 
you. think is the greatest living 
American today?" 

Patton won kutloes for ' "his 
ability to win battles and lead 
men," Eisenhower because "he ' 
_ has one of the greatest minds for 
military tactics in all American 
history." Clark because "he's a 
good fighter and a brilliant 
American," and Crosby because 
"he has always been an enthusi- 
astic sportsman, a fine singer, 
and a faithful family man." 



top-budget films has been made 
steadily, with the 1945-46 season the 
peak. ' 

Among productions in . _wOrk are 
the first Santell picture under new 
pact, "Mexicana," with Constance 
Moore and Tito Guizar starred; 
"Love, Honor and Goodbye," being 
produced by Harry Grey and di- 
rected by Al Rogell, with Victor 
McLaglen .and Virginia Bruce 
starred; and "Dakota," Jnhn Wayne 
starrer being produced by Joseph 
Kane. "Calendar Girl," a big-budget 
musical, and 'Don't Fence Me In" 
are slated for early production. 

Interest also centers in the first 
Technicolor feature for the company, 
"Concerto," which Frank Borzage 
will produce and direct. 

Coincident with production growth, 
the distribution alignment has been 



0DT TABUS CALL OFF 
VARIETY CLUBS' C0NV. 



expanding, and has been ever since ' 0nS ,,, and > unche ? ns were given in 

Jimmy Grainger took the sales helm lhe 14 ° tl J er , clt jf vlsAe ?' "J 0 ?* 1 ? 

of Republic Pictures in 1938. Instead ?P onSored _ by le , a(lin « *P° rts celcbn- 

of 3,000 theatres using Rep films 10 ," CS in these places because Walsh 

\,„ i9nnnV„ lon S was prominent in the sports 



using 

years ago. there are now 12,000 ac 
counts playing Republic pictures. 
This has stemmed from establish- 
ment of Republic branches in place 
of franchise-holders in many locali- 
ties and culminating with the erea- 
ticm of four sales districts. Men from 
National mee.ing of Variety Clubs ! the ranks of branch managers were 



of America, scheduled for Aug. 16-18 
in N. Y. at the Waldorf-Astoria, has 
been deferred ■ indefinitely. ■■ Action 
in postponing the . conclave was 
taken because, of transportation 
bottleneck expected to develop for 
long-distance travel starting in Au- 
gust. DDT has taken over bulk of 
Pullman cars starting on Aug. 1, aiid 
has; urged, that all but the most 
essential travel be halted starting 
on that date. 

The Humanitarian Award, . which 
was to have been announced on Aug. 
17, will be revealed as soon as the 
Varie;y national committee meets. 



Moore in Waller's Spot 

Milton Moore, for many years a 
reporter on the N. Y. Sun and more 
recently attached to the exploitation 
department of Columbia at the 
homeoffice. joined Paramount Mon- 
day (25) in charge of contacting 
syndicates and photo services -for 
the publicity department. 

He succeeds Tom Waller, who re- 
signed to become publicity manager 
for United Artists. 



made heads of these districts: 

Current 10th Anni drive which be- 
gan May 27. and continues through 
July 27 is being reflected by a rec- 
ord number of playdates. High- 
lighted in the drive is "Flame of 
Barbary Coast." with a new booking 
high and possibly greatest gross for 
any Republic picture now looming. 

Oft .Rep's 1945 schedule a re 
"Strange Confession," starring Vera 
Hrub.'i Ralston;' "Fabuluous Texan " 
starring Bill Elliott; "A Guy Could 
| Change," with Allan. Lane, while 
I heading for the casting director's of- 
I 'ice are included "Crime . of Cen- 
I iury," "The Inner Circle;" "Unin- 
vited Guest," "Baby Face Nelson," 
' "Night Train to Memphis" and 
•Mozart." . 



Despite MD.s Nix, 
Sexer Does Big B.0 

Chicago, June 26. 
Despite protests by Dr. Philip Mc- 
Ginnis, health officer at Joliet, 111., 
that it's salacious and not fit for any- 
one over or under 12 years of age to 
see, "Mom and Dad," a sex education 
movie produced by Hygienic Produc- 
tion, Inc., of Cleveland, ran all last 
week at the Mode theatre; in Joliet, 
and did capacity biz. Publicity, need- 
less to say, was responsible for that. 
. Movie, which Dr. McGinnis and 
other city health officials character- 
ized as "lewd, obscene and immoral," 
opened June 18 and closed Saturday 
(23), having received a clean bill of 
health from Police Chief Ernest 
Overbey, who received word from 
Mayor Arthur O. Jahnke to permit it 
to be exhibited after it was viewed, 
Overbey said, by a "jury of nearly 
1,000, including members of Joliets' 
Parent-Teachers Assn., ministerial 
group, and a Catholic priest." 

Dr. McGinnis said he requested 
Overbey to ban the film after he had 
received many protests from citizens 
of Joliet. Instead, he said, Overbey 
sent his police matron, Miss Margar 
ret Odenthal, to see the pic, and 
when she reported back that it 
wasn't objectionable the chief re- 
fused to act. 

"Doctors, not police, are the best 
judges of hygienic movies," Dr. Mc- 
Ginnis said. "Today, with the pub- 
lic's emotions running as rampant as 
they do-because of the world con- 
flict, to permit anything that empha- 
sizes sensuality is bad. That picture 
is rotten. Sometimes people wonder 
why juvenile delinquency is on the 
increase. If they'd used a little com- 
mon sense they could see the forest 
through the trees. We must have 
sensible medical censorship to over- 
come evil influences on the minds of 
our youth such as this picture has 
proven to be." 

Picture ran for adults only, but 
Dr. McGinnis pointed out that any- 
one over 12 could see if. 

_ : \ 

New Wave of Juvenile 
Delinquency Hits St. L. 

■ St. Louis, June 26. 
Cops are .trying to ' catcfc up 
juvenile delinquents who, during the 
. J Past fortnight, have frightened audi- 

And I'UtS Blast On HayS l enc «s by exploding cannon crackers 

in and outside of the theatres. Last 
week while "Mr. Winkle Goes to 



and can release the film on its regu 
lar program. 

Other studios will follow suit, with 
majority of (hem being able to write 
off past losses, having had cost of 
production for new companion fea- 
tures footed in other production 
budgets. . 



CHRISTY WALSH HITS 
THE ROAD FOR 'EDDIE' 

Christy Walsh, associate producer 
with Winfield Shcehan on 20th-Fox's 
"Captain Eddie," has concluded a 15 
city promotional trek for the picture 
with his appearance as honor guest 
•at a luncheon in Lincoln, Neb., given 
by A. J. Lcwandowski, football coach 
at Nebraska university. Like recep- 



world. Additionally, Walsh is a life 
long friend of Capt.' Eddie Ricken- 
backer on whose life the film is 
based. 

Walsh started his tour last June 2 
in Oakland, Calif., where hosted by 
L. T. Shaw, grid coach for University 
of California. Rodney Bushi head of 
homeof fice exploitation, managed the 
lour. "Captain Eddie" preems in 
Columbus, Aug. 1. . 

Allied Endorses SIMPP 



Hollywood, June 26 
As studio strike entered its 16 th 
week, some 1,200 strikers spumed 
Mayor Brown's request for a "pick- 
et's armistice" during the coming 
visit of hundreds of diplomats this 
week. Strikers instead approved 
a plan to prepare picket signi 
in all languages of United Nations 
at meeting of ll striking unions held 
Sunday night at Legion stadium 

.Herbert Sorrell, CSU prexy, re . 
ported on meeting at City Hall with 
mayor, representatives of producers 
and IATSE. He said no basis for 
settlement was outlined, but certain 
points of agreement appear close 
to solution of jurisdictional angfes 
of dispute. 

Rank May Garner 
Extra UJS. Footage 

Representations- have been made 
to the War Production Board in 
Washington by J. Arthur Rank in. 
terests for additional raw film alio, 
cation to permit printing of several 
Rank productions scheduled for re- 
lease through United Artists. 

As far as can be ascertained the 
WPB has not approved the request, 
although there are unconfirmed r«« 
ports that Rank may be allowed 
5,000,000 feet of film. 

Problem in making special pro- 
vision for Rank would be that other ' 
British producers would also ask for 
similar consideration. Simultaneous. , 
ly, American producers/ who have 
been asking ' for film allocations 
would also pressure for relief. 

While it is expected that raw film 
supplies will be more plentiful by 
the end of the year, allocations are 
being held in line for the time being; 

Expected that after Jan. 1 the sup- 
ply situation -will be radically im- 
proved as plants in Europe begin to 
function. Belief in film trade cir- 
cles, also," that there will likely be a 
slash in use of film by military agen- 
cies by then. 



MELVA LACHMAN JOINS 20TH 

Melva Cornell (Mrs. Marc Lach- 
man) has joined 20th-Fox publicity 
in N. Y. as columnist contact. 

The late Lachman and Hal Home, 
20th pub-ad chief, were associated 
ill former years. Miss Cornell was 
formerly on the stage. 



Allied States takes a series of pot- 
shots at the Hays office in its weekly 
bulletin, issued from Washington, 
suggesting that the Government had 
better include the Hays Association 
in its present anti-trust suit. Allied 
made one of its familiar attacks on 
majors via lauding, with reserva- 
tions, the naming of Donald M. Nel- 
son as head of the Society of Inde- 
dependent Motion Picture Producers. 
. Stating that most independent pro- 
ducers market their picture through 
SIMPP, the .bulletin claims that indie 
j exhibitors were faced with a like 
problem in 1928 when affiliated cir- 
cuits took over the Motion Picture 
Theatre Owners of America. It 
charges that those regional associa- 
tions which were under independent 
control withdrew from MPTOA and 
formed Allied States Assn. 



War" was being shown at the Robin, 
an indie nabe in North St. Louis, the 
audience of 400 was startled by the 
explosion which the gendarmes at- 
tribute to irresponsible juves. 

The cannon cracker exploded out- 
side -of the building but the noise 
caused the customers to leave the 
auditorium; A neighbor called police 
headquarters, and four fire trucks, 
four police scout cars, three motor 
patrols and several ambulances 
rushed to the scene. Cops also re- 
port that a cannon cracker was- ex- 
ploded in the lobby of another nabe 
but no damage was done. 

J live delinquency, particularly in 
movie houses locally, was seemingly 
under control for several months un- 
til the break-out last week. 



WB DROPPING 5 NABES 
IN HARTFORD, CONN. 

Hartford, June 26, 
After 15 years of leased operation, 
Warner Bros, is dropping five neigh- 
borhood houses. Severance comes 
alter inability to get together with 
the Park St. Investment Co., owners 
of the theatres. Lease of fie five 
nabes expires at midnight on June 
30. 

Park St. Investment, owners of 
several Hartford nabes, plans its own 
operation, of the houses. Reason for 
the divorce between Warners and 
Park Investment is the matter of 
rentals. Warners had pleaded for 
decrease in rent, claiming the houses 
were nonpaying projects. On the 
other hand, the investment company 
had asked for an increase on the 
five houses. - - ■ 

Houses dropped by Warners are 
the Lyric, Rialto, Colonial, CejHral 
and Lenox. In the meantime it is 
understood that Warners plans at 
least two postwar theatre projects in 
Hartford, one in the. dbwntown sec- 
tor to replace the first-run house,' 
Strand, which has a small seating 
capacity. Location of the house to 
replace the Strand is immediately 
across the street on a parking lot in 
flowntown Hartford. Warners at 
one time also had plans for another 
house near the downtown section, on 
Washington street 

An extensive program of moderni- 
zation and renovation of the five . 
houses gets underway soon, says Al 
Shulman, prexy of the Park Invest- 
ment. :■'<:■•'■■■'.. 



Celebs' Trailers for U 

New idea of having w.k. person- 
alities endorse forthcoming Uni- 
versal pictures in two-minute 
transcriptions on the radio has been 
framed by Maurice Bergman, Uni- 
versal^ eastern ad-publicity chief. 
First batch 'of celebs who will praise 
outstanding parts of U. films now 
arc being lined up. . 

Bergman goes to Chicago. Friday 
(29), to try out the first of these air 
platters on Chi .stations. • 



Wednesday, June 27, 1915 



9 



mm 



Wednesday, June 27, 1913 



A BUSINESS MAN 




HERBERT J. YATES 



/"YNLY big-time motion picture producer 1 know who wears black shoes and 
\J keeps 'em polished is Herbert J. Yates. His coat matches his trousers and 
he wears a dark necktie and what I'm trying to get across is the idea that he's a 
businessman, making a business of the movies. 
Not a bad idea, either, as you shall see: 

I thought at first about starting this piece with something about Consolidated 
Film Industries, largest film laboratory enterprise in the world. I also pondered 
an introductory paragraph about Republic Studios in Hollywood, where efficiency 
and flower beds flourish side-by-side and an owl holds a permanent lease on 
stage three.. ■ ■ .V'.V-'^- ,' 

But the best place to begin is at the beginning, when Fatty Arbuckle wanted 
$80,000 to finance a series of eight two-reelers. He went to Yates, a young man 
Who had demonstrated his flair for business by rising rapidly to the top in the 
tobacco manufacturing business, but who had yet, to reveal the instincts of a gam- 
bler. Now he revealed 'em. Arbuckle got his $80,000 on a handshake ; Yates got 
it back with release of the first two-reeler. Boy! 

» That started the saga of Yates in pictures. He organized Republic Laboratories, 
which eventually became Consolidated, for the processing of Hollywood's film. 
He invested in many a major studio, financed many an independent producer. 



Consolidated Film Industries, Inc. 
Fort Lee, New Jersey 



Consolidated Molded Products Corp. 
Scranton, Pennsylvania 



S 




Consolidated Film Industries, Inc. 
" 'Hollywood, California 



■■ 

■] 

i 

i 



Wednesday, June 27, 1945 



11 



MAKES MOVIES ^ Frederick C Othitwti 

I »■* W ■ W ■ V w ■ mm+T ■ .. United Press Correspond** 

Hollywood — Washington, D. C 



He owned the American Record Co., and he bought. Columbia 
and Brunswick, only to sell the whole works just before the boom 
in phonographs. The one thing he kept was a contract with a 
crooner of cowboy songs, about whom more later. 

Wall Streeters called the sale of the record companies, Yates' 
Folly. Maybe. I'll report 'here simply that the factory where he 
once pressed records in Scranton, Pa., now is his Consolidated 
Molded Products Co., employing more than 1,000 workers and 
known as one of the 10 largest plastics concerns in America. 

Back in Hollywood in 1935 half a dozen independent produc- 
ers were fighting among themselves, cutting each other's throats— 
with Yates' money! He'd financed them all and every time one of 
them beat another to the dotted line, Yates lost. 

He fixed that, characteristically, by organizing a production 
company. Republic Pictures Corp., named after his first labora- 
tory. There he installed his battling movie makers. Now they 
could fight for him, instead of against him. Only tangible assets 
of the new company were some western and serial scripts heavy 
with dust and a lease on a few old sound stages, with use of Mack 
Sennctt's celebrated outdoor bathtub thrown in. 

The depression wasn't even beginning to ease, the old-line 
movie producers were having their troubles, and they agreed to 
a man that Yates was nuts. 

Western pictures at the time were dead ; not even the 10-year- 
olds would go to see them. Serials had gone out years before with 
the "Perils of Pauline." The stages were undersized and the bath- 
tub, where Sennett once had lolled while supervising the tossing 
of custard pies, was a definite liability. Somebody might fall in. 

Yates had it filled with rich soil and planted calla lilies on top- 
Then he began cogitating the literature in the script library. It 
was his idea— his competitors now say it was his inspiration— to 
salvage those western scenarios by turning them into adult enter- 
tainment. ... ' . ' .. , 

He'd have none of this manufacturing of cliff hangers for the 
juvenile trade. Yates figured he'd get the mothers in, and the fa- 
thers, too, by adding romance and song to the standard action 
script. All he needed was a cowboy singer and hey ! He already 
had one; that tall young fellow from the record company; name 
of Autry, Gene. You know what that idea did for Republic; for 
that matter, what it did for good ole' Gene. 

Yates looked over his serial scripts, which put the hero in jeop- 
ardy at 14 different chapter endings and gave him the gal in the 
15th. They were a total loss, but you think he .junked his serial 
production organization? Not by 14 fates-worse-than-death he 
didn't. 

He injected comic strip characters into his chapter plays, first 
with Dick Tracy and then Y with the Lone Ranger, and thereby 
made of serials greater money-makers than even in the hey-day 
of Pearl White. 

Yates then did something the rest of the industry never had 
considered. He discovered sectionalism as an asset and soon was 
turning out movies featuring such rustic radio heroes as Roy 
Acuff, Lulubelle and Scotty, "Pappy" Cheshire and the Duke of 



Paducah. Advertising wouldn't have done these pictures any good 
on Broadway; in the small towns, where they paid their profits, 
they didn't need advertising. 

The founder of Republic evolved a 10-year plan for his studios, 
drew up his blueprints for each year and proceeded accordingly 
with his goal— the making of his company one of the largest in 
the business at the end of the decade. The war retarded him 
slightly, but the year 19.45 has not yet ended and the Mabel Not'' 
mand sound stage (perhaps the largest and certainly the most feffi-j 
dent in Hollywood) is booked solidly. So is another vast new. 
stage. The newest structure on the lot that was once a cabbage 
patch is the largest and best equipped music auditorium in the 
world for scoring and dubbing pictures. Its design includes the f - 
most modern developments in architectural acoustics, and its 
RCA Sound equipment is the last word in the field of sound re- 
cording. The entire studio has been so improved that even if his 
bathtub still were there, Sennett wouldn't recognize it. Yates' most 
recent moves include the addition of Al Santell, Frank Borzage 
and John Ford to his production staffs. You know those names 
and with negotiations now under way for equally important pro- 4 
ducers, directors, and players, the goal is not far off. \ 

Yates never has believed in genius. He says the only difference 
between one of these rarities and the average man simply is that 
the average man needs a break. He has built his organization upon 
this theory; most of his top executives today once were the aver- 
age men working hard in one or another of his industries. 

He spends much of his time investigating other enterprises to 
see whether any of their methods can be applied to the movies. 
He also investigates his own studio; I once bumped into him on 
stage five, where he'd moved his desk and his secretary and where 
he'd just discovered that movie cameras never photograph any 
higher than 10 feet on an interior set wall. Why, he asked, were 
the walls 20 feet high? The scenic designer said they'd always ' 
been 20 feet. Yates said that from now on they'd be 10 feet. A ! 
small thing, perhaps, but the saving on paint, lumber, canvas and 
man-hours at the end of a year is something that helps turn red 
ink into black. . .. ...... 1 

- The factory-aspect of most movie studios depressed Yates. He 
presumed the other workers were depressed, too. He substituted 
green grass for concrete at Republic, cops with smiles for guards 
with guns and flower boxes for painted-out windows. What he 
wanted was a friendly atmosphere. He got it. 
•> As of now the head men at Republic are doing considerable si 
senoring and buenas dia-ing. They're going to night school, study-, 
ing Spanish, which gives you some idea what Yates currently is 
thinking about. And here I am about to use up all my space when 
I could have filled this whole book. I must mention that owl, the 
one thing inherited from the previous owners still on the lot. This 
bird has a perpetual leasehold on stage three. Sometimes he hoots 
and sometimes he flies through a high-class drama, thereby causing 
a retake, but no Republic executive would think of banishing him. 

It takes a wise man and a calm one, a square-shooter and a go-' 
getter, to equal Yates* achievement. That owl is a symbol. , 




Republic Productions, Inc. 
North Hollywood, California 



Consolidated Film 
Industries, Inc., Photo- 
Stills Division, NewYdrk City 




P&!&k&W Weducsilay, June 27, 1913 



We dncsday, Jmtc 27, 1945 



PICTURES 



is 



BRING BACK OLD SHOWMANSHIP 



Blumenfeld, With UA Franchise, In 
Combo With U A-G&S, to Battle F-WC 



San Francisco, June 26. 
The long impending battle, which 
was imminent when Fox-West Coast 
took the last David G. Selznick pic- 
ture, "Since You Went Away," from 
Jop Blumenf eld's United Artists 
theatre here last winter, is on. Blum- 
enfeld, who was stymied some 
months ago by F-WC when he en- 
deavored to take over the Million 
Dollar theatre, Los, Angeles, and two 
other houses controlled by the op- 
erator of the Million Dollar, has 
formed an alliance with Galston & 
Sutton and, on a three-way deal 
whereby he, United Artists and G&S 
are partners, will operate the Tower, 
Elite. Hawaii and Colony theatres, 
with a UA franchise for the Los 
Angeles territory. These houses 
have a combined seating capacity of 
3,500; will have their names changed, 
respectively, to Music Hall and will 
be the showcase for UA product in 
the area. 

Blumenfeld plans to increase the 
seating capacity of the Colony, Hol- 
lywood, from 900 to 1,500 and will 
add. several hundred seats to the 
900-seat Tower. 

New policy goes into effect Aug. 1, 
with opening of "G. I. Joe." It's fig- 
ured that an^ product booked by 
Blumenfeld's houses from UA, both 
here and in Los Angeles, will be 
endangered as far as subsequent run 
in the 186 F-WC houses is con- 
cerned.' 

. Blumenfeld. it is said, will, al- 
though he holds the UA franchise 
here, lose the Selznick product on 
first run. , with "Spellbound" going 
into the Fox here, a F-WC house in- 
stead of the United Artists, and Selz- 
nick also selling away to F-WC for 
first run from him in Los Angeles. 
Cliff Geissman, who recently gave 
up post of manager of Golden Gate 
here to become city manager for 
Blumenfeld, leaves to take over as 
city manager for the four Los An- 
geles houses. Jack Blumenfeld, 
manager of the Orpheum, was pro- 
moted to city manager for the Blum- 
enfeld circuit with Roy Young suc- 
ceeding him in the theatre post. Joe 
Blumenfeld left here tonight for Los 
Angeles to make arrangement for 
the new operation. 



Flock of Bally Stunts 
For Gershwin Pic Preem 

Extensive exploitation campaign in 
connection with "Rhapsody in Blue" 
included arrangements by Mort 
Blumenstock. eastern ; publicity-ad 
director for Warners, to have news- 
paper, reporters use Motorola 
Handie-Talkie radios in covering 
the press preview of the picture last 
night (Tuesday) at the Hollywood, 
N. Y. 

With the two-way broadcasting 
equipment, the reporters transmitted 
running stories from the theatre to 
their city news desks anent arrival 
of celebrities, War Bond purchases, 
lobby ceremonies, etc. The Handie- 
talkie devices also were used for 
making bids in connection with the 
"Rhapsody in Blue" War Bond auc- 
tion in Times Square for three hours 
preceding the film's preem. 

Claiming a record for any single 
week of Coast-to-Coast radio tieups. 
Warners will have at least 25 net- 
work programs pay. tribute to 
George Gershwin and his music dur- 
ing Gershwin Jubilee Week, starting 
Friday (29). Additionally, there will 
be at least a dozen regional network 
shows and several hundred pro- 
grams of Gershwin music by in- 
dividual stations in response to let- 
ters recently sent out by Paul 
Whiteman. chairman of the Cersh- 
Win Jubilee Week committee. 



Cue From the Screen 

Lynchburg, June 26. 

During the showing of "Song 
of Bernadette" at the Paramount 
here this week, a character said 
from the screen: "You're playing 
with fire." Just then there was 
an unmistakable odor of smoke. 
Patrons sniffed. Some got up 
hastily and left. Ushers rushed to 
the basement, from which the 
smoke was issuing. 

They found the theatre's heat- 
ing plant running and the over- 
heated motor ablaze. 

Now the management is trying 
to figure what inspired the fur- 
nace to start up on • :one of the 
hottest days in -June. 



SAG, Prods.' New 
Bask Contract 



Hollywood, June 26. 
Screen Actors Guild and producers 
agreed on a new basic contract for 
10 years, providing salary increases 
retroactive to April I, 1945, and im- 
proved working conditions. John 
Dales, Jr., executive secretary of the 
Guild, declared that a joint applica- 
tion by SAG and the producers will 
be made to the War Labor Board 
for approval of the new terms. Re- 
visions consist of the following 
points: 

Day players— Increase in minimum 
rate from $25 to $35. Current agree- 
ment regarding payment of quarter 
checks for cancelled weather-per- 
mitting calls, formerly limited to day 
players earning up to $100; will be 
extended to day players earning up 
to $200. 

Freelance players — Minimum 
weekly rate will be tipped from 
$100 to $115. Sunday work will be 
paid al time and a half rate. 

Stock Contracts — Minimum rate 
will be increased from $50 to $60 per 
week for the first six months and to 
$75 thereafter, 

Singers, whether specialty or en- 
semble—New day rate will be $35 
tor recordings and $25 for rehearsing 
or working playbacks, with a weekly 
minimum of $115. 



MIDWEST SEES 
BALLYHOO NEED 



- Chicago, June 26. 
On the. theory that no.- theatre 
manager milks a picture as dry as he 
can during these boom times, a num- 
ber of circuit brasshats here are 
laying down the law that now's the 
time to quit letting the pix sell 
themselves. As one exec puts it, 
"We're doing big business today be- 
cause times are good, but we've got 
to face the fact that it. won't be too 
long before people will start 
shopping. So we might as well begin 
now putting forth at least a little of 
the effort we used to, if for no other 
reason than to get back in practice.'' 
That the trend in the midwest is 
definitely toward hypoed exploita- 
tion activities — and decidely not just 
because of the usual warm weather 
slough-off in moviegoing— is ap- 
parent in Chi exchanges and circuits. 
Despite newsprint shortages, toning 
down on publicity on comings-and- 
goings of "stars because of resentment 
of the public (who are urged by 
ODT to forego vacations so that 
troops can have the space) against 
travel by movie biggies, etc., man- 
agers and exchange and circuit execs 
are being goaded on to what 
.amounts to feverish activity in the 
hoopla dept. 

Sample of liveliness here is format 
for "Picture- of Dorian Gray," 
whipped up by Bill Bishop, Metro's 
western division exploitation head, 
and Maurice M. Rubens, Great States 
circuit exec, which it's planned to 
use nationally in second-run situa- 
tions if it pays off here. They'll sell 
it on a horror basis at five GS 
houses in Peoria, Springfield, South 
Bend, Rockford and Danville during 
the . latter part of June. About a 
week before playdates in these towns 
they plan advertising that any gal 
in town who can sit through- it 
alone in a big theatre at midnight, 
without anyone else in the house, 
will get a $100 war bond— and jvili 
plant a doctor and nurse in the 
lobby, of course, "just in case." 
Bishop has also arranged with Milt 
(Continued on page 49) 



M-G Preps Heart Team 

Hollywood, June 26. 
New comedy team, consisting of 
June Allyson and Robert Walker, is 
pttmg a buildup at Metro, follow- 
ing (heir work in "John and Mary," 
o"gmally tagged "For Better, For 
worse." recently sneak-previewed. 

Pair first attracted notice by their 
learning in the Hedy Lamarr starrer. 
Her Highness and the Bellboy." 
now Metro has other stories to co- 
ttar the duo. 



Rep's Ether Tieups 
For 10th Anniversary 

Republic film personalities are be- 
ing featured' on a batch of national 
radio network shows to herald the 
company's current 10th anni cele- 
bration during this month and in 
July. Three successive programs of 
"Blind Date." American Broadcast- 
ing net's show, will have Jane With- 
ers. Dale. Evans and a third player 
to be picked for the July 9 show. 

Four "People Are Funny" shows 
over NBC will have Republic play- 
ers, starting with Monte Hale, who 
appeared' on the June 22 show. Al 
Pearce goes on the June 29 program. 
Saunrira Berkova appears July 13. 
and Victor McLaglen. soon to be fea- 
tured in "Love. Honor and Good- 
bye." is set for July 20. " Jane With- 
ers. Constance. Moore and Pearce are 
set on three different General Elec- 
tric House Party programs starting 
with Miss Withers on the July 6 
broadcast over Columbia net. 

The lcadoff radio program for the 
Republic anniversary celebration 
was the "Which Is Which" broadcast 
last month when Tito Gizar. Vera 
Hruba Ralston, Pearce, Miss Withers 
and others appeared. Bill Elliott, 
soon to star in the top-budget west- 
ern. "Fabulous Texan," was on 
"Breakfast in Hollywood" . show 
early this month. 



SELZNICK RESUMES 'DUEI/ 

Hollywood, June 26. 

David O. Selznick resumed pro- 
duction on liis $3,500,000 Technicolor 
western film, "Duel in the Sun," 
after a nine-week shutdown caused 
by the strike. 

Shooting stopped April 17 when 
the producer ran out o£ sets. 



PAR-RICHARDS SETBACK 
ON WAGE-HOURS IN N.O. 

New Orleans, June 26. 
A permanent injunction was is- 
sued in Federal court, last week by 
Judge Caillouct against the Para- 
mount-Richards Theatres, Inc.. re- 
straining the corporation from pos- 
sible violation of the wagc-and-hour 
act. 

The wage-hour, division contends 
that Paramount-Richards had em- 
ployed 49 persons for work in inter- 
state commerce at wages less than 
those stipulated by law. Some of the 
49. it was charged, worked overtime 
without time-and-a-half pay, and 
that the corporation failed to keep 
accurate records. 



British B.O. Boom To 
Last 10 Yrs.— Agnew 

Speak i ng In general ter ms of con - 
ditions in England and France; from 
which he returned Friday night (22) 
by plane. Neil Agnew. v. p, in charge 
of distribution for Vanguard (Selz- 
nick), yesterday ('rues.; staled that 
a terrific boom is under way and 
that so far as the boxoffice is con- 
cerned it should last 10 years or so. 
This is especially, true of England, 
he observed, adding that much em- 
ployment will be provided by re- 
building in that country. 

Film business is at a peak in. 
England and in the first runs it 
doesn't matter what the admission 
prices are, Agnew declared. The 
bombing in France has resulted in a 
shortage of theatres in that country,: 
he added. 

Agnew spent between six and 
seven weeks on the other side in the 
interest of Vanguard pictures and to 
study conditions, prospects, etc. He 
reported that "Since You Went 
Away' 'is doing, terrif in England 
where already in release. 



Pix Pan! Most of Biggest Salaries 
During 1943-44; Report 75G or More 



Visual Educ. Semester 

. Dallas, June 26. 

Documentary films will be- 
come a potent force in building 
international goodwill and main-, 
-taining peace, according to Jane 
Margaret Carter, of Chicago, na- 
tional visual education author- 
ity. Miss Carter is here to con- 
duct' a visual education work- 
shop in the Southern Methodist 
University summer school. She 
is director of non-theatrical dis- 
tribution of Canadian govern- 
ment films in this country. 

According to Miss Carter, 
there is a possibility of creating 
a pool of documentary films for 
distribution in various countries 
and plan is being considered by 
film- authorities. The films 
would thus make available to 
other peoples information on the 
best developments within £ 
given country. 



WB's 6-Month Net 
Up to R605.088 

Warner Bros, net operating profit 
for the six months ending last Feb. 
24 totaled $4,605,088, as compared 
with $3,492,125 in like period a year 
ago. Company's statement, issued 
last week, shows that this improve- 
ment was made after providing $8,- 
200,000 for Federal income taxes and 
$170,000 for contingencies. A year 
ago, in_ corresponding six-month pe* 
r iod, the corporation's provision for 
Federal income taxes amounted to 
$9,110,000, and it provided $625,000 
for unrealized losses on fixed assets, 
less the estimated fax benefits re- 
sulting therefrom. This makes a 
saving of $1,365,000 from these two 
sources over a year-ago. — : - 

Warners' profit is equal, to $1.24 
per common shares as against 94c a 
year ago. Corporation's gross in- 
come after eliminating inter-com- 
pany transactions amounted to $68.- 
228,262. or about $1,400,000 less than 
the $69,629,010 in corresponding pe- 
riod a year ago. 

WB set its amortization of film 
costs for the six months ending on 
the last February date at $12,716,325. 
In the inventories account, the com- 
pany productions completed but not 
released, were placed at $25,481,796, 
while released productions, at cost 
less amortization, were figured at 
$8,466,406. Production in progress 
and charges to future productions 
were figured at $5,510,033. 

Financial position of Warner Bros, 
was revealed as unusually favorable, 
with current assets, including cash 
of $13,884,562. amounting to $63,564,- 
806. as of Feb. 24 last. Current lia- 
bilities were $30,531,880 on trie same 
date; ' . .'• . ........'.'.■....' 



Studio Contracts 



Hollywood, June 25. 
Dorothy Patrick, actress. Metro. 
Suzi Crandall, actress, Vanguard. 
Barbara Whiting, moppet, 20th. 
Allyn Joslyn. actor, 20th-Fox. 
Joseph Wechsberg. .writer. Par. 
Harry Harvey, actor, RKO. 
Glenn Langan. actor, 20th-Fox. 
Michael Brown, actor, Republic. 
Ladislas Fodor, writer. 20th-Fox. 
Sandra Poloway, actress. 20th-Fox. 
Edward Chodorov, writer, Metro. 
Hal McAlpin, camera. Goldwyn. 
Knthy Downa, actress, 20th-Fox. 
Tony Gaudio, cameraman. Rep. 
Frank Sundstroin, actor, Selznick. 
Ernest Ualmer, camera. 20th-Fox. 
Frank Brannon. director, Rep. 
Mary Jane Shores, actress, 20th. 
Harriet Parsons, renewed, RKO. 
Lawrence Tierney, RKO. 
Joan Winifred Ames, moppet. Met. 
Doris Houck. actress. Columbia. 
Waller Abbott, writer. Hal Wallis. 



Washington, June 26. 

As usual, film industry toppers 
form the largest group of high salary 
people in the nation, according to 
salary lists made public Sunday 
night (24) by Treasury Secretary 
Henry Morgenthau, Jr. , • 

Lists cover salaries for the cal- 
endar year ending Dec. 31. 1943. and 
for fiscal years ending during 1944. 
Reports are of those who have re- 
ceived $75,000 or more from a single 
employer. . ; 

An actor, for example, who re- 
ceived more than that amount 
as a total from two studios, but less 
from either one, would not be listed. 
Those who receive $75,000. or more 
from each of several employers have 
their earnings listed separately for 
each employer. Figures are not given 
for big radio earnings, since they 
are computed on a different basis 
than as salary. 

Some studios failed to file their re- 
turns in time to be included. How- 
ever, these figures will be made pub- 
lic in supplemental releases, just as 
in prior years. 

The 75 Gee Club: 

Cagney Productions. Inc.: James 
Cagney, $150,000; William Cagney, 
$150,000. .. , 

Feldman-Blum Corp.: Charles 
Kenneth Feldman, $127,806. 

Fox,-West Coast Agencv Corp., 
Charles P. Skouras, $130,000. 

National Theatres Amusement Co.: 
Charles P. Skouras, $170,000. 

Hal .Roach Studios: William E. 
Bendix, $178,306. 

. Vanguard Films: William Dieterle, 
$89,791; Dore Senary, $87,500: David 
O. Selznick, $208,125; Monty Woolley, 
$87,083. 

B & K Management Corp.: John 
Balaban, $104,000. 

Hurok Attractions, Inc.: Marian ■ 
Anderson, $95,551. 

Paramount Pictures: Barney Bala- 
ban, $141,451; Eddie Bracken, 
$88,208; Charles Brackett, $95,400; 
Frank Butler, $85,100; Claudette 
Colbert, $150,000; Gary Cooper, 
$187,500; Bing Crosby, $294,444; Wal- 
ter De Leon, $75,400; George G. De- 
Sylva, $246,833; Ken Englund, $82,- 
750; Y. Frank Freeman, $130,500; 
Sheridan -^Gibney; — $80;5 00, He nry- 



Gihsberg, $127,316; Paulette Goddard, 
$166,500; Bob Hope, $244,583: Talbot 
Jennings, $79,916; Austin C. Keough, 
$78,000; Dorothy Lamour, $134,083; 
Sidney Lanfield, $111,785: Mitchell 
(Continued, on page 25) 



Decision Against 20th 
On Some-Run Complaint 

Depriving one theatre of pictures 
first-run in a town having only two 
houses and offering the other both 
first and second-run, as clone by 
20th-Fox in Mansura. La., comes to 
light in an interesting decision just 
handed down by the Appeal Board of 
the American Arbitration Assn. The 
some-run complaint against three 
other decree distributors. Para- 
mount, Warners and RKO, was dis- 
missed. 

Case was originally brought by 
Benton Roy, operating the Roy the- 
atre in tbe Louisiana town. The 
only other house there is the Joy. 
Appeal Board took cognizance ot the 
unusuaf situation as follows: • 

"There can be no question but that 
the offer of Fox of -a second run to 
the Joy theatre ahead of the Roy 
theatre was an act calculated to de- 
feat the purposes of Section VI 
(some-run rights under the decree). 
What Fox really did was to ofTer, 
in a small town where there were 
only two theatres, both first and sec- 
ond run to the same theatre. Such 
an offer is clearly unreasonable. . , ,. 
Although the distributors have the 
undoubted right, as between two 
theatres in a town, to give either the- 
are the prior run, it is equally clear 
that, if they grant the first run to 
one theatre they must grant the -sec- 
ond run to the other theatre. They 
cannot grant one theatre both first 
and second run and give the other 
merely the pictures which the first 
theatre doesn't license on one run 
or the other." . 

Twentieth was ordered to live up 
to the some-run provisions of the 
decree. 



P^RtEfr 



Wednesday, June 27, 1915 



S£;£: : -o: : :;;£;: : :£:;:;; 



wm;:v:ww:v:v:™^ 

■■■■ill 
kr nnn ' 





itf HVVAUiYiH Willi 



Boxof fice 





mi 



111 



'OTENTIALI" 



-Motion Picture Herald 



"CERTAIN 10 

f THE 
B0X-0FFICI 



MB 



-Showmen's Trade Review 



' HI 



IT'S BOFF STUFF!" 



-Variety 



"WILL GATHER IN THE SHEKELS! 



11 




The Exhibitor 



U\ 



'TS DESTINY IS C 





"A SUCCESS! PEGGY ANN GARNER EXCELLENT 



111 



•Film Daily 




i§§ 



Motion Picture Daily 



Starri 

Dire 
Prod 



Vcilncsday, June 2?, 1945 P^jSlEff 




16 



FILM REVIEWS 



VARIETY 



Wednesday, '-June 27, 1,915 



Ithapsody in Blue 

"Warner Bins, release ot Josso L. I.nsky 
product inn. .Stars Robert Alda. Joan Leslie, 
Ah \is Smith, Chas. Cohuvill .-Al -.lulson, 
4)scili' Levant, Paul Whiteman, l-tebrKtl 
iwhlie. Hazel S.-ott, Anne Brown- piny 
tliiMltUvtves. Plrei'ted by living Rnnper. 
Ktory, Snityii Lt-vlen; screenplay. Howard 
3\im-1i, Klliol Raul. SiiRa of Oem-jje (lorsh- 
w-ln naturally ivprtses 'ocrshwln'a muslo 
dynes by Ira < it-rslnvln, Buddy deSylva, 
Irving; Cansar. Camera, Sol Ppllto, Mevrltt 
•iiersiad, Krnest nailer. James Leicester, 
Jlny Davidson; WiliarU Van Knitcr; editor, 
Wnlniee RtttiiKsicd; dalices, . LeRoy Prlnz; 
4i rr:i niifMiii-in m. Kay Hetndnrf, J<>rde (irofe 
(•■ llltupso.t) " ) ; icn t arraoticinenth', Dud- 
ley Cheiilbr.is; . 'MthaPsody" conducted hy 
3'anl WhitVitwin: "Rhapsody" ana "Con- 
(•vrlu in i ii ii no solo rceordlnKS. Oscar 

1,-vaiii: uthei piano solos. Ray Turner; 
music. L»b l-V i-'orbstetn: asst. director. 
JR»W. \ i iM ia rut. Opened Juno 2(1. '45, at 
lloilyv,,iiid, X. V. ((turning time. 139 MINS. 



liroi'Ke liorsbiviu. 
.Inlic Adttntv ...... 

Christ* im 1 lillbel i . . 

j\lay Dreyfus-. 

"Leo L'shn-in. . . . . 
JYi'u'essor I'raok . 
jPupua tloi-shwlu . . . 
3Vluintiia*. (tersUu in . 
■himself ...... 

JlilltSflf 

lithiwir. 

Himself..... 

Herself..; 

lle.selr , . . .. 

3ra • Uerslm in . . 
'.itiiinctitaioi 



.Rabori A Ma 

..Joan Leslie 

..; Alexis Smith 

.... .Charles Coburn 

. . ...Julie Bishop 

. ... A Ibevt Bassernwh 
. . . Morris Carnovsky 
. Iloseinory Do Camp 

Oscar Levant 

.....Caul Whiteman 

. At Joison 

Oconee White 

Hazel Scott 

.Anne Blown 

Herbert Rudley 

.John B. HuKhes 



ileorite (lert-bv- Itj tars a. boy). .. .Mickey Roth 
Ira (tp.l'sluvltt (as ii boy) , , . Darryl Hickman 



Jlr. K.tsl, .....,.'. . 
Mr. .MlUimi.. ',..-. 
Mr. Kalianan. . ... 

Mr. Muscatel 

Buddy Be Sjha... 

>••..). y 

Herbert Stone 

.American Mutt. . . . 

Wavel. ,.. 

J)aocer .'. 

t)lto Kshii .;. „ . ... . 
dasoha, lleifelit. «. . 
•Walter Dauirosoll. 

'Hachttiantnulf. ... . .'. 



.Charles Halton 
....Andrew Tombes 

. , , .(Ireirory Goluboft 
....Walter Soderllnx 

.. .. . . ... .Uddle M.trr 

.Theodore Von Kltl? 
.......Bill Kennedy 

. .. . . .Robert Shayne 

.Oscar Loraine 

.V;., .Johnny Downs 

. ... Krnest Goltn 

'.Martin Noble 

...IIuko Kirohhoffer 
Will Wilfrttt 



Warner Bros., which' has always 
clicked with musicals and biograph- 
icals, has a surefire parlay in "Rhap- 
sody in Blue," the filmusical biog o£ 
George Gershwin. It will play a 
tuneful box-ofiice barrage at any ex- 
hibitor's wicket. It has everything 
for the film fan. 

Those who knew Gershwin and 
the Gershwin saga may wax slightly 
vociferous at this or that miscue, but 
ss cinematttrgy, designed for escap- 
ism and entertainment, no matter the 
season, "Rhapsody in Blue" can't 
miss. . 

Forgetting the historical, there are 
sometimes 'such corny lapses in the 
Sonya Levien-Howard Koch-Elliot 
Paul script as to make one wonder 
how producer Jesse L. Lasky and the 
Warnerites didn't see it. Contrasted 
to Oscar Levant's brittle dialog— in- 
cidentally he must have written 
much of that himself, and he has 
easily the best lines of the script-^- 
it's all the more pointed up. Those 
off-the-cob lines about a penthouse, 
etc., are almost embarrassing. 

But "Rhapsody," which runs well 
over two hours, holds so much more 
that this can easily be glossed over. 
For one thing, take Gershwin's mu- 
sic—period. That's plenty, easy to 
lake. The years have certainly lent 
enhancement to his music, and the 
glib interplay of names such as Otto 
Kahn, Jaseha Heifetz, Maurice Ravel. 
Walter Darntqsch and Rachmaninoff 
tall of whom are impersonated ) 
lend conviction to the basic yarn of 
the New York east side boy whose 
musical genius was to sweep the 
world. 

Fundamentally it's an Alger story. 
Robert Alda plays Gershwin and 
makes him believable/Herbert Rud- 
ley as, Ira Gershwin is perhaps more 
believable to the initiate, looking 
staitimgly like the famed lyricist- 
brother of the composer, but young 
Alda, a newcomer, makes his role 
tick as the burningly ambitious com- 
poser who is constantly driving him- 
self. ' '!* 

The musical highlights, of course, 
are authentic, and in real-life hands. 
Thus Al Joison clays himself, intro- 
ducing, "Swanee." Gershwin's first 
hit which he wrote with Irving Caesar 
(who, incidentally, is not perso- 
nated, whereas the now ailing Buddy 
de Sylva, another lyricist collabora- 
tor, is shown briefly, played by Eddie 
Man ). Joison at the Winter Garden, 
first shown blacking-up when music 
publisher Max Dreyfus (Charlie Co- 
burn) phones him, is a thrill. Still 
among the world's greatest single en- 
tertainers, Joison in blackface is out 
of the .memory-books and once again 
celluloided for posterity. 
,' Levatit as Levant can't miss, and 
he doc.sn:t here. He has the meatiest, 
bnttlest lines and whams over the 
titular "Rhapsody in Blue" and "Con- 
certo in F" with virtuosity and au 



to bolter photogenic avantage. Bas- 
ically very attractive, Miss Scott 
packed some extra poundage when 
she Buib/an.ked in this film, and the 
white decoilatagc doesn't help the 
illusion. Miss Brown recreates her 
"Porgy and Bess' and other Gersh- 
win classics. Unbilled, but an- 
nounced, is Tom Patricola, who re- 
prises "Somebody Loves Me" as he 
did in a "Scandals." 

. Story almost borders on the Benny 
Davis "and then I wrote" idiom, but 
just as it gels overboard it segues 
out of the musical medley and the 
plot progresses. It wasn't an easy 
one to lick, especially with such an 
embarrassment of musical riches. 
But Joan Leslie is always resurrected 
as the patient ingenue who first met 
Gershwin when he was songplugging 
for Rcmick and who flits in and out 
of musical shows. Alexis Smith is 
the moneyed other woman. . - . 

References to Chico Marx as the 
best pianist in the neighborhood; to 
Lee Gershwin. Ira's wife; poppa and 
momma Gershwin, capitally played 
by Morris Carnovsky and Rosemary 
De Camp, (he's especially good) all 
form .an authentic pattern. So do 
some of Levant's cracks that "an eve- 
ning with Gershwin is a Gershwin 
evening," etc. It's principally via the 
Levant dialog that the late, great 
composer's w.k. egoism is projected 
although never is it objectionable. 
Gershwin's self-centered intensity, 
of course, was born of his boundless 
ambition and desire to do more and 
more, greater and greater things. 
There's enough of this suggested in 
the film to satisfy the hep fans, and 
it won't bother anybody else. 

The Rcmick music house; the peri- 
patetic songplugging caravanseries, 
off the back of tru?ks; the backstage 
rehearsals; the Broadway, London 
and Paris atmosphere; the general 
movement of the action; Albert Bas- 
serman as the benevolent and un- 
derstanding professor who was 
Gershwin's music mentor; the Joison 
stuff backstage at. the Winter Gar- 
den; Pops Whiteman with the 
"Rhapsody"; Damrosch interrupting 
his NBC broadcast of the "Rhap- 
sody" to announce' the composer's 
death, and Levant the piano soloist, 
deadpan continuing in the-show- 
must-go-on tradition — all these, and 
more, are fine; punchy touches in a 
fertile musical career. 

There are shortcomings also. 
"Blue Monday Blues," from the 1927 
"Scandals." was certainly allowed 
plenty of footage to prove how big a 
flop this one was for Gershwin when 
dialog could have covered it. The 
bedded Basserman listening to the 
"Rhapsody" from Aeolian Hall, via 
radio, is an historical anachronism, 
of course, considering the 1924 
period. 

Musically, it's an ingenuous job. 
"An American in Paris" is well cam- 
eraed and imaginatively montaged. 
Ditto the "Cuban Overture," the 
Concerto in F and Miss Scott's han- 
dling of "I Got Rhythm," "The Man 
I Love," "Fascinating Rhythm" and 
"Yankee Doodle Blues." And in all 
the large orchestral numbers (White- 
man and Damrosch) the lensers have 
done right well by their assignments 
with exciting camera angles and 
groupings. 

Directorially. Irving Rapper has 
properly projected the career of a 
turmoiled youth whose genius scuds 
him from his native shores to Paris, 
and coincidentally a quondam art 
career (Gershwin was no mean ama- 
teur painter), and ultimately to 
Hollywood, alter "Porgy and Bess" 
has clicked in New York. Abel. 



BIoimIk From Brooklyn 

(SONGS) 

Columbia release of Ted ftleh'inmid pro- 
cltl.l lull. I'Va lint's Robei't St a 111 nil. 1. villi 
.Metrii'li. 'Illtllsloll Hal). .Mary 'I'lt en. I)i- 
reofed by Pel Lord. .SVreenplay. Brua l.a/.a- 

ftis: <• era. Hul'nett flnflfeyi edit ir. .lernnle 

Thnins. ai l' - ,,jt. itionklyn, J title 2.1, '45. 
Running lime. Ii5 

Dijon llai'lier , 

Susan Marker 

"Col,'.' Ilulieti e'raiiMv 

Dlaiie t'eniiodv ; 

W. . Wilton Wilbur 

Watiiel fVitKilr «. 

Alt s. . Fraxi'er. 

llai'Vey Eh'llllsolt . .'; i.. . 

Alhvs gnaiUeiilisb 

Bartende*; 

Curl is Ftoseillnre.'. 

RbUie l.esict 



.Ttnue 



St a 11 1 on 

I-. vit tl Mw'ilek 

lh., Thurston Hall 
. .". . . . Mary Treen 

• Waller Sndejiinx 
. . . . . . . Ai-ihur Loft 

. ..Hesilta Wallace 
. ; . . Byron K'oiijger 
.Myrtle Fel'jruson 

■ ■' John tvelly 

Mall IV ill is 

Bddie "Baitell 



'Blonde From Brooklyn" has a fa- 
miliar formula-- the unknown singer 
getting a chance break at the mike 
and becoming a radio hit— but it also 
adds a pleasant romance, and songs 
to make up an entertaining film for 



thortly as befits a real-life confidante tne family trade. Film also kids 
of. the late composer. Incidentals Southern traditions— the old planta- 
tion, deep-South idea— for a little 
extra fun. ' '• 

Story concerns a song-and-dance 
man released- from the Army, who 
meets a jukebox singer, and' plans 
teaming with her in a song routine. 
Meeting a Southern "Colonel," they 
adopt Southern accents, and win a 
place on. a radio program pushing 
a Dixie-almosphered coffee. Cbmpli- 
cation<L_devclop when the girl un- 
der her assumed Southern name is 
judged the heiress of an old planta- 
tion fortune, and the coffee sponsors 
publicize the connection. Girl breaks 
up the radio combine to run away 
the boy finding her back at. her old 
jukebox stint. This time they start 
again, on the level, and wiii success 
on another airer. 

Lynn Merrick and Robert Stan- 
ton (formerly know n ax Bob Haymes. 
Dicks brother) make an attractive 
romantic pair and 



composer. Incidentally, 
Ray. Turner (borrowed from Para- 
mount) deserves more than the ca- 
sual .screen credit for the' expert 
Steui way ing he does throughout, 

Then there is Paul Whiteman who 
first introduced .the "Rhapsody." 
Ferde Grofe. who first scored that 
now famous work, gets rightful bill- 
gp,: t0 $ '"is arrangement. George 
White, for. whom Gershwin composed 
several ; "Scandals," plays himself, 
thiefly in a Turkish bath scene with 
Coburn as Dreyfus (the head of the 
thappell-Haims music firm). Inci- 
dentally. Coburn makes quite a ro- 
bust Dreyfus, considering that ven- 
erable music publisher's slightness of 
stature, but the fans won't know the 

The two other real-life characters 
are Hazel Scott and Anne Brown, 
former is discovered in a Paris boite 
-a- sort, of combo Bricktop and Jo- 



Miniature Reviews 

"Rhapsody in Blue" (Musical) 
fWB). Plenty of b.o. black due 
from Gershwin's "Rhapsody, in 
Blue," a tuneful boxoffice bar- 
iage. 

"Blonde From Brooklyn" 

(Songs) (Col.). Modest radio ro- 
mance for family trade. 

"The Missing Corpse" (PRC) 
Comedy whodunit that should do 
moderately well. . 

•'The Lady Confesses" (Songs) 
(PRC). Mary Beth Hughes tracks 
down killer to save her man; 
should do better than average. 

."Crime, InctV-XPRC). Title, in 
view of apparent demand for 
gangster stuff, may carry this 
tiresome one across. .•: - , 

"Mu«s ltides 'tCfbkpi '(Mono) . 
East ' Side Kids in satisfactory 
racetrack yarn. - 

"The Ural Front" (Artkino). 
Undramatic fare of doubtful 
value even to special houses. 

"The Last Hill" (Artkino). 
Melodramatic material unlikely 
of acceptance. 

La Dama Duende" (San Mi-' 
guel). Argentine-made costume 
drama, but dubious U. S. entry. 



rascally. pseudo-Southern "Colonel,' 
and Mary Treen has some pert lines 
as the plain girl-friend. Songs and 
radio production numbers are pleas 
ant, with film on a modest budget. 

Bron. 



The Missing Corpse 

WtO release of. Leon l-'ronikoss-Jtarlln 
.Mnoney itltidilt-ijon, I'Vulures .1. Kdwartl 
Jlroniberif, ■ lualjel >taiidnl|ih. I>li'^<-jed hy 
Albert Herman. Siiiv.-nplay, itity Si-brook, 
fl-oin orlKlnal by Jlarry (). Jloyt: music, 
Ifarl llajos; edtitir, \v. Pniin ITnyes:' rain- 
ev;i, .liune.s 'Brown ; aunt, direoloe, William 
.A. CaltUuii .Ir. Ar New T...ik' theatre. 
N. Y.. week .lone lit. J6. dual. ItunitinEr 
time, it-t MINS 



Henry Ivrnger. 
Alt-a. KrtiKer.., 
Jiimes IvrUKer. 
Ho B an... 

Mr lint laid 

•TeffiT Di.dd. . .. 
Phyllis Krimer. 

joy Clary 

Hubert... 

TriKKV. .......... 

Dihtnnod 

Minn Ainee 

Madxe. 

liraiier 

Mrs. Sivaoaker 

Marie 

Motor (.'till,'. . . 
.Miss PaUerWon. 



Kdward Hrn'mberK 

. . . Isabel Ka n.icill.ll 

KvW .Sini'lalr 

Kntiik -lenks 

....fattl llttllfnyle 

John Shay 

I.oiell Sheldon 

Ben Welden 

, . irhnrtea Coleman 
..Mirbael nranden 

RUtly Waller 

. . . . . Klavtte Adams 

...... .'iMa'iy Arden 

. .'. .t'harjea .lovdan 

Anno O'Neal 

lean rtaiiHoine 

ICen. Tel'rell 

. . . : . l.tabel Withers 



"The Missing Corpse" is another of 
those whodunits, with . a comedy 
switch, that should get over in the 
intermediate house?. It has pace, 
sufficient laughs and performances 
by cast which., if anything, enhance 
story content. 

J. Edward Biomberg portrays a 
publisher who is feuding with a busi- 
ness rival. He blows his top after 
heated argument and threatens to 
erase the latter, one way or another. 
Paul Guill'oyle. the rival, is found 
dead. Naturally finger of suspicion 
points at Biomberg, who has a merry 
time of it trying to hide the stiff, 
with aid of his wisecracking auto 
jockey. Frank Jenks. Of course, the 
audience knows Ben Welden, an ex- 
con whom Gtiilfoyle had "framed," 
knocked him off. but Bromberg 
doesn't find out until denouement. 
Isabel Randolph' gives good account 
as wife of Bromberg and all of above 
mentioned give splendid perform- 
ances. 

Director Al Herman has injected 
pace that sustains suspense through- 
out. James Brown's camera work 
okay. too. Edba. 

The Lady 4 'on I esses 

(SONGS) 

PRC release o£ Allied Stern UrodlieUon. 
Stall) Maty Beih Hugh**: features Hnxh 
Beaumont. Kduiund .Mat-Duna Id. Claudia 
Urake, Kmitiett Vn K .in. Directed bv Sam 
.\ewn>Ll Screenplay. Helen Marljti rnm 
ni'HSinal by invin R.' rwnlrlin; as«l. ilirec.- 
tor, Harold B. Knox; miisJc, l.ee SJahler: 
sons*, nobert Hmrtr, Al Seaman, Cindy 
walker, smith, huliains and Bloniler: edl- 
tnr Hnl.br-.nk 'todd! eameiil, ..raik ((leen- 
*'«*. At New York Hietilre, ■ \, .v.. weel- 



lb. 



.lone 
ill I VS. 

Vii'k! .MoOuJ.re 
J.ttlly Cralx: ... 
litll'kV li'HHidnl 
l.ui-ille (•omul, 
'•nut. H 
Hailitoi 



Ml n. 



Steve. . . . 
.VI it rife. . . 
••Uaiiys; ., 
Norniu (• 
Mjittaaer. 
.Rill.. . , 
StaiKi-lit. 



1"', dual. Itiiiiiiiiix t(nh), SH 
>tary Beth Hueites 

. .. ■ 1 1 melt Beatlmnnt. 
P.iltntinil ..VtarOoliMld 
.....Claudia Drake 

. . . . . Kninn ii VoKan 

. . .'Kdward' Howard 
, . . Dewey Rohtll'lton 
... .1 "arol Andrews 

...... .Ruth Biande 

.....Rtirbarn Hlatef 

....... i.fa.ek Keorse 

. . . : i . .'.If Tome Rool 

-. Kdwina Patteindn 



.cphine Baker^hr^'oeen sS T= H«£ &W t 



, 'The Lady Confesses," starring 
Mary Beth Hughes, is likeable mys- 
tery .melodrama with more twists 
and turns than a scenic railway, pro- 
jecting good cast performances and 
sparked direction by. Sam Newfleld. 

Yarn is woven around gal (Bar- 
bara Slater), wedded to Hugh Beau- 
mont, who walks out on matrimony. 
Alter seven years spouse becomes ro- 
mantically attached to Miss Hughes 
He's about to invoke Enoch Arden 
proceedings to have wife declared 
legally dead, so he can marry Miss 
Hughes, when the former shows up. 
She is subsequently murdered and 
husband is suspected. Miss Hughes 
turns sleuth, hires out as cigaret gal 
in. a nitery and gets the goods on 
the flwnw, F.dnuind MacDonald, as 
the killer. He gels hop and is about 



to polish her off when the police 
break in and nab him. 

Miss Hughes gives a charming, 
well-balanced portrayal of Ihe crime 
detector. Hugh Beaumont docs well 
as romantic opposite. Claudia Drake 
looks ' charming and handles several 
songs neatly in the nightclub se- 
quence, although the tunes are un- 
distinguished, with others also ade- 
quate in respective assignments. 

Edba. 



Crime, Inc. 



(SONGS) 

Pttf release of Mitrtlil Xlonney 
Unit. Slat's l«t'0 Carrtlln. Tout .\>al, 
Tllton; features Lionel A I will. 
Mttcllell, Sheldon Leonid. Oire.-ted 



nrodiio- 
.Vlarltni 
(Irnnt 
hy I. 



... r>,,^,ii,,M ,..,ii,t.i. ,/,,i7v\n\j i,,y -(.''iv 

Landers, nas'ed on hook 'by Mul'tin Moonoy: 
tidaniatioii, Kay Shroi'k: sonKtf. .fay Ltvlnx- 
stoll and ility Rvans: editor. Hoy Living- 
ston: camera, .lames Brown. Al: Jllalto, 
Y., week June --. 'l."i. JtttnnliiK time, 



Hi MINS. 

Tony .Marlow . . .... . 

.lim Riley.-. . . . . . . 

Retty Van cieve. . 
I 'at. Coyle. . 
VS'nyiie Chirk. . . 
t 'tiiitylu l-^emute. ..'.■. 
t ■umniisslnner Collim 

lltiK-s Jv elly 

Trlxle Witters 

Dixon 

Barry North..:..... 

Lucas. .............. 

SkL Hayes. ... j. ... , 

Sleeker 

Convict .'.... : . . 



......Leo Cnrrlllo 

.Tom Will 

Marlhii 'I'lllnn 

Lionel Atwill 

. . .Uiant MHcImli 

.sbi>hlt>n LeonoTd 

. . I lat't-y ShUfiD'oll 
. . .Dititny Mot-tun 
;...VliKlnla \'iil« 

.... . linn Beddoe 
. . .(leni'no Meeker 
. ... , . Hod Uoflrers 

Rtl. t 'ioittey 

. . . . ...lack (lordoit 

.Monk Ki'lcUman 



"Crime. Inc." is a rather tiresome 
gangster item dealing with the juicier 
Prohibition days of noodlumism but 
its title, a paraphrase on Murder, Inc., 
coined by a N. Y. newspaper during 
cleanup of Brooklyn mobsters, will 
probably have some .marquee value. 
Since the public seems to be iti a 
mood for this type Of fare, picture 
may do well in spite of itself. 

Martin Mooney, former N, Y. 
newspaper reporter, whose book on 
gangsterism, called "Crime, Inc.," is 
the associate producer. The role of 
the newshotind, played by Tom Neal, 
presumably is autobiographic. There 
is nothing more inconceivable than 
this reporter, however, who plays 
around with gangsters, knows their 
every move, and walks into the 
Police Commissioner's office without 
even knocking. The manner in which 
he is taken into confidence is utterly 
unbelievable. 

Story is built around a crime syn- 
dicate whose chairman is supposedly 
a respected citizen and, at the mo- 
ment, foreman of the grand jury. 
Numerous killings figure but. on the 
whole, the action is very routine and 
to some extent dated. 

Paired with Neal for romantic in- 
terest is Martha Tilton, who sings 
two numbers, neither very impres- 
sive. They are "I'm Guilty" and 
;'.Lonely Little Camera Girl," both 
done in nitery sessions. Both players 
aye. ordinary in their performances 
but Leo Carrillo, Lionel Atwill, 
Grant Mitchell, Sheldon Leonard, 
Harry Shannon acqurt themselves 
creditably. - char. 



ltd 



Muggs Hides Again 

MonoBioni release nt Sam Kai/mau 
.lack Dleta hroducljun. features Leh'ttnr- 
rc.v, Hum* Hall. Billy VtenedioL Dfieiied 
hy Wallace . K"ns. Set eeil|iia.v. Harvey 
«al'es: ialiiei:i. Ira Mor K ao: edilot-; William 
Austin. At r<«, Brooklyn, .lune U\ 'H 
KuniihiK lime. 6» MINN 



MtlKlts 
t llitlipy ,*: v. . .' 
Skinny. ...... 

Danny 

Sam. . . ... . . . , 

Seruno. . . .', , , 

Squeegle. . . . . 

Oahy Dell... 
"Kirs. Hi-owiIt- 
Klaie Brown. 
Dollar Davis 
Mike Hanllii. 
.Toe Ktiaiish. . 
Dr. Cletch*!', 
Xlltse ,'. 

Vetertoarla n . 



.Leo Goreev 
........ Huittli Hail 

....Billy Benedict 

. . . . MeiKlte Ko' iiIk 

Hod doriuan 

. . :..iohn it. Alien 
....lohn'ny Dinii'sn 
. . . Rernerd' Thomas 
. . . .Minerva Urecal 
..Nancy Brincknitnl 
. . . .(leol'KS Meeker 

Stanford Jollev 

.. ... Michael Oiven 

I'lerre , Watkin 

......Betty Sinclair 

Aliltun Ivibbee 



The Fast Side Kids series fakes a 
new lease on life in this film by 
transplanting the gang from city to 
country— to the racetrack, to be pre- 
cise. Rough and tumble antics of 
Muggs, Glimpy. Danny and the others, 
plus some obvious humor, are dished 
"P in an acceptable yarn to please 
ESK fans. 

Story has the kids as track em- 
ployees, with Muggs and Danny as 
jockeys. Muggs, a somewhat plump 
rider by the way, is barred from the 
track when his crooked employer 
frames him. The kids go back 
to New York. Muggs taking with him 
an aging horse given him by another 
indigent owner as security lor a loan 
Just when the kids run afoul of the 
law for keeping the .nag in their 
clubhouse the owner reappears to re- 
deem horse, release the boys, and 
hire them for a big race. 

Rest of yarn concerns further ef- 
forts of Muggs' former employer to 
dope his rival's nag; revelation of 
the man s crookedness and Muggs' 
honesty, and winning of the big race 
by Muggs on the discarded nag he 
and the other kids have trained. 

Scenes around track and stables 
»Jf authentic, and two horseraces 
add excitement to film-. Nancy Brinck- 
man and Bemerd Thomas add ro- 
mantic touch, and George Meeker is 
satisfactory villain. Budget is light 
but not skimpy. ■■'■■Bron.' 



Wildfire 

(CINECOLOR) 

Screen OSiitkl Productions release , if *eih,i. 
I'lciiu-cs (William It. David) )m>diwtlu 
Directed hy Robert Tansey. MiMoenuloV bv 
I' ranees KHVlinuURh from story hy w (i 
Tuttlo: camera, Marcol Le I'limvd: editor 
Charles Hlnkel. I'reytowM in fruS' 
Juno at, MS. KnimtiiK time, ftU MINS.T 
Hob Steele 



.SterliiiK llolloway 

'••;.-.;,M J " 1,n MllJun 
, , ,\\ llllati) Farniini 
— VlijUnla Mnnios 

Sarah f'lHlden 

Kddie Dean 

. . Wee Willie Davis 
, ; . . .Kooky ('(union 
....... A I I'>i'khsou 

....... I'Vaucis Kord 



Haniiy tiny 

.illtttU.,. 

l-'ete l-'atiitliiK 
.fudire Poison 
Judy Oordon. 
Aunt' Aientha 
.Inhniiy I)enl, 
.Moose Htirrls 
Buck JVrr.y. . 
Steve Kane., 
Kzia Mills. . . 



First release of the newly formed 
Screen Guild Productions is strictly 
for the small towns as. a secondary 
feature. Done in Cinecolor, the low - 
budgeted oater is slow moving, 'de- 
spite it's 59 mins,; with a minimum 
of action. With the exception of a 
few scenes it's lacking in the usual 
amount of hard riding and gunpluy 
expected in a western. 

Yam concerns the activities of a 
band of land-grabbing horse thieves, 
led by John Miljan, who have led 
the ranchers to believe that Wildfire, 
a wild horse, is responsible for their 
missing stock. Bob Steele and Ster- 
ling Hollqway, liorsetraders, mean- 
dering on the scene/get mixed up in 
the activities, discover skulduggery 
afoot, and manage to put the cul- 
prits to rout. 

Acting by the entire cast is just 
about average; One of the bright 
spots is the warbling of Eddie Dean, . 
a new singing cowboy. Camerawork 
is outstanding, Marcel LcPicard hav- 
ing achieved some beautiful' pic- 
torial effects. .,-•-,'';' Morg: 

The Ural Front 

(RUSSIAN-MADE) 

Artkino release of Moslilm product Ion. 
Features Tama m Maktirova and Vladimir 
Uobrovolsky. Screenplay unit direction hy 
SeiKein Geiaslmov; Knalish lilies. CuarlcM 
('lenient; camera, Vladimir Vakotov. At 
Stanley, N. Y., week of June «, 4S. nun- 
lllllK time, M .Ml.VM. 

Anno, Svlrlilovn. Tliinara Makavova, 

Vegor Svlrldov.........; Vladimir Solovvov 

Kozyryev Mai lt Hemes 

Anikeyev Vladimir Dobrovolsky 



Kostya... 
KoSlya's Sweelhes 
Svirldov's MkiHter. 
A Urals Worker . . . 
Kitgino'er ) 

K orochUIn )' , 

I'rlkhodkft 



. I'eler ' Aleiolkov 
. . . . Vera A Ita iakaj'.tt 
. . .Sella* IChalyultna. 
. . . . .Georne Kovrov 

.Xikntai Xnnnvfllov 
■ . ■ .Seiki tilioolUuv 



RYAN GETS FAMILY' 

Hollywood. June 26. 

Frank Ryan, on loanout from 
Universal, will direct "Genius in the 
Family" for Jack Skirball. and Bruce 
Manning, indie producers. 

Picture, based on the . career of 
Hiram Maxim, inventor, will co-star 
Don Ameche and Myrna Loy, 



(hi Russian; English Titles) 
Film wise, the war seems to have 
almost crippled the Soviet picture 
makers. While they do well in doc- 
umentaries, there is no doubt that 
they have fallen down on dramatic 
pix, arid "The Ural Front" is only 
one more instance of that downward 
trend. If the Russian film industry 
is still producing good pictures, then 
those in charge of recent export to 
the U.S.A. have certainly shown bad 
judgment. This film is doubtful fare 
even for special houses. . 

"Front" tells the story of a factory 
moved from the Nazi -threatened 
front, during the dark days of the 
war, to a safer spot behind the Ural 
mountains. But ordinary newspaper 
stories in the American press have 
told that tale with greater dramatic 
eftect. Undoubtedly, that movement 
of industry eastward was a grave test 
and a great triumph in the Soviet 
way of fighting a winning war. But 
the moviegoer will see no hint of 
anything but pedestrian yarn-weav- 
ing and uninspired acting" in this ex- 
ample on the screen. Cars. 

The last Hill 

(RUSSIAN-MAUK) 

Artkino release of Tbilisi i>i o.lu.-i l„n Di- 
rected by Alexander SCarUhi and Josef liel- 
iilia. Screenplay from Burls Voyetekhnv's 
, l«te Last Days of Sevastopol.: 1 bv Zatkht . 
and HeiflU: music, A. BaltinchlvintKe: 
camera, AicadV Knlttaty: Kn*lish lilies, 
I. hai-les Clement. At Stanley, N. v.. week 
June 42, '4.1. RunnhiK time, *« MINX. 

( omdr. Boris Likhachev .Nikola I Kl< ti!;n» 

Marls, J'eiveiitseva Marina Pasl Uklvova, 

/'taukovaky Hoi-Is Andreyev 

The Vlce-AOmii'Kl .....Anion Rboviivw 

jergeant Siuov. Nikniai »n>'okhln 

sailors: Feortor Ischenko. Nikolai « 0 rlov, 

Kvaeni rrcov. tenor Tknchuk. Zurab 

Lezhara, 

(III Russian; En-gUsh Titles) 
For some reason the Russians 
seemed to have lost or mislaid the 
know-how ,of picture-making, since 
the war started. "The Last Hill" was 
written and^ directed, by Alexander 
Zarkhi and Josef Heif5tz, a team that 
a few years ago was responsible for 
one of Russia's film greats. "The 
Baltic Deputy." But this time, though' 
their material was smash, what came 
finally to the screen was -melodrama 
entirely out of key with, the impor- 
tance of the theme. The film, con- 
sequently, will probably find no ac- 
ceptance. 

Theme of the picture is the tem- 
porarily losing battle by the Russians 
to save Sevastopol; the 250-day siege 
which added up to' one of the most 
heroic episodes of the entire war. 
bush heroism should have cued an 
epic film. Instead, a girl is intro- 
duced increditably amidst all the 
shooting, a naval officer raves his 
speeches, and even the camera work 
1S -Juf ver above the mediocre. 

There is a fairly long sequence of 
fine acting as a group of Russiaii 
sailors carries on suicide raids 
against Nazi tankers. One knows 
from authentic war dispatches that, 
melodramatic as such action seems, 
it did take place in real life. But 
then the pretty gal finally stands 
high . up on the ramparts, a target • 
lor the Nazi machine guns, and Sifi- 
. (Continued, on page 48) 



t Bt. Martin's Vlare, Tmlalsar 8uw 



British Production Nears New Peak 
This Summer; Six Set to Start By Sept 



INTERNATIONAL 



17 



London, June 12. 
British production gets into full 
swing this month, and latest indica- 
tion is that six features will go be- 
fore cameras by next September. 
It's the biggest lineup since before 
the war. 

Metro tees off with Enid Bignold's 
"Lottie Dundass," with Julien Du- 
vivier brought over from U. S. to 
direct. Cast will be headed by Vivi- 
en Leigh, with shooting to start at 
Denham Film studios about the mid- 
dle oi the mouth.. . , . 

Biggest musical yet attempted 
here by British studios is being lined 
up by Two-Cities Films. Wesley 
Buggies, here for sometime, will di- 
rect, with Toots Camarato, also im- 
ported, to do special • music arrang- 
ing. Sid Field will be starred. Bug- 
gies has been exploring the talent 
available here, and to date has 
discovered Petula Clark, 12-year- 
old, and signed her immediately. 
He also unearthed chorine Pa^ 
mela Carrell, who will be given two 
big song numbers. Other prospects 
are Freddie Costello, just discharged 
from British Army, who will be 
given singing role, Cairoli Bros., 
two clowns, in George Black's Palla- 
dium revue, "Happy and Glorious," 
may also be in film, . 

Field, who quits "Strike It Arraln," 
the George Black's Prince of Wales 
show, around July, will rest until 
shooting starts sometime in Septem- 
ber. Film is expected to cost around 
$2,000,000. .1. Arthur Rank is backing 
it. Also being made for Rank is 
Baphne Du Maurier's stage hit, "The 
Years Between," currently at Wynd; 
hams' theatre, being done by Sidney 
Box Productions. Cast is headed by 
Flora Robson and John Clements, 
with shooting expected to start this 
month at Riverside studios. 

Archer Films (Michael Powell & 
Emeric Pressburger) is launching 
one of its biggest efforts, an original 
titled "A Matter of Life and Death," 
which starts in July at Denham stu- 
dios. Expected that David Nivon 
will be available for starring role, 
with Raymond Massey, Roger Live- 
sey and Kim Hunter, new femme 
discovery, featured. 

^Charles Dickens* novel, "Great Ex- 
pectations," is down for schedule, to 
be made by Cineguild for Rank, 
starting in August. John Mills will 
enact role of "Pip," originally played 
by Phillips Holmes, when epic was 
made by Universal in 1936. Ronald 
Nearne will be in charge of the pro- 
duction at Denham studios. 

Associated British Pitcure Corp. is 
following up its schedule of big pic- 
tures i with Esther McCracken's stage 
hit Quiet. Week-End," which Harold 
Pencil is to direct. 



Goodman Reviews Rep's 
Foreign Expansion Plans 

L n l Z° m and alread -v ^ lav- 
Lr \ f01 ' e »la'-fied foreign dig- 
te n a °^ M ? n ' iS Goodman ' public 
Tuesi « V exy> said yesterday 
week \,° hw retum fr01 " « lo- 
tion r l y 0i Eur °Pean condi- 
orfo,-<. 1 W 0dman felt that A« value 

tet a f Xt fl u Ve years would °e at 
■easras much as m th flve 

thaT? he Pri0r J° the ™- He ^td 
ha I « P /,°. W ,t m todav is :»« only 
ha of J iS ( tri ^ ting P^duct. but 

gov l ei . n f m ^ nt r ,din 8 wit » restrictive 

soveinmental conditions, 

ss D 2S n | c <>nditions in Europe 
stated tv, ! d ^ and difficu,t - Goodman 
tan 1 F, the . transportation prob- 
tadicta^n ,S the "iggest current 
•re nh it • Howe ver, theatres there 
war™ * mo " Power and. with 
want, weather, more will be avail- 

its^own" 8 h ° W - Re P ul >Hc is building 
Cfe ^T?*" ln many new 
of C?" v mail L ets he c"ed the naming 
manaJ£l & Newbery as genera ^ 
M ZToJ° T Aus tralasia and India 

has Z „ Goodman said Republic 
Latin a, '- n distrib branches in 
and Ve. ™ exceptin « i" Cuba 
Won of R Cla V? e Sa,d t ha t dirti-ib- 
land i„ „ I ! epi,blic Product in Eng- 

VV1> il Xt , remelv satisfactory. 
*xecXic Lo " don ' be huddled with 
Corn T ° f . British Lion Film 
Britain fta " cmse holders in Great 
ovef tn„ 8 » d J ,sited branc » offlce s 
roll v •? ntlsn bles - "FaH Car- 
*nd " Gl e a t Flamarion" 

starrer fV , new Roy Rogers 
gZ*Z' were trade shown while 
e ESSES was in London, drawing 
c «eilent comment. 



Foster Sues Calderon 

• Mexico City, June 26. 

Norman Foster, former Hollywood 
film director, tiled a $100,000 breaeh- 
of-contract suit against the Calderon 
Studio here. 

Plaintiff declares Calderon re- 
fuses to. produce pictures as per 
agreement, while an exclusive 
clause in the pact, prevents him 
from working elsewhere. 



Top U.S. Fix Execs In 
London Urge Peacetime 
Collaboration With Brit. 

London, June 26. 

American picture company chief- 
tains asked for peacetime collabora- 
tion and healthy competition in the 
film business while at the same time 
lauding British pictures and J. 
Arthur Rank at the luncheon here 
last week to 14 U.S. film executives, 
British film industry hosted the 
American film company party, here 
en route to visit the battlefields of 
France and Germany on a Govern- 
ment mission. Welcome speeches 
were made by Col. Baker, head of 
Kinematograph Renters Assn., and 
G. H. Scarborough, Cinematograph 
Exhibitors Assn., prexy. 

Response by Darryl Zanuck not 
only included a sincere boost for 
English films and Rank, but also the 
statement that although General 
Eisenhower managed to keep the 
Allies in unity, he doubted if Holly- 
wood executives - could ever be 
united. N. Peter Rathvon pleaded 
for healthy competition and film 
peacetime collaboration. Sam Eck- 
man, Jr., Metro's London head, eu- 
logized Colonel Baker. 

American executives are due back 
in London early next month. 



LONDON'S WATER RATS 
CHARITY A BOFF HIT 

London, June 19. 

Event of season proved to be Vic- 
tory Charity Ball, held at Queens-, 
berry Club, June"17. 

Function was sponsored by Water 
Rats, organization founded in 1889 
by' stars of those days, Eugene Strat- 
ton, Little' Tich, Joe Elvin and Fred 
Russell, father of Val Parnell, and 
only one of the founders alive. 

Present head (King Rat) is Bud 
Flanagan (& Allen), with execs 
Teddy Brown, Will Hay, Will Fyffe, 
Fred Russell and Georgie Wood. 

Among distinguished array of 
visitors were Lord and Lady Mc- 
Gowen, Lord Queensberry, Sir Louis 
and Lady Sterling, the Hon. Oliver 
Lyttleton, the Hon. Geoffrey Lloyd, 
Sir H. Curtis Bennett, Hannen 
Swaffer and Jack Hyltori, 

Organization has assumed Interna- 
tional flavor by the inclusion of such 
names as Charlie Chaplin, Adolphe 
Menjou, Chick York (& King), Vic 
Oliver, Bobby May, Ted Shapiro, 
Chuck Reisner. 

Entertainment was provided by 
Syd Caplin and his Victoria Palace 
band; 225th American Ground Forces 
band, recent winners of all Euro- 
pean band competition, who were 
loaned by General Koenig, and when 
offered $250 by manager of the club, 
John Harding, to defray their ex- 
penses, as token of their services, 
flatly refused to take any money; and 
Felix Mendelsshon and his Hawaiian 
Serenaders. 

Impromptu cabaret included Will 
Fyffe in "I Belong to Glasgow"; Lily 
Morris ("Don't Have Any More Mrs. 
Moore") and Gertie Gitana, creator of 
"Nellie Dean," both now in retire- 
ment; Bud Flanagan (minus Chesney 
Allen, who is nursing his rheuma- 
tism at Droitwich), Will Hay, Nat 
Jackley, Georgie Wood, Morton 
Frazer, Al Burnett. Freddy Morgan 
(formerly & Stone) and Lee Royce 
who used to stooge for Joe Besser, 
both with USO-Camp Shows, were 
two Americans contributing. 

Best laughs were provided by 
Fyffe, Hay, Flanagan and Jackley in 
Hula dance with Meiidclsslion's Ser- 
enaders. ■:• 

Crowd comprised 2,000 at $2 . a 
throw, and included 400 wounded 
soldiers' (free). . 

Twelve bottles of whiskey were 
auctioned (to be given to the sol- 
diers), realizing over $3,000. 

Entire proceeds, which will be 
divided. am6ng the various theatrical 
charities, realized $8,000. Itege. 



Rose Setting Hwood 

Talent for Brit. Pic 

Hollywood, June 26. 

David E. Rose, managing director 
for Paramount in England, is in 
town to line up a star, a director and 
a story for production in London. 

War has prevented Paramount 
•rom producing in England for sev- 
eral years, but now, Rose declared, 
the company can make at least one 
picture there before the end of 1945 
• ' " ' "7"~ ; 

Hays Sends Smith 
To France Again 

With negotiations to set up a 
formula for the export of American 
films to France and untangle regu 
lations blocking use of U. S. film 
rentals in France, thus far at an im- 
passe, major companies are taking 
further steps through the Hays office 
in an effort to adjust differences. 
Motion Picture Producers <t Dis- 
tributors of America is sending a 
representative to Paris to partici- 
pate in negotiations which have been 
conducted by U. S. foreign managers 
over there and U. S. Embassy com- 
mercial-attaches. • 

Harold L. Smith, who handles for- 
eign affairs under- Carl Milliken at 
the Hays office, again has been given 
the assignment. He was long the 
Hays rep in pre-war France. 

U. S. distributors are seeking a 
trade agreement with the French 
authorities whereby they will be 
able to use American film rentals ac- 
cruing in France for production and 
other operating purposes there. 
There is also under discussion plan 
for establishment of a quota for 
American films which would assure 
adequate representation for U. S. 
product. 

Problem of blocked funds was dis- 
cussed last week at a meeting of 
foreign managers in N. Y. under the 
auspices of the Hays office. U. S. 
Government reps were also present. 

Understood that State Dept. rep- 
resentatives view the French gov- 
ernment proceeding in . blocking film 
funds as one which they cannot very 
well protest at this time in view of 
the general unsettlement abroad. 

Warners Plans Theatre 
Expansion in S. America, 
Sez Cohen; In All Keys 

Warner Bros, is negotiating for 
the acquisition of theatres in all 
leading South American cities, ac- 
cording to Wolfe Cohen, v.p. of WB 
International Corp., who returned to 
N. Y. last week from a five-month 
trip which took him through Mexico, 
Panama, Australia and New Zealand. 

Cohen, who now plans to leave 
for South America in a couple of 
months, said he had closed a deal 
with the Hoyt circuit in Australia 
for 36 Warner pictures annually, 
compared with 12 during the last 
two or three years. WB will con- 
•tinue to, sell independent theatres 
there also. 

Cohen reported landoffice picture 
house business Down Under. He 
predicts a big building boom there, 
especially in the suburban areas, 
after the war. • 



Current London Shows 

London, June 56. 
"Arsenic & Old Lace," Strand. 
"Blithe Spirit," Duchess. j 
"Chicken Every Sunday," Savoy. 
"Gaieties," Saville. 
"Gay Rosalinda," Palace. 
"Happy Sc Glorious," Palladium. 
"Honeymoon," York's. . 
"Irene," His Majesty's. 
"Jacobowsky-t'ol.," Piccadilly. 
"Lady Edinburgh," Playhouse. 
"Laugh Town Laugh," Stoll. 
"Madame Louise," Garrick. 
"Night and Music," Coliseum, 
"Night Venice," Cambridge. 
"No Medals," Vaudeville. 
"Peek-A-Boo Parents," Whitehall. 
"Perchance to Dream," Hipp. 
"Private Lives," Apollo. 
"See How They Run;" Comedy. 
"Shop Sly Corner," St. Martins. 
"Skin of Our Teeth," Phoenix. 
"Strike It Again," Wales. 
"Sweeter Lower." .*-mbassadotr». 
"Sweet Yesterday," Adelphia. 
"Three's Family," Winter Gdn. 
"Three Walt/es," Princes. 
"Tomorrow World," Aldwych. 
"While Sun Shines," Globe. 
"Wind of Heaven," St. James. 
"Years Between," Wyndhams. 



London Legits Still M; 'Arsenic,' 
'Spirit,' lower/ 'Sun' Ace Long-Runs, 
'Colonel,"CircIe,"Spin?ace New Hits 



. V London, June 21. 
West End show biz is still holding 
up despite pre-Election scare, which 
was expected to have effect on gross- 
es. Show folks cannot attribute this 
consistency to any particular cause. 
The weather and number of evacuees 
here are held responsible for con- 
tinued big business. 

Newcomers skedded are Jack 
Hylton's "Duet for Two Hands," 
which "has been doing big on the 
road. Opens at Lyric, June 27, re- 
placing "Love in Idleness," which 
has not had ah empty scat since 
opening, but must vacate as Lunt- 
Fontanne are due for tour of France 
and Germany prior to their return 
to Broadway in this play. "Sweet 
Yesterday." the Lee Ephraim musi- 
cal, also from provincial run, opens 
at Adelphi this month. "Chicken 
Every Sunday," the Broadway hit, 
opened at the Savoy, June 20, pre- 
sented by Firth Shephard. Henry 
Sherek's new show, "The First Gen- 
tleman," also a hit outside of London, 
opens at the New, July 18. 

The Jooss Ballet, at Winter Gar. 
den, replaces "Three's a Family," 
which goes on the road early in July. 
Linriit & Dunfec's American hit, 
"Kiss and Tell," from the road, goes 
into the Phoenix also next month 
replacing "The Skin of Our Teeth,' 
which is doing capacity'.. But "Skin" 
is Only in for short season because 
Vivien Leigh, the. star, has previous 
film commitments. 
(Grosses, at rate of $4 to pound.) 
A Night in Venice," Cambridge 
(28th wk). Continuing to do good 
trade, despite cast changes. Average 
ing around $9,000 weekly, profitable 
"Arsenic and Old Lace," Strand 
(3d year). Biggest moneymaker 
Firth Shephard ever imported from 
U. S. No sign of diminution. Looks 
good for many more months at pres- 
ent intake of about $8,400. 

"Blithe Spirit," Duchess (4th year) 
Leader of West End shows still mak- 
ing money, with small overhead, as 
cast is not getting much now. Shows 
good profit at $3,500. 

"Gay Rosalinda," Palace (14th wk) 
Has now established itself «among the 
West End money hits, and seems set 
for run. Continues steady $16,000 
weekly, good profit for the pro- 
ducers, Tom Arnold and Bernard 
Delfont. 

"Gaieties," Saville (11th wk). 
Opened at Winter Garden at slow 
<gait, and looked like flop. Crix were 
very unkind to this, but it has man- 
aged to survive. In this more ac- 
cessible house,- it has picked -up con- 
siderably, and now looks like long 
run. Easily topping $10,000, which 
is a push-over. 

"Happy ana Glorious," Palladium 
(38th wk). Averaging steady $24,000 
per week, on 12 snows basis, which 
is solid considering lengthy run. 
Should continue. for some months. 

"Irene," His Majesty's (13th wk). 
Has built since slow opening, now 
around $13,000, good profit to Jack 
Hylton. At this gait, can stay around 
until Hylton gets another ready. 

."Is Honeymoon Really Neces- 
sary?", Duke of York's (46th wk). 
Farce has clicked from outset, be- 
ing moneymaker for actor-manager 
Ralph Lynn, starred. Small over- 
head. Steady $4,500. 

'Jacobowsky and the Colonel," 
Piccadilly. Got off to anti-press re- 
ception, with weekend scribes. chang- 
ing their tune. But despite handicap 
is getting plenty word-of -mouth, 
with response satisfactory and build-' 
ing. House gets new Noel Coward 
revue, likely in August. First week 
over $8,000, quite profitable. 

"Laugh Town, Laugh," Stoll's (10th 
wk). This Jack Hylton -Prince Lit- 
tler vaude-revue has done fairly 
well, averaging about $13,500 weekly, 
consistent profit. r Stays till end of 
July. 

"Lady From Edinburgh," Play- 
house (9th wk). Never really got 
started, with management merely 
awaiting new show. Never exceeded 
$1,600 and no profit, 

"Love in Idleness," Lyric (28th 
wk). Away to smash biz and con- 
tinuing at this pace, with many 
capacity houses. Now booked up 
until closing, likely this month. 
Might stay a year. Doing $10,000, 
nearly capacity. 

"Madame Louise," Garrick (15th 
wk). Hefty returns from start. 
Never below $8,500, capacity. Good 
for many more months, 

"No Medals," Vaudeville (38th 
wk). Biz continues first rate, at 
steady $11,000 per, fine profit to 
Linnit & Dunfce. May stay several 
more months. 

"Private Lives," Apollo (35th wk). 
Still in money despite long run. 
Overhead is small. Around $6,400, 
plenty margin. 

"Sweeter and Lower," Ambassa- 
dors' (2d year). House has follow- 
ing for this sophisticated revue, with 
popularity not yet exhausted. 
Yielding around $4,500 per, still out 
of red. 

"See How They Run," Comedy 
(26th week)— Very small overhead 



keeps this on right side of ledger. 
Raking in near $2,000. 

"Sadler's Wells Ballett," New (8th 
wk). Assured of steady $8,000 week- 
V , tol \ } ts short season. Staying till 
July 14, when Henry Sherek's "The 
First Gentleman" is due. 

^ml trlk ^ ,t 4P, , , B '" p *ince °f Wales 
(30th wk). Still a coin-getter, ex- 
ceeding $15,000, plenty profitable. 

^'T 0m< \ rrOw . thc World," Aldwych 
(4dd wk). Show has made plenty of 
money, but looks. near end of run. 
After doing steady $8,000 per for a 
longtime, dropped $7,000, but still 
profitable. 

«r? ne , ? leh A * n * Music," Coliseum 
(7th wk). Started off big, doing 12 

^ 0Ws ^^' eekly ' with onl y matinees 
off. This is a big house, but still 
p ^.V n ? , a F° un <l $21,000, hefty. Looks 
year a " d may sta y tm end of 

" Ferch anee, to Dream," Hippo- 
drome (8th wk). Ivor Novello's fol- 
lowing, both as actor and author, is 
extensive. Show got off to big start 
and is continuing at stout $16,000. 
Looks good for several more months. 

This Somerset Maughan revival is 

th^splt St6ady $8 '°° 0 * fine for 

^'h I ! e J? kiM V > { 0u * ' Phoenix 
(5th wk) Only set for limited run. 
but long boxoffice lines tip it could 
stay many months. Opened smash. 
Doing steady $12,000, sellout. May 
continue at another house 
. .", T1, e„Shop at Sly Corner," St. Mar- 
tins (9th wk). Never really got 
started, doing modest $5,000, not 
healthy. May quit soon. 
"Three Waives," Prince azth wk). 

«i°ft n £5 um ? , * arel y 8° in S beI °w 

$10,000, which shows a little profit 
Evelyn Laye, star of show, is part 
owner with Sherak, and this may 
keep it going for .some time. 

, Q « The ,^ in ! of 1 n J eaven '" Si - J a me s' 
(9th wk). Started strong and con- 
tinues at capacity. "Undoubtedly 
actor-playwright Emlyn Williams 
helps draw. Never below $8,500, and 
in for lengthy run. 

."f"''' a F *m"y." Winter Garden 
(38th week). Has been in real money 
from tee-off, having done as big as 
$6,000 per at Saville, but here it's 
dropped to about $4,000. Closing 
shortly.. 1 

yiar ' s Between," Wyndhams* 
(21st wk). Still sturdy at around $6,- 
500, profit. Stays on. 

"While Sun Shines," Globe (2d 
year). Despite long run, still okay 
at over $7,000 mark. This pace will 
keep it on for some time. 

Siritzky to Get All 
His Houses in French 
Circuit Back; 65 Okay 

Leon Siritzky, whose circuit of 75 
theatres in . France was 'taken over 
by the Nazis on invasion of that 
country in 1940 and since liberation 
operated by the French government, 
has cabled his sons, Joseph and Sam, 
now in U. S., that he has already 
reclaimed eight houses in southern 
France and will get the ethers back 
tomorrow (Thurs.), 

Entire circuit now stands at 65 
theatres since 10 were destroyed by 
bombing. Valued at $20,000,000 prior 
to- the waivchain was turned over 
to the Nazis on a forced sale at 
$400,000 and control assigned to in- 
terests in Madrid, Spain. When tte 
Americans marched into Paris, tne 
French government assumed super- 
vision of the circuit. 

In regaining control of circuit, 
Siritzky will pay off the low sum of 
$400,000 at which he Was forced to 
sell, there having been a decree at 
the time that no Jew could own 
property but, according to his sons, 
the question arises as to whether or 
not damages caused by loss of opera- 
tion for five years is collectable. 
Since the Vichy . government, which 
was in power after the Nazi conquest 
of France, is now non-existent, it's 
question how damages could be 
collected and from whom, unless the 
Free Franch government sees fit .to 
make reimbursement. 



Osserman's New Post 

Jack Osserman has been npped to 
general supervisor for Latin Amer- 
ica for RKO by Phil Reisman, v.p. 
in charge of distribution for the 
company. -Osserman will headquar- 
ter in Rio de Janeiro, assuming his 
new duties in August when he re- 
turns to Brazil following a visit to 
N. Y. and Hollywood. 

He will swing through Mexico and 
other Latin-American countries upon 
falsing up his new assignment./ 



16 PICTURE GROSSES 



Wr«liH>s<l«y. June 27, I<M5 



U. Hot; 'Conflict' Hefty at $64,000 
In 3 Spots, Blood' Rousing 62G in 4, 
Perilous' 4iy 2 G in 2, In Bag' 29G, 4 



- k Los Angeles. .Tune 26. + 
' Firswun biz is hitting a .husky 
stride in xuvrent week, .mainly be- 
cause of strong new pictures, g 
fiict," in three- theatres, is clocking..] 
a hefty $64,000. -Blood on Sun, 
noubled-billed in four spots, is lak 
a sweet $02,000 fonts- 



... second 

fl '"Expei-i meut, Perilous " and \^*ft 
Amencana" are smooth MUOQ^n 
two houses, while "It s in Bag looks 
fairish $29,000 in four spots. V.ll- , 
lev of Decision." now in .third ses- 
sion, .still is bolt at $49,500 for three 

houses. „, . ... , 1 

Estimates for This Week 
' Carthav Circle (FWO.i 1.518: aO- 
$1 )-"Bl6od on Sun" (U A I and 
"Town Went Wild" (PBCh Hefty 
$9,000. Last week, "Between 2 Wom- 
en" (M-G) and "Main St. After 
Dark" (M-G) 1 2d wk), smooth ito.200. 

Chinese (Grauman-WC) '2.048: :>0- 
$1 ) "Blood on Sun" (UA) . and. 
•'Town Wild'.' (PRC). Good SI 3.000. 
.Last week. "2 Women". (M-G I. and 
'Main Si" i M-G) 1 2d' wk) (6 days-i. 
healthy s.8.700. «, - V- 

Downtown (WB) 11.800: 50-$l )— 
•Conflict" <WB>. Big $26,000. Last 
week. "Escape . in Desert ' (WB). 
$16,500. 

KRVplian (FWC) (1.538; 50-$l )— 
"Valley Decision" (M-G ) (3d wk). 
Steady $12,500. Last week, hand- 
some $14,800. :••-.-' 

Four Slur (UA-WC) (900: 50-$l)— 
"In Bae" (UA) and "Blonde Ransom j 
(U). Okav $4,500. Last week. Ber- 
nadette'' ''20th> <2d wk-6 days) 
$2,900. * r 

Guild (FWC) (968; 50-$l>— "In 
Bag" (UA) and 'Blonde Ransom" 
(U). Fair $6*500. Last week. "Pat- 
rick Great" (U) and "Strange Illu- 
sion" i PRC), slow $5,200. 

Hawaii (G&S) (1.100; 50-$l >— 
Unseen" (Par) (3d wk). Mild $3,000. 
Last week, only $3,800. 

Hollywood (WBK (2,756; 50-$l> — 
"Conflict" (WB). Big $21,000 
week. "Escape in Desert" (WB) 
$12,500. 

Los Angeles (D'town-WC) (2.097 



Broadway Grosses 



Estimates Total Gross 

This Week. ..$574,500 

iB«sed o» 15 tlieoiros) 
Total Gross Same Week 

Last Year.... .. . . $540,200 

'{Based on 15 theatres) 



'Blood' Lofty 2GG 
In Sturdy Cleve. 



. , Providence. .lime 2(1. 
Surprise this week is strength 
shown by "East Side of Heaven' and 
"Imitation of Life." pair of reissues, 
carrying RKO Albee to near, lop 
i tain. State's "Without Love' - is big 
! ainong .the new. 
|i 7 Estimate!) for This Week 

Mbei I 'iRKOt 1 2.10(1: 44-60)— "East 
Side Heaven" 'Ul and "Imitation 
Lite" (U) (reissues). Surprisingly 
hefty at $16,500 or near. Last week. 
• China Sky" (RKO ) and . "Zombies 
Broadway" <U). nice $14,500. 

Cailtnn (Fav-toew) (1.400: 44-55 ) 
—"See Mv Lawver" iU) and "Frisco 
Sal" (li l (2d run I. Fair $3,000. Last, 
week. "DiU'ian Gray" i M-G ) and "A 
Ouv, a<5at" (Col) (2d,runi, $3.500., 

Fay's (Fay ) i3.0QO; '44-55 )— "Hang- 
over Square" i20th) and vaude on 
stage. Farrly steady $6,000. Last 
week "Mollv Me' - (20th) and vaude 
I on stage. $6,200.' . .. ' ■ 

I Majestic (Fay) (2.200; 44-001- 
f "Escape in Desert" (WB) and "Horn 
Blows Midnight" (WB). Getting 
•Stout $13,000.' Last w«k, "See .My. 
Lawver" (U) and "Frisco Sal" '.U>, 
$14,000. . . - 

I Metropolitan 'Snider) (3.100; 44- 
* Cleveland, .June 26. 55 (—"Delightfully Dangerous" (UA) 
Grosses -are being ironed dowiv a hmd "Old New Mexico" (Repi; 
bit by first spell of good .weather Sturdy $14,000. Last week. "Brew- 
this month, "Blood on Sun" looks sler's Millions" (UA). $6,000. 
sock at State to pace city despite Slate iLbeW) (3.200:. 50-60)— 
compel ish 'of pop-priced "For Whom "Without Love" (M-G). Riding high 
Bell Tolls" at Stillman. :'■' " at big $18,000. Last week. "Tomor- 

- -Estimates for This Week | row World" (UA)' and ''Tahiti 



heaven life' big I Goodman Ups 'Rhythm' Wow 36G, Hub; 
,6G,PR0V - : 'Blood' 37G in 2, 'Conflict' Sock 26G 



Kstimates Total Gross 

This Week.. «,7M,«»0 

(Bused oij,23 cities, 185 theu- 
ti«-.' chiefly ><st .runs:, tiiclndtfip 
Af Y.) 

Total Gross Same Week 

. Last Year - - i tiMtX— 

- (Based on 23 cities. 184 theaf res) 



50-$l )— "Valley Decision" (M-G) (3d"t stale 
wk). Smooth $26,000. Last week, ro- | "Blood 



bust $30,000 

Orpheum (D'town) (2,200: 65-85) 
— "Big Bonanza" (Rep), with Jack 
LaRue and vaude on stage. Okay 
$20,500. Last week, "Kid Sister" 
(PRC) with Andy Kirk orch and 
Charioteers on stage, good $24,300. 

Pantages (Pan) (2,812< 50-$l ) — 
"Experiment Perilous" (RKO) and 
"Pan-Americana" (RKO). Rousing 
$20,000. Last week, "Salome" (U) 
and "Booked on Suspicion" (Col) 
(2d wk— 4 days), $6,200. 

Paramount (F&M) (3.389; 50-$ 1 ) 
WMurder He Says" (Par) and 
"Chicago Kid" (Rep) (2d wh»» Mod- 
est $16,500. Last week, $22,200. 

Paramount Hollywood tF&M) (1- 
451; .i(l-$l)-"Murder, He Says"! 
(Par) 1 2d wk). Steady $10,000. Last! 
week, good $12,700. 

Ilillstreet (RKO) (2,890; 50-80)— 
"Experiment Perilous" (RKO) and 
"Pan-Americana" (RKO). Hefty 
$21,500. Last week, "Salome" (U) 
and "Booked Suspicion" (Col) (2d 
wk-4 days). $7,900. 

Kill (F-WC) (1,370; 50-$l )— "Val- 
ley Decision" (M-G) (3d wk). Neat 
$1 1 .000. . Last week, smooth $12,500. 

State (Lbew*s-WC) (2,404; 50-$l.) 
—"Blood oh Sun" (UA) and "Town 
Went Wild" (PRC). Sock $30,000. 
Last 'Week, "2 Women" (M-G) and 
"Main St." (M-G) (2d wk), nice 
$20,300. 

United Artists (UA-WC) (2,100: 
50-$ll— "In Bag" (UA) and "Blonde 
Ransom" (U). Slow $11,000 or near. 
Last week. "Patrick Great" (U) and 
"Strange Illusion" (PRC). $10,900. 

Uptown (F-WC) (1,790: 50-$l )— 
"Blood on Sun" (UA) and "Town 
Went Wild" (PRC). Big $10,000. Last 
•week. "2 Women" (M-G) and "Main 
St." ( M-G) H2d wk), $5,700. 

Wilshire (F-WC) (2.296; 50-$l )— 
"In. Bag" (UA) and "Blonde Ran- 
som" (U). Fair $7,000. Last weeic. 
"Patrick Great" (U) and "Strange 
Illusion". (PRC). $6,800. 

Wiltcrn (WB) (2,400: 50-$l )— 
"Conflict" i WB). Robust $17,000. 
•Last Week, "Escape in Desert" (WB I, 
$9,700. - ■ 



Allen (RKO) (3.000; 44-65)— 
"China Sky" (RKO I (m.o.). Average 
$5,000. Last week. "Pillow to Post" 
(WB) (m.o.). stout $9,500. 

Hipp (Warners) (3.700: 44-65)— 
"Endearing Young Charms" (RKO). 
Lively $19,000. Last week, "China 
Sky" (RKO), good $17,500. 

Lake (Warners) (800; 44-65)— 
"Pillow Post" (WB) (m.o). Okay 
$2,800. Last week. "Where Go From 
Here" (20th), $3,000. 

Ohio (Loews) (1.200: 44-65) — 
"Naughty Marietta'' <M»G> (reis- 
sue). Hot $11,000. Holds. Last week, 
"Without Love" (M-G) (m.o:), smart 
$8,000. 

Palace (RKO) (3.700:: 44-65)— 
"Dillinger" (Mono). Breezy $18,500. 
Last | House drops straight film policy Fri- 
day to resume vaude-film at upped 
prices. Last week. "Salome, Where 
She Danced" (U). $11,000. 

(Loew's) (3,450: 44-65) — 
On Sun" iUA). BofTo $20.- 



Nights" (Col). $14,500. 

Strand (Silverman) (2,000: 50-60) 
— "Fighting Guardsman" (Col) and 
"Youth on Trial" (Col) Started 
Monday (25). Last week. "Counter- 
Attack" (Col) and "Leave to 
Blondie" (Col), so-so $8,000. 



000. Last week, "Medal for Benny 
(Par) (m.o.). mild $12,000. 

Stillman (Loew's) (2.700: 44-65)— 
"Bell Tolls" (Par). Pop-priced run, 
hefty $10,000. Last week, "Son of 
Lp.ssie" (M-G) (m.o.), okay $7,800. 



Ennis lips 'Dangerous,' 
Terrif $18,500, Omaha 

■•Omaha, June 26. 
Despite opening of racing season, 
business is fairly good. Standout is 
Skinnay Ennis' band, which is lilting 
"Delightfully Dangerous" to socko 
session at the Orpheum. 

. ' Estimates for This Week 
Orpheum (Tristates) (3,000; 20-70) 
—"Delightfully Dangerous" (UA) 
and; Skinnay Ennis orch on stage. 
Sock $18,500 or close. Last week, 
"Murder. He Says" (Par) and "Scared 
• Stiff" -'Par), terrific $12,390 at 16-60e 
scfile. 

. Brandeis I RKO) (1,500; 16-60> — 
"Endearing Young Charms" (RKO) 
end "Betrayal From East" (RKO). 
Great $8,500 or over. Holds. Last 



'Charms' Smash $20,000, 
Tops in Cincy; 'Heaven,' 
'Imitation' Terrif 10G 

• Cincinnati. June 26. 

Hefty lug of - Those Endearing 
Young Charms." at Albee. is big rea- 
son for overall score this week be- 
ing in seasonal stride. Only other 
newcomer is a letdown. Twin reis- 
sues, "East Side of Heaven" and 
"Imitation of Life." are surprisingly 
strong at small Grand. Holdovers 
are mostly above par. 

Estimates for This Week 

Albee iRKO) (3.100; 44-70)— "En- 
dearing Young Charms" (RKO). 
Wham $20,000. Last week. "Blood on 
Sun" 'UA). hot $16,000. 

Capitol (RKO) (2.000: 44-70)— 
"Valley of Decision" (M-G) '4th 
wk). Strong $7,500 on heels of smash 
$10,000 thud round. Holds again. 

Grand (RKO) (1,430: 44-70)— "East 
Side Heaven" <U) and "Imitation of 
Life" (U) (reissues). Great $10,000. 
Last -week. "Don Juan.- Qui lligan"- 
(20tb) and "Bullfighters" (20th). $5.- 
000. * ' - • , - 

Keith's (United) (1.500; 44-70)— 
"Bedside Manner" (UA) (2d wk). 
Pleasing $4,500 after sock $9,000 tee- 
off. 

Lyric (RKO l (1.400: 44-70)— 
"Blood on Sun" (UA) (m.o.). Hotsy 
$7,000. Last week, "Salome" <U) (2d 
run). $4,500. 

Palace (RKO) (2.600; 44-70)— 
'Medal for Benny" (Par). Season's 
low and jerked after 5 days? $4,800. 
Last .week. "Pillow to Post" (WB), 
okay $12,000. 

Shubert (RKO) '2,100; 44-70) — 
"Pillow to Post" (WB) (m.o.). So-so 
$4,000. Last week. "Son of Lassie" 
(M-G) (m.o.). $4,500. 



'Pillow' Great $27,000 
Frisco Ace; 'China Sky 
Plus Vaude Hefty 30G 

p San Francisco. June 26. 

Hot weather won't help biz much 
this session. Best of straight Aimers 
is "Pillow to Post" at Paramount. 
"China Sky" plus stage show is tor- 
rid at Golden Gate. 

Estimates for This Week 

Fox (F-WC) (4,651: 55-85)— "Son 
of Lassie" (M-G) and "Hitch-hike 
Happiness" (Rep). Modest $25,000. 
Last week. "Nob Hill" (20th) and 
"Caribbean Mystery" (20th). big 

$35,000. 

Paramount i F-WC) (2.646: 55-85) 
—"Pillow to Post" (WB) (and "Scar- 
let Clue" (Mono). Socko $27,000. 
Last week, "Murder, He. Says" (Par ) 
and "Unseen" i Par). $21,000. 

Warfield (F-WC) (2.656; 55-85)— 
"Dorian Gray" (M-G) and 'Phantom 
Speaks" (Rep) (2d Vk). Light $23.- 
000. Last week; satisfactory $28,000. 

St. Francis (F-WC) (1.400: 55-85) 
—"Nob- Hill" (20th) (m.O:) and 
"Caribbean Mystery" (20lh); Socko 
$17,000. Last week. "Diamond Horse- 
shoe" ' 20th). and "Chicago Kid" 
' Rep). $13,000. 

State (F-WC.) . (2.133;. 55-85)— 
"Murder. He Says" (Par) (m.o.) and 
"Unseen" (Par). Robust $16,000. 
Last week. "Clock" (M-G) and "Eve 
Knew Apples" (Col), ditto. 

Golden Gate (RKO) (2,844 ; 60-95) 
—"China Sky" < RKO) and stage 
show. Bright $30,000. Last week. 
"Brighton Strangler" (RKO) and 
stage show. $24,000. 

United Artists (Blumenfeld) O.- 
207: 40-851— "Blood on Sun" (UA) 
'8th wk). Smart $12,000. Last week. 
I good $12,600. 

| Orpheum ( Blumenfeld) (2.448: 40- 
j 85)— "Frozen Ghost" <U ) and "Jungle 
ICaptivV' (U). Pleasing $16,500. Last 
week. "That's Spirit" fU ) and "Wild- 
fire" (FC I. near same. 



'Valley Sockeroo 
37^ in My 

' > »*4?TiiTadelpliia. July 26. 
' Valley of Decision" looks like a 
winner on basis of strong start at 
Stanley this week. Most of other 
filmers are still in doldrums as a re- 
sult of the unbearable heat wave. 
StiH- potent, however, is "Conflict" 
on second lap at the Mastbaum. . 
Estimates for This Week 
Aldine (WB) (1.475; 40-85)— "Son 
of Lassie" i M-G l. Thin $8,500. Last 
week. "Mr. Emmanuel" (UA). $6,500. 

Arcadia (Sabloskyl (600; 40-85)— 
"Song Remember" (Col) (2d run). 
Neat $7,000 despite long run at Al- 
dine. Last week. "Affairs of Susan" 
(Par), okay $6,500 second run. 

Bovd (WB) (2.560: 40-85 )— "Dorian 
Gray" (M-G) (2d wk). Fairish $16.- 
000 or near. Last week, satisfactory 
$18,500. 

E»rle (WB) (2.760: 50-95)— "Out 6f 
Night" (PRC) with Rochester, Nan 
i Wynn, Johnny Richard orch. others, 
on stage. Fair $19,000. with lack- of 
adequate air-cooling still hurting. 
Last week; "Zombies on Broadway" 
(RKO) with Gene Krupa orch. dis- 
appointing $18,000. ".. 

Fox i WB) (2.250: 40-85)— "Belle 
Yukon" (RKO). Mildish $14,000. 
Last week. "Where Go From Here?" 
(20th) (2d wk). nice $14,800. 

Karlton (Goldman) (1,000: 40-85) 
^"Diamond Horseshoe" (20th) (2d 
run). Sweet $8,500. Last week. 
"Saltv O'Rourke" (Par) (2d run), 
fine $7,000. 

Keith's (Goldfuan) (2.200; 40-85) 
—"Gay Caballeros" (RKO) (2d run). 
Thin $5,000. Last week. "Flame Bar- 
bary Coast" (Rep) 1 2d run), $4,000. 

Mastbaum ( WB ) (4.692; 40-85)— 
"Conflict" (WB) (2d wki. Baugup 
$23,000 on heels of potent $32,000 for 
opener plus $2,800 lor Sabbath 
showing at Earle. 

Stanley (WB) (2.760: 40-85)— "Val- 
ley of Decision" (M-G). Socko $33.- 
500 plus hefty $4,000 for Sabbath 
showing at Earle. Last week. "Clock" 
' M-G) (2d wk). nice $16,000. 

Stanton (WB) (1.475: 40-85)— 
"Dillinger" (Mono) (3d wk). Strong 
$10,000. Last week. $12,000. 



*fioslon, June 26. ... 
"Blood on Sun." at State and CH- 
pheum; "Dillinger,"- at Paramount 
and Fenway^ and "Conflict, at Met, 
are ainong winners this week, despite' 
the heat. Holdovers also going 
strong. 

Estimates for This Week 
Boston (RKO) (3,200; 50-$l.i0)~- 
"Penthou.se Rhythm'* (U), with 
Benny Goodman orch. Red Norvo, 
Tim Herbert, others, on stage. Wow 
$36,000. Last week. "Two o'clock 
Courage" (RKO). with Johnny Rich- 
ards orch, Rochester, others, $21,000 
Frnvray (M-Pl (1,373; 40-74) — 
"Dillinger" (Mono I and "Spoil in* '; 
Chance" (Rep). Good $7,000. Last 
week, "Affairs Susan" (Par) v.nd 
"Molly and Me" (20th), same. 

Majestic (Shubert) 1,5(00; 49-74 )— 
"In the Bag" (UA) (3d wk). Okay 
$6,000. Last week. $7,000. 

Metropolitan (M-P) (4.367: 40-741 
—"Conflict"- (WB) and "Swingiiv" 
On a Rainbow" (Rep). Great $20,000. 
Last week-, "Where Go" (20th), 
$18,000. 

Memorial (RKO) 12.900; 40-75)— 
"Salome" (U) and "Blonde Ransom" 
(U). 'Nice $12,000 for last 5 days; 
first week, solid $20,000. "Back to 
Bataan" (RKO). started Monday 
(25). 

Orpheum (Loew) (2,900: 35-75)— 
"Blood on Sun" (UA). Strong $22,- 
000. Last week, "Dorian Gray" (M- 
G). $20,000 

Paramount (M-P) (1.700: 40-74)— 
"Dillinger" (Mono) arid "Spot tin' 
Chance" (Rep). Satisfactory $14:000. 
Last week, "Affairs Susan" (Par) 
and "Molly and Me" t20th), about 
same. 

State (Loew) (3,200: 35-75) — 
"Blood on Sun" (Cagney). Sturdy 
$15,000. Last week. "Dorian Gray" 
(M-G), ditto. 

Traoslux (Translux) (900; 20-74)— 
"jCall of Wild" (20th)- (reissue) and 
"Three Is Crowd" (Rep) (2d wk). 
Fairish $5,000 and nearly same as 
first week. 

Tremont (T & N) (2.000; 44-85)— 
"Counter- Attack" (Col). Modest. 
$7,000. Last week, "Tomorrow 
World" 'UA). $4,000. 



week. "China Sky" ( RKO) and 
"2 O'Clock Courage" iRKO). $7,800. 

Paramount (Tristates) (3.000; I8- 
60 )— "Son of Lassie" i M-G ). Okay 
$9,000 or near. Last week. "Keep 
Powder Dry". (M-G). good $9,600. 

Omaha (Tristates) (2,000: 16-601— 
"Tomorrow the World" i.UA) and 
"Blonde Ransom" (U). Passable $8.- 
000. .Last week. "God Is Co-Pilot." 
(WB) (m.o.). and "Going to Town" 
(RKO), $9,200. 

Slate (Goldberg) (865: 12-50)— 
"This Man's Navy" (M-G). and 
"Hangover Square" 1 20th ). Fair $2.- 
000. ' Last week, "Music Millions" 
i M-G) and "Docks of N. Y." (Mono), 
$2,800. 



'Pillow' Robust $12,000, 
Best Filmer in Buffalo 

. ** Buffalo. June 26. 

Biz is slow all over this session. 
Top straight filmer is "Pillow to 
Post" at the Century. 

Estimates for This Week 

Buffalo (Shea) (3,500: 40-70)— 
."Molly and Me" (20lh) plus Cootie 
Williams orch. Ink Spots and Ella 
Fitzgerald on stage. Sturdy $19,000 
or over. Last week. "Where Go 
From Here" (20th) and "Chicago 
Kid" (Rep), good $13,500. 
' Great Lakes (Shea) (3.000: 40-70) 
—"Sally O'Rourke" (Par) (2d wk). 
Okay $9,000. Last week, strong 
$18,500. 

Hipp (Shea i (2.100; 40 - 70)— 
"Where Go From Here" (20th) and 
"Chicago Kid" (Rep) m.o,). Aver- 
age $7,000. Last week. "The Clock" 
(M-G) and "Strange Illusion" (PRC) 
(m.o.), $8,000. 

Lafavette (Basil) '3.300: 40-70)— 
"That's the Spirit" (U) and 'Til Tell 
World'' i.U). 6 days, and "Here 
Comes Mr. Jordan" (Col) (reissue), 
1 day. Okay $7,500. Last week, 
"See My Lawyer" (U) and "I'll Re- 
member April" i U), $5,500. 

20th Century (20th Cent) (3,000; 
40-70)— "Pillow to Post" (WB) and 
"Forever Yours" (Mono). Fancy 
$12,000. Last week, "Delightfully 
Dangerous" (UA) and "When 
Strangers Marry" (Mono). $8,000. 



'LASSIE'-VAUDE FAST 
$28,000, TOPS WASH. 

•Washington. June 26. 

"Son of Lassie." with vaudeville 
at Capitol, leads the downtown, pa- 
rade this week. Earle's holdover of 
"Pillow to Post',' is strong, as is "Af- 
fairs of Susan," in .second at Met. 
Estimates for This Week 

Capitol (Loew) (3.434; 44-72)— 
"Son of Lassie" (M-G) with vaude. 
Boff $28,000. Last week. "Brewster's 
Millions" (UA), modest $19,200. 

Columbia (Loew) (1.234: 44-72)— 
"Dillinger" (Mono) (2d wk). Okay 
$9,000 after first week's big $12,000. 

Earle (WB) (2.240; 30-90)— "Pillow 
to Post" (WB) with vaude (2d wk). 
Trim $19,000 alter first week smash 
$25,000. 

Keith's (RKO) (1.800: 34-66)— 
"China Sky" (RKO). Only average 
$14,000. Last week. "Enchanted Cot- 
tage" (RKO) (2d wk). nice $15,000. 

Metropolitan (WB) ( 1,800; '44-72 )— 
"Affairs Susan" (Par) (2d wk). Firm 
$13,000 after great $17,400 opener. 

Palace (Loew) (^,778; 44-72)— 
'■'Salty O'Rourke" (Par). Not good 
in this spot. Modest $17,500. Last 
week, "Without Love" (M-G) (2d 
wk), fine $15,000. 



'COTTAGE' HEFTY 24G 
IN Pim 'LASSIE' 18G 

■ •'PUtsburgh. June 26. 

Biz oh the upswing here. In top 
spot is Penn with "Enchanted Cot- 
tage" with big session on tap. 
Estimates for This Week 

Fulton (Shea) (1,700; 40-65)— "Dia- 
mond Horseshoe" (20th) (2d wk). 
Fancy $9,500. Last week, boff $14,000. 

Harris (Harris) (2,200: 40-65)— 
"In the Bag" (UA). Okay $9,500. 
Last week. "Call of Wild" (20th) 're- 
issue ), $8,600. 

Penn (Loews-) (3,300; 40-65)— 
"Enchanted Cottage" (RKO). Big- 
gest thing in town this week, great 
$24,000. Last week, "Bring On Girls" 
(Par). $18,700. 

Hit* (WB) (800: 40-65)— "Salty 
O'Rourke" (Par) (m.o.) Healthy $3.- 
500. Last week. "It's a Pleasure'' 
(RKO). $2,500. 

Stanley (WB) (3.800: 40-65)— "Son 
of Lassie" (M-G). Nice $18,000. Last 
week, "Salty O'Rourke" (Par), $17,- 
500. 

Warner (WB) (2.000; 40-65)-*- 
■ "Bring On Girls" (Par) (2d wk). 
Good $6,500. Last week. "Without 
Love" (M-G) (3d wk), ditto. 



St. Louis Up; 'Dillinger' 
Big 22G, 'Susan' 16G, 2d 

.*■ — St. Louis, June 26. 
. With normal weather on tap after 
a prolonged rain and cold biz is on 
upbeat here. Top coin will be 
erabbed by "Dillinger" and "Docks of 
New York" at the big Fox. "Affairs 
of Susan" is still strong on second 
stanza at Ambassador. , 
Estimates for This Week 

Loew (Loew) (3.172; 30-60)— "The 
Clock" (M-G) and "Love a Mystery" 
(Col). Good $15,000. Last week, 
"Son'of Lassie" (M-G). brisk $17,000. 

Orpheum (Loew) (2.000; 30-60)— 



Ben Lorber Upped at U 

Ben Lorber was appointed man- 
ager of Insurance Affairs at Uni- 
versal last week, according to an- 
nouncement by J. Cheever Cowdin, , 
chairman of the board. Lorber, with 
U since 1928, has managed the com- 
pany homeoffice insurance depart- 
ment for the last seven years, snd 
will administer insurance matters for 
entire corporation, headquartering in 
N. Y. 

Takes over new duties as soon as 
he gets back from Coast, where he 
is reorganizing the studio's group in- 
surance plan. ■" - 



"Son of Lassie" (M-G). Neat $6,000. 
Last week. "Without Love" (M-G) 
(2d wk), ditto. 

Ambassador (F&M) (3,000; 50-60) 
—"Affairs Susair" (Par) (2d wk). 
Strong $16,000 after big $17,300 in 
first session; 

Fox < F&M) (5.000: 50-60)— "Dill- 
inger" (Mono) and "Docks of New 
York" (Mono). Big $22,000. Last 
week. "Where Go From Here" (20th ). 
and "Phantom 42d Street' (PRC. 
$20,000. 

Missouri I F&M ) (3,500:. 50-60)— 
"Patrick the Great" (U) and "Sudan" 
(U). Good $8,500. Last week. "Imi- 
tation of Life" (U) and "East Side - 
Heaven" (U) (reissues) (2d wk), big 
at about same: 

St. Louis (F&M) (4.000: 40-50)— 
"Enchanted Cottage" (RKO) and 
"Bernadette" (20th). Just $3,000. 
Last week, "Royal Scandal" (20lh> 
and "Belle Yukon" (RKO), $3,500. 



Wednesday, June 27, 



1915 



fonder Man' Buffo 30G, Paces New 
Chi Pix; Hitchhike -Vaude Brisk 25G 



l^ciiicago, June 26. '4- 



Hot weather finally has arrived 
but so far hasn't materially affected 
Loop boxoffices. Plenty of holdovers 
currently. "Wonder Man," at Woods, 
looks wham $30,000 on first week. 
"The Clock" is borT at the United 
Artists with $26,000 for second stanza 
and "Salty O'Rourke" Is sharp $23,- 
000 in fourth week at the State-Lake. 

Of combo houses, Oriental, with 
"Hitchhike to Happiness" and Jean 
Parker, Frances Fay" and Lenny 
Kent on stage, is heau_-d for bright 
$25 000. Second week of "Murder, 
He'Savs" and Sammy Kaye's band 
at Chicago looks strong $53,000. 
Estimates for This Week 
Apollo (B&K) (1,200; 55-95)— 
"Song Remember" (Col) (11th wk). 
Sftadv $13,000. Last week, $14,000. 

Chicago (B&K) (3,900; 55-95)— 
"Murder. He Says" (Par) (2d wk), 
with Sammy Kaye orch on stage. 
Strong $53,000. Last week, socko 
$58,000. 

Garrick (B&K) (900; 55-95)— 
"Counter-Attack" (Col). Snug $11,- 
000 Last week, "Thunderhead" 
(20th) (3d wk). 3 days, and "Coun- 
ter-Attack" (Col), 4 days, big $13,000. 

Grand (RKO) (1,150; 55-95)— 
"China Sky" (RKO) and "Swing Out. 
Sister" (U) (3d wk in Loop), okay 
$6,000. Last Week, "Patrick the 
Great" (U) and "See My Lawyer" 
(U) 5 davs (3d wk in Loop), and 
"China Sky" (RKO) and "Swing 
Out. Sister" (U), 2 days, same. 
- Oriental (Iroquois) (3,240: 44-95) 
—"Hitchhike Happiness" (Rep) with 
Jean Parker, Frances Faye and 
Leimv Kent on stage. Bright $25,000. 
Last week, "G. I. Honeymoon" 
(Mono) and Ted Weems orch on 
stage, sturdy $29,000. 

Palace (RKO) (2,500; 55-95) — "Tar- 
can Amazons" (RKO) and "That's 
the Spirit" (U). Brilliant $22,000. 
Last week. "China Sky" (RKO) and 
•■Swing Out Sister" (U) (2d wk). 5 
days, and "Tarzan Amazons" (RKO) 
and "That's Spirit" (U), 2 days, nice 
$17,000. 

Roosevelt (B&K) (1,500; 55-95)— 
"Roughly Speaking" (WB) (2d wk). 
Neat $17,000. Last week, slick 
$21,000. 

State-Lake (B&K) (2,700;. 55-95)— 
"Saltv O'Rourke" (Par) (4th wk). 
Sharp $23,000. Last week, grand 
$26,000. 

United Artists (B&K) (1.700: 55- 
95)— "The Clock" (M-G) (2d wk). 
Boffo $26,000. Last week, smash 
$30,000. 

Woods (Essaness) (1,200; 55-95)-- 
"Wonder Man" (RKO). Wham $30.- 
000. Last week, "Earl Carroll Van- 
ities" (Rep) and "Chicago Kid" 
(Rep) (3d wk), 6 days, and "Wonder 
Man" (RKO), 1 day, $12,000. 

'WHERE GO' LIVELY AT 
$12,000 IN SEATTLE 

• Seattle, June 26. 

Warm weather is t^king.crowds to 
Barks and beaches, with only "The 
Clock" and "Where Do We Go From 
Here?" doing well. 

Estimates for This Week 

Blue Mouse (H-E) (800; 45-80)— 
"Without Love" (M-G) (4th wk). 
Slow $4,500 in 6 days after grand $6,- 
300 last week. 

Filth Avenue (H-E) (2,349; 45-80) 
— "The Clock" (M-G) and "Song 
Miss Julie" (Rep). Stout $14,500. 
Last week, "Affairs Susan" (Par) 
(3d wk), big $8,200 in 6 days. 

Liberty (J & vH) (1.650; 45-80)— 
"Counter-Attack" (Col) and "Love 
Mystery" (Col) (2d wk). Thin $6,000 
in 6% days because of bond preem. 
Last week, smug $10,400. . 

Music Box (H-E) (850: 45-80)— 
'Affairs Susan" (Par) (3d wk). From 
Fifth Ave. Good $6,000 or near. Last 
week, "Diamond Horseshoe" (20th) 
(Sth wk), $5,400. 

Music Hall (H-E) (2,200: 45-80)— 
Where Go From Here?" <20lh) and 
H'Sh Powered" (Par). Great $12.- 
WO . or near. Last week, "Patrick" 
(Ujaiid "Swing Out, Sister" (U) (2d 
. wk). 6 days, $5,200. 
.Orpheum (H-E) (2,600; 45-80 )t- 
halome" (U) and "Honeymoon 
tA?„ d (U) (2d wk >- 4 days. Modest 
WK)0. Last week, great $14,800. 
..t?, a 2° mar (Sterling) (1,350; 30-$l)— 
3 1 . Tell World" (U) and "Come Out 
j'S"e' (Mono) plus vaude. Slow 
°°' „ Last week. "Identity Un- 
7ddo> , (Re "^ and " L ady Confesses" 
s„i 2 Uls v ?"de headed by Bonnie 
Baker, $10,800. 

, *»«»mount (H-E) (3,039; 45-80)— 
»„2 n -? f Lassie" (M-G) and "For- 
nff L\2 U //' ( Mono) (2d wk). Way 
■W at $6,500 in 6 days after big $14,- 
100 last week. 

..J* 00se Y, eU ' (Sterling) (800: 45-80W- 
Sa ome" (U) (3d wk). From Or- 
"S! , m ' Mode st $4-000. Last week, 
fl^ $2f200. OaSt " (Rep) (3d " wk \ 4 
50^'"^'' Gard e« (Sterling) (800; 25- 
"Davl w ( See ,! n g You" (UA) and 
ish L!? 1 ? (UA)-(3drun). Fair- 
(MihV 000 i we ek, "Tree Grows" 



Weekend Biz Off 



Harrisburg, Pa., June 26. 
Summer store closing hours, which 
find few business section stores open 
on Saturday evening, has cut into 
Saturday night business at downtown 
theatres. Managers point out that 

many shoppers, who previously did 
their shopping in time to catch the 
last show, now remain at home, with 
result last shows are only sparsely 
attended. 

One manager pointed out that on 
the first Saturday night the new 
closing order was in effect his busi- 
ness dropped 40%, 



'Vafley'TallJG 
Leads Stout Del 

^Detroit, June 26, 
First-run bjz here seems to have 
re-adjusted to. the heat wave. After 
being off the first week of hot spell, 
current week finds Detroiters shoot- 
ing the grosses up like the mercury. 
On the big side are the Michigan 
with "Valley of Decision." the Fox 
with "Where Do We Go From Here?" 
United Artists with "Son of Lassie." 
and the Downtown with "Wither- 
ing Heights" and the Hoosier Hot 
Shots. 

Estimates for This Week 

Adams (Balaban) (1,700; 60-85)— 
"Diamond "Horseshoe" (20th) and 
"Power of Whistler" (Col) (4th wk). 
Brisk $9,000 after strong $11,000 last 
week on duo moved in- from two 
weeks at the 1*jx. 

Broadway-Capitol (United Detroit) 
(2,800; 60-85)— "Salty O'Rourke" 
(Par) and "Forever Yours" (Mono) 
(3d wk). Moved here after two 
weeks at Michigan, fair $10,000. Last 
week. "Body Snatcher" (RKO) and 
"Brighton Strangle!" (RKO), ditto. 

Downtown (Balaban) (2,800f 60- 
85)— "Withering Heights" (FC) (re- 
issue) plus Hoosier Hot Shots on 
stage: Okay $18.0,00. Last week. 
"Great Flamarion" (Rep), Louis Jor- 
dan orch. nice $22,000. 

Fox (Fox-Michigan) (5,000; 60-85) 
—"Where Go From Here?" (20th) 
and "Caribbean Mystery" (20th). 
Robust $27,000. Last week. "Patrick 
the Great" (U) and "See My Law- 
yer" (U). $21,000. 

Madison (United Detroit) (1,800; 
60-85)— "Hollywood Canteen" (WB). 
Back in loop and proving that singles 
still don't hit par at only $4,300. Last 
week. "Keep Powder Dry" (M-G> 
and "Dillinger" (Mono), just $4,500. 
• Michigan (United Detroit) (4.000: 
6Q-85)— "Valley of Decision" (M-G I 
and "Scared Stiff (Par). Topping 
town at $30,000. Last week. "Salty 
O'Rourke" (Par) and "Forever 
Yours" (Mono) (2d wk). nice $23,000. 

Palms-State (United Detroit) (3.- 
000: 60-851— "Experiment Perilous" 
'(RKO) and "Betrayal from East" 
(RKO). Good $15,000. Last week. 
"Medal for Benny" (Par) and "Un- 
seen" (Par), fine $21,000. 

United Artists (United Detroit) 
(2,000; 60-85)— "S<nr of Lassie" (M- 
G ) and "Mr. Muggs Rides Again" 
(Mono). Choice $22,000. "Last week. 
"Enchanted Cottage" (RKO) and 
"Pan-Americana" (RKO) (2d wk), 
brisk $16,000. 



'Pillow' Bangup?ll,000, 
Mpls ; ledaF Okay At 
8G, lassie' Fair 12G 

^Minneapolis, June. 26. 

The three "A" newcomers promise 
to finish neck and neck. They're 
"Son of Lassie.'' "A Medal for 
Benny" and "Pillow to Post." While 
none sizes up as smash, each is doing 
okay. Holdovers continue in. the 
spotlight. .'. 

Estimates for This Week 
. Aster (Par-Singer) (900: 15-25)— 
"Boston Blackie Booked" (Col) and 
"Lucky Night" (U >. In Tor 5 days, 
good $2,000. Last week. "Great Fla- 
marion" (Rep) and "Eve Knew 
Apples" (Col), neat $2,300 in 6 days. 

Century (P-S) (1.600; 44-60 1— "The 
Clock" (M-G) (m.o.). Still strong at 
$7,000. Last' week, ''Dark Waters" 
(UA) (2d wk). okay $5,000. 

Gopher (P-S ) <1.000T«"401— "Tarzan 
Amazons" (RKO). Suitable $4,000. 
Last week. "Dark Waters'- (UA). 
mild $3,000. 

Lyric (P-S) (1.100; 44-60)— "Mur- 
der, He - Says'- (Par) (m.o,). Here 
after two smash Slate week: ; . Satis- 
factory $5,000. Last week, "China 
Sky" (RKO) (m.o ), $4,000. 

Orpheum (P-S 1 (2,800: 44-60)— 
"Medal for Benny" (Par). Highly 
praised, okay $8,000 looms. Last 
week, "Flame Barbaty Coast" (Rep), 
better at $8,500. 

Radio City (P-S) (4.000; 44-60)- 
"Sou of Lassie" (M-G). Looks lair 



PICTURE GROSSES 



21 



$12,000 or near. Last week, "Clock" 
(M-G), $18,000. 

State (P-S) (2,300; 44-60)— "Pil- 
low to Post" (WB). Nice $11,000. 
Last week. "Murder, He Says" (Par) 
(2d wk), okay $7,500. 

Uptown (Par) (1,100; 44-50)— 
"Without Love" (M-G). First nabe 
showing. Good $4,500. Last week, 
"Song Remember" . (Col), sock $5,- 
000, near house record and bigger 
than expected. 

World (Par-Steffes) (350; 44-80)— 
"God Is Co-Pilot" (M-G) (3d wk). 
Still strong at $2,500. Last week: 
$3,200. 



'Blood' $13,500 
Best in Thin K.C. 

v'Kansas City, June 26. 

Biz at the firstriins . generally is 
droopy this week, partly due to sud- 
den return of seasonal weather. 
"Blood on the Sun," at the Midland, 
looks tops with "Horn Blows at Mid- 
night." comparatively stronger at the 
Newman. ■ '■•■> 

„ Estimates for This Week 
. Esquire, Uptown and Fail wav 
(Fox-Midwest) (820.' 2,043 and 700; 
40-60)— "In Bag" (UA). Mild $12.- 
000. Last week, "Where Go From 
Here?" (20th), fairish $13,500, but 
below expectancy. 

Midland (Loew's) (3,500; 45-65)— 
"Blood on Sun" (UA) and "Blonde 
From Brooklyn" (Col). Tepid $13,- 
500. Last week, "Counter-Attack" 
(Col) . and "Fighting Guardsman" 
(Col), moderate $12,000. 

Newman (Paramount) (1,900; 46- 
65 )— "Horn Blows" . ( WB ). Neat 
$12,000. Last week, "Salty O'Rourke" 
(Par) (3d wk), smooth $9,000. 

Orpheum (RKO) (1,500; 46-65)— 
"Pillow to Post" (WB) (2d wk). 
Nifty $10,000 after torrid $15,0QP 
opening sesh, over hopes. 

Tower (Fox-Joffee) (2,100; 39-60) 
— "See My Lawyer" (U) and "Swing 
Out, Sister" XU) plus vaude. Good 
$10,500. Last week, "Molly . Me" 
(20th) and "Forever Yours" (Mono) 
with stage revue about same. 

Heat Wave Bops Balto 
But 'Blood' Lusty 17G, 
'Life'-'Heayen' High 10G 

/.Baltimore, June 26. 
, Tropical weather has nicked into 
the vital week-end trade here with 
grosses all along the line feeling the 
drop. Best of current crop is "Blood 
on the Sun," at Loew's Century. A 
surprise to the stem is Keith's with 
"Imitation of Life" and "East Side of 
Heaven," dual being strong in this 
town of single features. 

Estimates for This Week 

Century ' (Loew's-UA) (3,000; 20- 
60)— "Blood on Sun" (U). Topping 
town' with nice $17,000. Last week, 
"Son of Lassie" (M-G), $11,000. 

Hippodrome (Rappaport) (2,240; 
20-74)— "China Sky" (HKOI and 
vaude. Only so-so $13,000. Last 
week, "Counter-Attack" (Col) plus 
vaude. $13,300. 

Keith's (Schanberger) (2.460; 20- 
60 )— "Imitation of Life" (U) and 
"East Side of Heaven" (U-) (reis- 
sues). Packaged together and 'click- 
ing nicely in a town that single" fea- 
tures. Tall $10,000. Last week, "Mur- 
der. He Says" (Par), $8,600. 

Mayfair (Hicks) (980; 25-55)— 
"Circumstantial Evidence" (20th). 
Average $3,500. Last week, "Rough, 
Tough" (Col), $3,200. 

New (Mechanic) (1,680; 20-60)— 
"Where Go From Here?" (20th) (2d 
wk). Holding well at $5,500 after 
good getaway to $7,100. 
■ Stanley (WB) (3,280; 25-65)-^"Es- 
capc in Desert" (WB). Mildish $9.- 
500. Last week, "Affairs Susan" 
(Par) (2d -wk), held up at stout $11,- 
900. 

Valencia (Loew's-UA) (1,840; 20- 
60 1— "Son of Lassie" (M-G) (m.o.). 
Catching on brightly at $6,000. Last 
week. "Without Love" (M-G ) (m.o.), 
okay at $5,600. 



'Breed' $9,500, Monti 

/^Montreal, June 26. 

Biz is off currently, with "This 
Happy Breed" a disappointment at 
the Palace. ... 

Estimates for This Week 

Palace (CT) (2,700; 35-62)— "This 
Happy' Breed" (U). Average $9,500. 
Last week, "Hollywood Canteen" 
(WB), $7,800. 

Capitol (CT) (2.700; 35-62.)— "Keep 
Powder Dry" (M-G) and "High 
Powered" (Par). We^k $9,000. Last 
week. "Tomorrow World" (UA) and 
"Boston- Blackie Booked" (Col), 
$11,000. 

Loew's (CT) (2.800; 35-67)— "Song 
to Remember" (Col). Solid $16,000. 
Last week. "Bell Tolls" (Par) (3d 
wk ), $9,500. 

Princess (CT) (2,300; 34-47)— 
"Reckless Age" (U) and "High Pow- 
ered" (Par). Average $6,000. Lasl 
week. "Crime Doctor's Courage" 
(Col) and "Leave to Blondie" (Col); 
$5,500. 



N.Y. Perks Aided by Big H.0.s; Charms' 
Stout 26G, 'Nineties' Robust 30G, 'Call' 
'Confuct'-Prinia Terrif 76G, 2d 




Though the total gross is nothing 
to cheer about, the tone of Broadway 
business is better this week than it 
was last, with three large houses on 
holdover doing better currently than 
for the previous frame. While con- 
tinued heat is hurting, the past week- 
end was rather firm generally.. . 

New pictures on the street include 
"Naughty Nineties." which is doing 
very well at the Criterion, where it 
wound up its first week last night 
(Tues.) at $30,000. Another coming 
through in strong fashion is the re- 
issue. "Call of the Wild," which 
should get the little Victoria a very 
good $19,000 or over. Palace, play- 
ing "Those Endearing Young 
Charms," finished the initial frame 
Monday night (25) at a stout $26,- 
000, and npw is in its second. "Mur- 
der, He Says" isn't creating much 
excitement at the Globe, but still 
doing rather well at $15,000 or bet- 
ter. Gotham's "Bedside Manner" is 
just fair at $8,500, while Rialto's 
"Crime. Inc.," . is drawing good at 
$8,000 or above. All these new shows 
hold. 

Sensational • among holdovers are 
the bills at the Music Hall and 
Strand. Latter, on second week with 
'Conflict," the Louis Prima orch and 
Dane Clark, is proceeding at a break- 
neck pace and may hit a terrific 
$76,000, holding. Initial seven days 
carried house to $82,000 to break the 
30-year record of $81,200 set by "The 
Circus" in January, 1928. At the Hall, 
"Valley of Decision" this week (8th) 
will hit a probable $115,000 to beat 
the prior sianza's $112,000. Goes a 
ninth frame. 

The long-awaited opening today 
(Wed.,) is Warners' "Rhpsody in 
Blue,"' which starts a run at the Hol- 
lywood, backed by a big campaign. 
Picture was given a special invita- 
tional preem last night (Tues.) for 
press and others. 

Estimates for This Week 

Astor (City Inv.) (1,300; 70-$1.40) 
—"Wonder Man" (RKO) (3d wk). 
Maintains excellent strength, this 
week . looking fine $50,000. Last 
week was $53,000. Continues on. 
. Capitol (Loew's) (4,820; 60-$1.20) 
•-"Thrill of Romance" (M-G), Guy 
Lombardo- orctt, Joey Adams and 
June Havoc (5th-final wk). Having 
a better weekend than on the fourth 
stanza, will do $66,000 or close to 
beat prior week's $63,300. nice profit. 
"Blood on Sun" (UA), with Mark 
Warnow orch, Rose Marie, Jack Du- 
n-ant and Ethel Smith in person, 
opens tomorrow (Thurs.). 

Criterion (Loew's) (1,700; 60-$1.25) 
—"Naughty Nineties" (U) (2d wk). 
Rolling along merrily, with first 
week, ended last night (Tues.), hav- 
ing hit .a robust $30,000. Final four 
days on second week of "Son of Las- 
sie" (M-G) was quite light at $12,000. 

Globe (Brandt) (1,416; 60-$1.20)— > 
"Murder, He Says" (Par). Not knock- 
ing 'em dead but. doing well at $15,- 
000 or over, and holds. Second frame 
for "In Bag" (UA) slowed badly in 
stretch to finish at mild $10,000. 

Gotham (Brandt) (900; 60-$1.20)'- 
"Bedside Manner" (UA), Just fair 
at about $8,500, but remains. Sec- 
ond week for "Delightfully Danger- 
ous" (UA)'was disappointing at $6,- 
70Q. 

Hollywood (WB) (1,499: 50-$1.20) 
—"Rhapsody in Blue" (WB). Given 
a, special invitational preem last 
night (Tues.) for press and others, 
starts regular run today (Wed.) 
backed by a whale of a lot of bally- 
hoo. Concluding five days on 13th 
week of "Corn Is Green" (WB), 
through Monday (25) was slender 
$7,000. Twelfth full week was $9,700. 

Palace (RKO) (1.700; 60-$1.10)— 
"Endearing Young Charms" (RKO) 
(2d wk). Finished first week in good 
shape at $26,000 and started second 
yesterdav (Tues.); Final 4V Z days 
on third week of "China Sky" (RKO) 
was $8,200. 

Paramount <Par) (3,664: 60-$1.20) 
—"Out of This Wovld" (Par), with 
Allan Jones. Gil Lamb, Eileen Bar- 
ton and Jerry. Wald orch in person 
(4th-final wk). Continues doing well, 
third week through last night (Tues.) 
having struck $54,000, while 'second 
frame was $60,000. 

Radio City Music Hall (Rockefel- 
lers) (5.945: 60-$1.10)— "Valley of 
Decision" (M-G > and stageshow (8th 
wk). Picked up pace during the past 
week for a probable $115,000 to beat 
seventh week's' $112,000, very sen- 
sational. Goes a ninth round to be- 
come third picture remaining here 
that long. . , - - 

Rialto (Maver) (594; 40-85)— 
"Murder. Inc." (PRC). Gangster 
item doing rather well at $8,000, and 
holds. Last week, "Woman in Green" 
(U i, $7,600. V 

Rivcli (UA-Par) (1,092; 76-81.25)- 
—"Junior Miss" (20th) (2d wk). 
•Business very disappointing on this 
one due possibly in part to the fact 
that the play was on Broadway for 
long run. This week will not be 
more than about $17,000, slender,- 
though beating initial seven days of 
only $16,000, way under house aver- 
age. While no date as yet set, "Love 



Letters" (Par) is slated as next here. 

Roxy (20th) (5,886; 60-$1.20)— 
"Where Go From Here" (20th), Tony 
and Sally DeMarco, John Boles, 
Roddy McDdwall and Jackie Glea- 
son (4th-final wk). Not too forte at 
$55,000 on third week ended last 
night (Tues.), same being true for 
second, which was cut to $53,000 by 
a bond benefit show Tuesday night 
(19) which resulted in sale of over 
$1,000,000 in the wartime securities. 

State (Loew's) (3,450; 43-S1.10)— 
"The Clock" (M-G) (2d run); with 
Virginia Weidler and team of Ross 
and LaPierre on stage. Week should 
be strong at $28,000 or over. In 
ahead, "Frenchman's Creek" (Par) 
(2d run), with Irene Bordoni and 
Mary Raye and Naldi on stage, lean.-. 
$20,000. 

Strand (WB) (2,756: 60-$1.20)— 
"Conflict" (WB), with Louis Prima 
orch and Dane Clark in person (2d 
wk). Continues an. unusually sock' 
pace, this week looking a possible 
$76,000, and holds. First week fin- 
ished at $82,000 to beat 30-year house 
record of $81,200, established by "The 
Circus" (UA) in January, 1928. 

Victoria (Maurer) (720; 79-$1.20)— 
"Call of Wild" (20th) (reissue). Do- 
ing very good at $19,000 or over and 
stays on. Last week. "Wav Ahead" 
(20th) (3d wk), slow $5,000. \ 

'Blood' BoffHG 
in Slow L'ville 

Louisville, June 26. 
Heat is slowing biz currently. Last 
Sunday's business also was hit by 
the religious Corpus Christ! proces- 
sion which drew some 60,000 Cath- 
olics to Churchill Downs Race Track 
for the annual ceremonial." Most 
downtown houses now tee-off on 
Wednesday, but may go back to 
Thursday openings after July 4. 
"Blood on Sun" looks top grosser 
at Loew's Stale. 

Estimates for This Week 
Brown (4th Ave.-Loew'») (1.100; 
40-60 (—"Without Love" (M-G) 
(m.o.). Fair enough $4,500. Last 
week, "It's Pleasure" (RKO), $3,500 
on m.o. 

. Kentucky (Switow) (1,200; 30-40) 
— "Bernadette" (20th) and "Gal 
Loves Music" (U). Medium $1,600. 
Last week, "Thunderhead" (20th) 
and "Guest in House" (U), $1,700. 

Loew's State (Loew's) (3,300; 40- 
60)— "Blood on Sun" (UA) and 
"Blonde. From Brooklyn" (Col). 
Looks class of town, strong $14,000. 
Last week, "Without Love™ (M-G), ■ 
sock $20,000 and m.o. . 

Mary Anderson (People's) (1,000; 
40-60)— "Pillow to Post" (WB)' ! (3d 
wk). Good $4,000 after last week's' 
healthy $5,500. 

National (Standard) (2.400; 40-60) 
—"Forever Yours" (Mono) and 
"Cisco Kid Returns" (Mono). Mild 
$4,500. Last week. "Dillinger" 
(Mono) (2d wk) and-"Crazy Kuights" 
(Mono), $5,000. 

. Rialto (Fourth Avenue) (3,400; 40- 
60)— "Medal for Benny'" (Par) and 
"Leave to Blondie" (Col). Modest 
$12,000. Last week, "Royal Scandal" 
(20th) and "Bullfighters" (20th), 
$11,000. 

Strand (Fourth Avenue) (1.400; 
40-60 )— "Tarzan Amazons" (RKO) 
and "Boston Blackie Booked" (Col) 
(2d wk). Mildish $3,000, Last week, 
stout $8,500. 



'Blood' Bright 14G, Col.; 
'Desert'-Kenton Fat 9G 

Columbus. June 26. 

Biz is near normal with "Blood on 
the Sun" strong, and top filtner at 
the Ohio. 

Estimates for This Week ■■ 

Broad (Loew's) (2,500; 40-65)— "In 
Bag" (UA) and "Rough. Tough" 
(Col). Disappointing $4,500.. Last 
week, "Son of Lassie" (M-G ), modest 
$5,000. ' 

Grand (RKO) (1,140; 40-65)— 
"Wonderful Crime" (RKO ) and "Tar- 
zan Amazons" (RKO) (m.o.). Oke 
$5,500. Last week, "China Sky" 
(RKO) and "I'll Tell World" (U), 
great $7,000. ' ' V 

Ohio (Loew's) (3,074; 40-65)— 
"Blood on Sun" (UA) and "Gentle 
Annie" (M-Gi. Snappy $14,000. Last 
week, "Clock" (M-G) and "Scared 
Stiff" (Par), sturdy $13,000. ' . '-• 

Palace (RKO) (3,000; 40-85)— 
"Dillinger" (Mono) and "Hitchhike 
Happiness" (Rep). Fair $7,500 on 4- 
day weekend. "Escape in Desert" 
(WB) and Stan Kenton orch and 
Irene Manning on stage, big $9,000) 
in 3 days. Last week. "Wonderful 
Crime" (RKO) and "Tarzan Ama- 
zons" (RKO), robust $9,500, on 4-day 
weekend. 



Wednesday, June 27, 1945 f 



You've got that 
come-hither look 
Esther!" 




Don't peek now Van 
but 130 million fans 
are following you!" 




VAN JOHNSON 
INTRODUCES M*G*M' 




s 



(3 FOR THE SUMMER CROWDS IN M-G-M's GROW No. II) 



DIRECT FROM FIVE GREAT WEEKS AT THE CAPITOL, N. Y. 

VAN JOHNSON 




ESTHER WILLIAMS 



in 



M-G-M's TECHNICOLOR GOLDMINE 



mmmmmmm 




with 



FRANCES GIFFORD • HENRY TRAVERS • SPRING BYINGTON 

And Introducing The Metropolitan Opera Star 

LAURITZ MELCHIOR 
TOMMY DORSEY 

and his ORCHESTRA 



Original Screen Ploy by Richard Connell and Gladys Lehman 
Directed by RICHARD THOR>E • Produced by JOE PASTERNAK 




/I 



M-G-M's THRILLER! 

BEWITCHED 



Darling of 
society! 

Cruej love- 
killer! 



MA 




M-G-M's BOMBSHELL! 



TWICE 
BLESSED 



li 





AN EXPLOITATION NATURAL! 

With PHYLLIS THAXTER, sweetheart of "30 Seconds 
Over Tokyo" • Edmund Gwenn . Henry H. Daniels, Jr. 
Horace McNally • Minor Watson • Adapted for the 
Screen by Arch Oboler from his original story "Alter Ego" 
Directed by Arch Oboler • Produced by Jerry Bresler 
An M-G-M Picture 



m 



Flaming 
youth 
has 
its 

fling! 



A SUMMER SHOW FOR SHOWMEN! 

With Preston Foster • Gail Patrick • and presenting 
THE WILDE TWINS (Lee and Lyn) . Richard Gaines 
Jean Porter !• Marshall Thompson • Jimmy Lydon 
Gloria Hope • Ethel Smith at the Organ • Screen 
Play by Ethel Hill * Based on a Story by Mort Braus 
and Michel Kraike • Directed by Harry Beaumont 
Produced by Arthur L. Field * An M-G-M Picture 



§ 



Ml your might!. Mi K l«ty 7* War Loaei! 



Wednesday, June 27, 19 IS 



Rudolph Berger, Metro Mgr. on Tour 
Of Dixie Exchanges; Other Briefs 



Tips Radio to Sell Peace 



Continued from page 1 



Dallas, June 26. 
Rudolph Berger, new southern di- 
vision Manager for Metro, getting 
acquainted with exhibitors of this 
territory and other members of the 
local film industry. Burtis Bishop is 
local district manager;. l^rpy^Biil kei 
branch manager, and E. B. Coleman 
p m licity and exploitation manager. 
V Berger has jurisdiction over ex- 
changes in New Orleans, Charlotte, 
Atlanta. Memphis. Dallas, Oklahoma 
City and Kansas City. He expects to 
spend the next several months vis- 
iting the various exchanges. 

Briskin's Booking Exchange 

Murray Briskin, who runs the 
Riviera in Syracuse, N. Y.; the State 
Waterloo: Capitol Romer, and 
Corona, Corona, all upstate N Y. 
cities, has formed the Briskin En- 
terprises, Inc., as film booking agent 
for exhibitors served out of Buffalo. 
Estimated outfit will buy for. 50 the- 

• »% S rp n; ^.hT>n N. Y.. with Bris- 
kin splitting time between N. Y. ana 

• Buffalo. . .-. 

Gillespie's Chore 

Jimmie Gillespie, exploitation rep 
for 20th-Fox covering the south, 
delegated to handle preem of' Cap- 
tain .Eddie," which opens in Colum- 
bus Aug. 1. He has just finished the 
publicity campaign on the Seventh 
War Loan for the picture industry 
lit Memphis. " 



3-Day Warners' Meet 

Three'-day Warner sales meeting, 
attended by homeoffice executives 
and all district managers from, the 
field, plus zone exploitation men, 
opened in N. Y- yesterday (Tues- 
day), with Ben Kalmenson, general 
sales manager, presiding. Sessions 
were scheduled at this time so field 
men could attend the special pre- 
view last night (Tuesday) of "Rhap- 
sody in Blue" at the Hollywood, N.Y. 

District sales heads attending the 
meetings are Norman Ay res, Robert 
Smeltzer, Ralph McCoy, Henry Her- 
bel, Harry Seed.' Charles Rich, Hall 
Walsh, Doak Roberts and Haskell 
Masters. Concurrent with the sales 
meeting, Mort Blumenstock, eastern 
publicity-advertising director, will 
conduct separate sessions with the 

- exploitation forces. : ' 

Charles Einfeld. v.p. over adver- 
tising-publicity, who came east two 
■weeks ago, will address sessions of 
both the sales and - exploitation 
groups, .' 



away from such— just a big canopy. 
It'll be called the Palm theatre. 

Nat Bernstein, Bernstein Theatres 
(Gary, Hammond and Elkhart, Ind, 
and 'Waukegan and Harvey, HI..), 
took a 25-year lease on the property 
last week from Milton Sleinhardt 
Construction Co., Miami, with latter 
inked for construction work. Prop- 
erty is located on Washington ave- 
nue between 15th and 16th streets. 
Architect is Robert E. Collins, also 
of Miami, who designed the Lincoln, 
Cameo and many other houses in 
that city.. 

Sexton to Dickinson Chain 

Kansas City, June 26. 
George Sexton named manager of 
Glen, nabe house operated by Dick- 
inson Theatres, Inc. 

Thompson, to Palace, Rochester 

Rochester, N. Y., June 26. 
Winfield Thompson, former man- 
ager of Little theatre, becomes man- 
ager of RKO Palace here, after get- 
ting release from wartime engineer- 
ing job. He succeeds Gradon Hodges, 
who returned to the Driye-m. 

Steinberg Sells Pitt. House 

Pittsburgh, June 26. 
Mannie Steinberg, vet Pittsburgh 
exhibitor, sold his Pastime theatre 
to Sol P. Brown in order to enter 
theatrical supply firm of his late 
brother, Sammy Steinberg. 

Rudy Navari, Verona exhib, has 
sold his Liberty theatre there to Pete 
and August Camerlo, newcomers to 
business. /Navari may build another 
house in that rapidly expanding dis- 
trict. 



Blumenfeld's Invasion 

Los Angeles, June 26. 
Blumenfeld Theatre Circuit, stem- 
ming from San Francisco, invades 
Los Angeles July 1 with opening of 
Tower theatre, recently leased, as a 
first-run house for" United Artists 
product. 

Joseph Blumenfeld. circuit chief, 
-declared- the ehfiin~will-add three or 
tour L. A. houses to its circuit here 
by Aug. 1. 



New X. Orleans House Opens 

New, Orleans. June 26. 
Recently completed Fox theatre, 
operated by Fox Theatre Co., of New 
Orleans, new independent organiza- 
tion, opened recently. Construction 
of the 900-seater was authorized by 
the government for a section of the 
city long underseated. 

Akron, O., Owner Inducted 

Akron, O., June. 26. 
Robert Postma, owner of Rialto 
and Norka theatres here, inducted 
into Army, with H. E. Bickel now 
operating'both theatres. Latter man- 
aged the Majestic before retiring. 

Kennedy Vice Harte 

Albany,- June 26. 
Joe Kennedy has succeeded Karl 
Harte as head booker at Columbia. 
Harte. who worked lor years at RKO 
and Warners in New York, resigned. 
Kennedy served under Joe Miller, 
Columbia manager, with the now-de- 
funct Hutchinson Co. in Albany 20 
years ago. Miller's oldest son, a 
graduate of "Cornell, is lieutenant in 
charge of a sub chaser. - - >'.'• 



Honor New Chi Branch Mgrs. 

Chicago. June 26. 

Annual presentation of awards to 
film salesman members of Reel Fel- 
lows club who graduated to post of 
branch managers during past year 
were made at club's annual lunch- 
eon party, June 25. Besides a plaque 
for Milt Simon of 20th-Fox, past 
prexy, testimonials will also go to 
Julian King, Film Classics, Des 
Moines: John Sokley. Warner Bros., 
Oklahoma City: Harry Mandell, Film 
Classics. Indianapolis: Seymour 
Borde. RKO. Des Moines; and Bob 
Allen, United Artists. Milwaukee. 

New sales manager at Paramount 
Js Sam Stol), who's been film sales- 
man at the exchange for three years. 
Named following resignation of Max 
Roth, who left for N. Y. last week to 
line up with another exchange there. 

Property housing 750-seat Fox the- 
atre, plus six stores, was bought re- 
cently by Dr. Ansel H.. Tulupan, 
Chi physician, for $35,500. 

Transaction was made through 
Mark Levy Realty Co.. who secured 
it for Di\ Tulupan from Morris A. 
Sommers of Los Angeles. Buyer will 
operate the nabe house. . 



Ramsey Back From Armv 

___ . Hartford. June 26. 

" HohoraBlj discfiargecT TrfffffTTrlnT,' 
Frank Ramsey is back at his old post 
of manager of Warner Lenox. 



rector "Mr, D. A."— then Major 
USA) and Doug Coulter, v.p. in 
charge of programs for CBS, and 
Bob Heller, CBS — they invited a few 
other directors and several writers. 
Come take-off time, the group had 
narrowed down to four. We were 
the guinea pigs. W we made good, 
if the trip proved a success, maybe, 
they said, they'd let other boys go 
—to Europe and the Pacific. 

We flew the ocean, rolled through 
"Ricky's Place" and the famous 
Walled City in Casa. We shared 
bucket-seats and slept on the floor 
of a C-47 over Sicily and the Isle 
of ' Capri to Naples. We dined at 
'fancy messes at AFHQ in Caserta, 
where bright-colored parachutes 
dangled decoratively from the ceil- 
ing of a converted greenhouse. We 
were briefed "secretly" by G-l, 2, 3, 
4 and 5 Generals, including Me- 
Narney and Clarfc, on the Italian 
campaign. We drove in open jeeps 
to the front over the murderous 
Italian mountains through ' Purple- 
Heart Corner" and Futa Pass. We 
slept and froze in muddy, wet, ice- 
cold tents (after which we took off 
our Class "A" uniforms and grate- 
fully donned that long underwear 
we laughed at in the Pentagon). We 
crossed the Po on a Bailey bridge, 
we felt the thrill of "moving up" 
with an army on the way to battle. 
We saw action with the 10th Moun- 
tain arid 88th Divisions.*. We got shot 
at, we were scared, we saw men 
killed and we carried ..no weapons 
ourselves (Geneva convention). 

Robson and I, with two medics 
(c_ne, a fabulous sergeant, carried a 
BAR, though he wasn't supposed to) 
liberated Gardone, an Italian town 
on the west shore of Lake Garda. In 
the. name of the United States Gov- 
ernment we -took over a German 
hospital and 300 prisoners from an 
Eric Von Stroheim major. We were 
pelted with flowers in the streets 
and drowned with wine in the 
homes of joyous Partisans. They 
made us honorary members of the 
Committee of National Liberation. 
We had them get the Fascist pris- 
oners out of the town-jail and -we 
talked to them. We finally convinced 
them that, we had no authority to 
judge them. 

We helped loot Mussolini's villa. 
Leader and Telford saw Benito's 
body, with that of his mistress and 
others hanging from a roof in Milan. 
We journeyed through Florence. 
Venice. Verona, Bologna, Naples. 
Milan, Modena, Pisa, Bail. etc. We 
celebrated V-E day in Rome, flew 
over the Corinth Canal to Athens, 



Bob Myers Back to Famous 

Ottawa. June 26. 
Bob Myers back with Famous 
Players Can. Corp. as booker after a 
stretch as chief of theatrical distri- 
bution with National Film Board. 



New Miami Beach House 

Miami Beach, June 26. 

New streamlined film house, whose 
principal construction materials will 
be such non-essential commodities as 
plastics and Florida mud. is skedded 
to be opened in Miami Beach next 
January by Bill Dassow, Chi man- 
ager of National Theatre Supply, 
which is handling the entire equip- 
ment contract for the theatre— -seals, 
aircoiKlilioning, heating, marquee, 
etc. It's their first complete setup 
since WPB .clamped down on mate- 
rials three years ago, Dassow said. 

House (capacity 1.000) will be 
somewhat of an innovation. Dassow 
said, with lucite front, plastic doors, 
boxoffice at extreme right with flow- 
ing architectural lines of the facade 
pointed in its direction — "so nobody 
can lose their way to the ticket win- 
dow"— current-attraction board in 
center, with title-cards imbedded in 
lucite and entire lobbv visible 
through the front. No vertical sign, 
Dassow said, because the trend is 



Aid of Pic 



Continued from page I 



interviews with Prime Minister 
Bonomi of Italy, Prime Minister 
Vulgaros of Greece, Ambassadors 
Kirk, McVeigh and Myron Taylor. 
We got Pietro Maseagni's signature 
on our serpentine-"shoit-snorter." 
All he asked in exchange was an 
American cigarct. We swapped 
views with high-level Army, AMG, 
OWI, PWD officials, With political 
leaders from black to red in every 
country, with Field Grade and Com- 
pany Grade officers and just plain 
til's", with Fascists (admittedly) 
and Communists and chambermaids 
and ragged, dirty kids. We broke 
General Ike's non-fraternization pol- 
icy las who doesn't) and talked to 
homeless German girls on the streets, 
in the cellars of bombed-out build- 
ings. We badgered and explored the 
minds and hearts of Italians, French, 
Greeks, Germans, 'English. We even 
talked to a camp-full of Russian 

D.P.'S. ;• 

We did all this in bad. pidgin but 
curiously effective German, Italian 
and French. It got so. that after a 
while we found ourselves talking 
English with an accent! We did all 
these things and more— much more. 
We had the privilege- of seeing in a 
concentrated 60 days what 99% of 
our soldiers and riiost of our cor- 
respondents and visiting congress- 
men couldn't see. We had this privi- 
lege partly because, we started out 
as V. L P's (Very Important Per- 
sons) with a swell escorting officer 
— Lt. Colonel William F. Nee— - 
partly because whenever we wanted 
to, we got off the brass merry-go- 
round, and chiefly because we dou- 
ble-talked our way wherever we 
wanted to go. We were "looking for 
some light on post-war Europe. We 
wanted to know what the people 
there are thinking, hoping, fearing. 
We tried desperately to resist the 
temptation to become international 
experts in 60 days — but we failed. 

We were exposed to dynamite and 
it was impossible to resist conclu- 
sions. We came away with many 
definite impressions — which, rightly 
Or wrongly we have evaluated for 
ourselves. Of interest to the trade, 
here are a few; . " _,. 

Trip Should be a 'Must' 

First: The cold shower the mind 
goes through when it's ripped out of 
its Madison Avenue or Radio City 
Ivory T o w e r. It's stimulating, 
broadening, inspiring. As they say 
in the Army, "When you've kicked it 
around and laved it on, you've had 
jit!" Meaning you've' been through 
I something. For those boys in our 
profession who have to do war or 



wants one thing only— to gel home 
and leave Europe far behind. He 
must be convinced that the latter is 
impossible and can be disastrous. 
Not any healthier, again with a few 
shining exceptions, are the political 
instincts of the average AMG official 
now running our zone in Occupied 
Germany. We take our hat off to no 
nation when it comes 1o fighting a 
war. We're superb at that, but we're 
not using the' men or brains we have 
to fight the peace. It's a tough job, 
there's no easy solution— but the 
boys over there will tell you that 
we're fumbling today on the Rhine, 
and what's more they'll add that it 
has its roots in our fumbling on 
Pleasant River and the Potomac. 
There are vital, decisive currents 
flowing in the -world 4oday— currents 
which are not fairly represented by 
o\ir radio and pre'ss. We must recog- 
nize and work with them— not 
against them. If we don't we're bar- 
gaining for .destruction. There are 
people in Europe and here who 
would like nothing better than to 
see us in another war against a new 
opponent. If you hear anybody talk- 
ing dangerously and maliciously 
about another war — tell him or her 
to go take a look at our military 
cemeteries and hospitals from Attica 
to the Elbe and Germany's cities- 
more ruined than eye or word can 
tell — General Eisenhower flew from 
Frankfurt to New York in 16. hours. 
Those V-2's — whose damage I saw 
in London— traveled faster. Some- 
body's got to start telling the Ameri- . 
can people that we're big, rich and 
beautiful — but politically we're still 
in kindergarten. If anyone can think 
of a better means of doing, it than 
radio — let him speak up. 

Keep on selling soap, boys— that's 
right and proper — but for God's sake 
give a little thought and network 
time to selling peace. Those young- 
sters we saw on the rubble-heaps ot 
Europe and your own kids in your 
backyard will thank you. 



work series to discuss the problems 
of reemployment. The latter tees off 
Aug. 11. Thus will the two most 
powerful media of the amusement 
industry be used to get over the mes 
sage of reconversion and getting jobs 
not only for those shifting from war 
plants to peace industries, but also 
in getting back jobs for returning 
servicemen. • 

There is no definite idea expressed 
as to the operation of the motion 
picture plan, since it's all in the pre- 
liminary stages, but the essence of 
the program would be to dramatize 
certain employment problems, by 
way of two-reel pix, -thus taking 
them out of the invariable documen- 
tary category. Name actors would 
be used in the two-rcelers along with' 
top writers, etc. 

Thus would audience interest be 
heightened, and thus would theatre 
operators be influenced towards 
showing these pictures, which would 
be distributed gratis^ of course, prob- 
ably by the Office of War Informa- 
tion or Department of Commerce, 
or some other Government body! 

Another offshoot is to try and in- 
fluence Hollywood in including 
subtle suggestions relevant to the 
job program in lheir full-length en- 
tertainment features. 

An entertainment committee to 
function within the CED is expected 
to be formed shortly with the idea 
of pushing plans further for the use 
of entertainment media in fostering 
the postwar employment setup. 



stood on the ancient ground of the 
Acropolis and liStenecTTo" a -Greek- 
count tell its history. His grand- 
father had excavated the site of 
Troy. He was a leader of the Greek 
Underground. Ffe looked and talked 
like Adolphe Menjou. He was fabu- 
lously wealthy and, with an excel- 
lent air, bummed American cigar- 
ets from us. He had ripped the 
swastika from the Acropolis flagpole 
the night of the day the Jerries 
put it up. Then, on May 15. Leader 
and Telford went home. Robson and 
I, eager for the postwar picture, 
just beginning to take shape in Eu- 
rope, stayed on. 

Studied Paley's Operation 

We saw more of Greece, observed 
the first practical workings ot 
UNRRA there, went back to Italy 
for a week with the 12th and 15th 
Air Forces, flew through the Bren- 
ner Pass in the nose of a B-25 to get 
a good look at the bomb damage. We 
Kodaked and Leicad the Coliseum, 
the Fonum and paid our respects to 
the shrine of Keats and Shelley in 
Rome. Then we got orders to the 
ETO and flew to Paris. There we 
"studied" Montmartre and Were in- 
troduced to the important and ex- 
citing work of the Psychological 
Warfare Division, ably guided by 
CBS' own Colonel William S. Paley. 
We got into .a jeep and drove 
through Germany for five days, then 
back to Paris, via the big radio 
transmitter in Luxembourg. Then 
we flew to London and home via 
Iceland and the North Atlantic. In 
all — 100 hours actual flying time-^- 
20.000 miles by plane — and another 
5,000 by jeep. 

Looking back, I.recall that Rob- 
son and I flew in the- tails, noses 
and bellies and plush-seats of C-54's. 
C-47's, B-25's, B-17's and C-45's. We 
drove jeeps', ducks, an M-2Q tank, 
and Bill even piloted a Beecheraft 
for two hours over Italy. We talked 
personally to the Pope in an oft- 
the-record interview which lasted 
35 minutes < 14 minutes longer than 
Claire Luce, they told us!) We had 



think programs, it ought to be a 
jnust...T4»q. y>',ar; g.oe.s..or_an., the .Pa,;, 
ci fic. Radio has missed 1he boat 
when it comes to giving our people 
an accurate picture of what it means 
to fight a war. Here we think of 
armies, campaigns, battles. Get 
close to the lighting and you find its 
regiments. battalions, companies, 
platoons, squads, and a lone GI. It's 
not the peak moment when the plane 
swoops low over the ship and goes 
"ra-ta-ta-tat" — although that, of 
course, is the pay-off. It's 99% the 
unbelievable story of supply, admin- 
istration, of soldiers with ribbons 
who never smell gunpowder — of 
mud and dirt and cold and frag- 
mentary living and heart-breaking 
homesickness. It s that and so much 
more which we writers, producers 
and directors can't be blamed for 
not knowing. You can never get it 
from Army PRO here. There's 
only one place to get it, It's over 
there. We owe it to the families of 
the men who are sweating it out to 
know and communicate. There's an 
unfinished job of war-reporting. 
There are plenty of producers, 
writers and directors who want to 
go. Send them. It costs practically 
nothing and it will profit. The RAF 
has a phrase for it. "Take your 
linger nut and get weaving!". (Ex- 
ecutives please note). 

Fertile Field l or Material 
Second: Europe (and for that mat- 
ter the rest of the world) is bust- 
ing with material which radio can 
use richly. Our newscasters have 
done a wonderful job — but tech- 
niques grow old fast in our business. 
News coverage is now fragmentary. 
It needs synthesis. Put a mike in 
Europe's /-mouth to-day— a dramatic 
mike— and you'd hear it sizzle from 
Columbia Island to San Pedro. 



PW Thesps 

-Continued from page 1- 

momh ago. The camp held 5,000 
Americans; 5,000 French: 5.000 'Rus- 
sians, and others, all segregated. The 
Yanks got insufficient food. Snyder 
said, and no entertainment. So he 
asked for permission to start a 
theatre going, • which was grudg- 
ingly .given -1 . 

He got together a group of 35, 
former electricians, carpenters, 
actors, costume men and went to 
work. Charles Dwyer, Mai Hallett 
pianist, . was_ a ^member, ^ A ..21.-pc_.___ 
GI band had been captured intact, ~ 
which Snyder utilized. A barracks 
room, to which PW'S were entitled 
by the Geneva convention, was 
turned into a theatre. The YMCA 
was written to, and responded with 
about $200 worth of lights, paints, 
books on theatre, etc. The PW's did 
the rest. ' * 

Costumes were cut. from old Ger- 
man and Yank uniforms. Curtains 
were made out of burlap bags, dyed 
with indelible pencil. .The stage 
front was of cardboard, made out 
of Red Cross boxes. Sets were of 
cardboard. The Yanks bought cos- 
metics from French laborers, and 
wire and wood from Russ prisoners, 
exchanging for cigarettes (sent by 
the Red Cross) and passed through 
the wires separating each compound 
and nationality. Snyder acted as 
manager-director and helped write 
shows. 

Ribbed 'Em in Slang 

The group put on variety shows, 
quiz sbows, and takeoffs on a Fred 
Waring or Ted Weems program. 
They staged "Emperor Jones" for 
four performances. At first they put 
on one show a week, then one a 
fortnight. Show/ ran three nights, 
so all 5,000 Yanks could, see it. 
Audiences consisted only of Yank 
PW's, with some German officers 
there as censors. Germans checked 
scripts in advance, then sat. in to 
make sure nothing was added or 
changed. The 'German High Com- 
mand requested a special perlor- 
mance of "Television." a variety 
show Snyder wrote, to which 15 
generals came. , On the whole the 
Germans -disliked the Yank activity, 
frequently, ordering air raid drills in 
mid-performance out of spite. The 



Third: And this is by far the most GIs got back by kidding the Nazis 
important. There's a frightening job in skits, in slang which pas-sed over 
lo be done of keeping our people German heads. - 
accurately informed about what goes The Germans tried to get Yanks 
on, in Europe today. With a handful I to do a propaganda play. "The -Boy 
of exceptions, the average GI is j 'Comes Home," promising them new 
coming out of this war with the costumes,, etc. But the Yank* re- 
same prejudices he carried in. He I fused.- 



Wednesday: June 27, 1915 



PICTURES 



25 



Kingsberg Tees 
Off RKOConv. 

Malcolm Kingsberg, RKO v.p.. today 
,VVed V addresses the first of a 
series of RKO theatre operating 
business meetings called by Sol 
.Schwartz, general manager of RKO 
out-of-town theatres, at the N. Y. 
home office.' . .-• ' ;.;■! ■ - 

Morning session is presided over 
by Wilbur B. England, personnel 
director, and O. H. McMahon, as- 
sistant comptroller. Harold Mirisch. 
general manager of the RKO film 
booking department, takes over the 
afternoon session to discuss film 
product for the various cities in 
which RKO houses are located. 

Hairy Mandell, circuit advertis- 
ing-publicity director, takes over to- 
morrow (Thurs.) morning, while 
real estate and maintenance prob- 
lems, will be discussed in the after- 
noon by A. E. Roech, manager pfthe 
RKO real estate department, and 
David Canavan, maintenance mn- 
ger. presiding. ■" 

Individual theatre operating prob- 
lems in various situations will be 
discussed Friday (29) by 'Schwartz 
and William Howard, assistant. 

Among RKO operators gathered 
for liie sessions are division mana- 
gers E. H. Groth, Boston: Col. 
Arthur Frudenfeld, Cincinnati, and 
his confrere, Hardie Meakin; Frank 
Smith, Chicago, and John Redmond, 
Omaha. Others are Benjamin Do- 
mingo. Boston; Millroy A. Anderson, 
Los Angeles; Robert P. Corbiti, 
San /Francisco; Jay Golden. Roches- 
ter; H. H. Unterfort,, Syracuse, and 
Harry Schreiber, Cleveland. 

A screening, of "George White'.? 
Scandals" was set following the af- 
ternoon session today (Wed.) with 
•Carousel" booked for the evening. 
Ned Depinet, RKO Radio proxy, 
hosts the visitors at a luncheon at 
the Waldorf hotel tomorrow with' a 
screening of "Johnny Angel" -slated 
a; 4 p.m. and dinner following at the 
Copacabana, N. Y. 

Geo. Raftery Legal Rep 
For UA and U on Decree 

- -^George Raftery,- brother of Ed 
Raftery. United Artists prexv. has 
been retained to represent UA and 
Universal in the consent decree pro- 
ceedings. Raftery, who is a promi- 
nent trial lawyer (handled Globe 

' Indemnity, among other clients), re- 
cently joined the firm of O'Brien, 
Driscoll & Rafter;:. 

With Ed Raftery unlikely to leave 
UA for at least another year,, and 
unable to devote sufficient time to 
legal matters which he handled as 

• .UA- atto rney, additional JegsjIL .coun- 
sel was brought in. 



Colorful Yarn 

Hollywood, June 26. 

Color scheme at Universal is 
more riotous than the summer 
hues of the surrounding hills. 
As "The Woman in Green" docs 
out on release, Walter Wanger is 
readying "Scarlet Street." 

In the vaults awaiting distri- 
bution are "The Crimson Ca- 
nary" and "The Scarlet Horse-' 
man." "- , v \ "' ■ " 



Theatres, Unions 
Oppose S.F. Tax 

San Francisco. June 26. 

Opposition cropped up today to 
the City Planning Commission's en- 
deavor to raise $1,200,000 annually 
by putting a four-ce.nt-a-b.ead bite on 
theatre admissions in line with, a 
postwar plan to underwrite a $70,- 
000.000 bond issue to beautify the 
town. - .'".■'•'••/ 

The measure had lain silent with 
the sub-committee of the Planning 
Commission for some time and when 
the theatres got wind of it they em- 
ployed counsel to declare it was dis- 
criminatory, because it only affected 
the theatres. 

Unions appeared before the Plan- 
ning sub-committee today with the 
theatre operators protesting against 
the proposed tax that it might re- 
duce theatre attendance and cause 
their members to lose jobs. They 
further pointed out that one-third of 
the proposed tax plan was on prop- 
erty and the other two-thirds was 
saddled on the consumer. 

Committee took the matter under 
advisement and will report their de- 
cision to the City Supervisors who. 
if they favor the recommendation, 
can invoke the tax. 



Biggest Salaries 

=5 Continued from page 13 



Intl Loses Action To 
Throw Out Pact Breach 
Based on Aviation Film 

Federal Judge Samuel Mandel- 
baum ill New York ruled last week 
International Pictures was doing 
business ~iii ' State' - of " New" York, 
thereby changing the course of a 
suit vs. it whereby the defendant 
sought to quash it on the basis Inter- 
national didn't do business in the 
state. Jurisdiction over the $1,105.- 
000 breach of contract action 
brought by Samuel Sager and Harold 
Evans Hartney, against Inter- 
national, therefore stays within the 
jurisdiction of the N.- Y. . federal 
court. 

Sager and Hartney ask for dam- 
age;^ for alleged breach of contract 
reVsona'bTF'TaTO^W^e'rSIWs'" TOf- 



While the UA proxy has often dered and expenses incurred in re- 
spoken to many people about plans spect to alleged agreements made m 
to retire as UA prexy to return to 1943. for the production by Inter- 
his law office, he is committed to I national _ ( Spitz-Goetz) of a film 



UA for at least a year and his con- 
tinuation, with the company at the 
expiration of that period will- de- 
pend on conditions then prevailing 
within UA. ' ..... 

''■'■;' Unusual More 
The first unusual procedure at- 
tempting to punish three major film 
companies under the consent de- 
cree, for allegedly being in contempt 
of the decree, was started last week 
in N. Y. federal court by the Rose-, 
welt Realty Co;, Inc., operators of a 
. theatre chain' in Jersey City. The I 
companies are Paramount, RKO aiid j 
Loew's. 

The contempt charges arose: after: 
these three major film companies 
had clearance and made their prod- 
uct aavailable to the Rosyl Amus. 
Corp., operator of the Cameo thea- 
tre. Jersey City. 

The Cameo operators in its suit in. 
1912 charged that a seven-day clear- 
ance given the Rosewelt's Orient 
theatre was unreasonable. An arbi- 
tration board reduced the clearance 
MO three days, with the companies 
how eliminating all clearance. The 
Rose well claims that conditions war- 
ram no change in clearance. ,'. ' 

Move to punish the companies for 
contempt was referred bv Federal 
•{Mage John Bright last week to 
J "dge Henry W. Goddard. 

Mayo to Meg Marxes 

■ Hollywood, June 20. 

Archie Mayo will direct the Marx 
Bios in their return to pictures in 
A Night in Casablanca," to be pro- 
auced independently bv David L. 
Loeu', 

.Picture will carry the original 
> ll| e, although the Warners have 
Pi "tested that it conflct-s with their 
own aim, "Casablanca." 



based on" the activities of the "air 
transport command," which was to 
be known as the "Ferry Command." 

International sought dismissal of 
the suit, on the ground that it is a 
California corporation and does no 
business in this state: also to quash 
service of process as improperly 
made. 

In opposing International's motion. 
David P. ■ Siegel,. attorney for the 
plaintiffs, submitted letters and other 
documents which showed that- in 
1943 the plaintiffs and Robert Gold- 
stein, acting, as N. Y. representative 
for International, negotiated and 
consummated the deal for the pro- 
duction of the film, as evidence that j 
International was doing business in | 
j this slate. 
/Judge Mandelbaum in his decision 
cited the recent suit by Charles 
Chaplin against David O. Selzuick. 
where court, in upholding jurisdic- 
tion, held similar duties were neces- 
sary for the existence o): the pro* 
rlucer corporation., whether per- 
i formed in California or elsewhere.. 
I Judge Mandelbaum denied Inter-' 
[ national's motion and found that it 
I maintains an office' in New York 
wherein several employees work lor 
the purpose of obtaining literary 
material and hiring of players for 
the defendant in California, to place 
"plants" or. publicity stories, etc. - /- 
On that - score, the .court ruled. 
'•While all funds for salaries are for- 
warded from the California office, 
and other initial negotiations for 
the purchase of literary material and 
hiring of actors and actresses' are 
likewise transacted in California, 
nevertheless, tjie continued course 
of conduct of the defendant is suf- 
I fieient and substantial enough -to 
bring it within this jurisdiction." 
* On the move to quash, service. 



Leisen. $193,270; Bavid Lewis, $76,- 
000; Fred McMurray, $419,166; 
George Marshall, $144,666; Ray Mil- 
land, $169,000; Seton I. Miller, $120,- 
500; Edward G.- Robinson, $100,000: 
Ginger. Rogers, $122,500: Mark Sand- 
rich. $156,000; Allan Scott, $84,250; 
Barbara Stanwyck, $100,000; Preston 
Sturges. $188,708: Harry Tugend, 
$116,250: Billy Wilder. $92,916; 
Lorelta Young, $90,666; Adolph 
Zukor. $109,000. 

Twentieth-Fox: Don ' Ameche, 
$247,666: Tallullah B'ankhead. $76,666; 
Thomas J. Connors, $113,000;. Alice 
Faye. $163,333; Preston S. Foster. 
$82,691: Bryan Foy, $169,000; William 
Goetz. ,. $183,166; Edmund Goulding, 
$116,600: Betty Grable, $124,000: 
Henry Hathaway, $130,000; Sonja 
Henie. $148,611; Nunnally Johnson, 
$120,166: Robert T. Kane, $104,000: 
Henry King, $208,333; Walter R. 
Lang. $110,333; Wilham Le Baron. 
$156,000; Ernst Lubitsch, $208,000: 
Archie L. Mayo, $149,411; Joel Mc- 
Crea. $118,750; Kenneth MacGowan, 
$78,000: W. C. Michel, $75,350; Car- 
men Miranda, $138,541; Thomas 
Mitchell. $128,416; Alfred Newman. 
$78,057: Jack- Oakie, $78,854; William 
Perlbei-g. $138,250; Tyrone Power, 
$148,283: Otto L. Jreminger, $91,000: 
Edward ,G. Robinson, $110,416; 
Morrie, Ryskind, $95,666; George H. 
Sanders. $93,583; Joseph M. Schenck, 
$124.4.67; Spyros Skouras. $256,199; 
John M. Stahl, $179,916; Joseph 
I Swel ling. $102,500; Lamar Trotti, 
'$104,000: William A. Wellman, $110.- 
576; Sol Wurtzel, $114,666; Darryl 
Zanuek. $127,500. , 

Warner Bros.: Jack Benny. $137.- 
500: Busby Berkeley, $81,250; Joseph 
Bernhard. $132,500; Henry Blarike, 
$.132,500: Humphrey Bogart, $10"V,250; 
David Butler. $81,875; Jack Chertock, 
$79,500: Joan Crawford, $144,556; 
Michael Curtiz, $193,377; Delmar 
Daves. $81,216; Bette Davis, $241,083; 
Errol Flynn, $142,000; Leo Forb- 
stein. $81,958: John Garfield, $84,250; 
Edmund Goulding, $75,000; Sydney 
Greenstreet. $102,666; Howard 
Hawks. $200,000; Mark Hellinger, 
$105,000: Paul Henreid, $140,624; 
Sam Hellman. $79,500; Jesse Lasky, 
Sr.. $85,100; Claude Rains, $92,000; 
Rosalind Russell, $202,500; Ann 
Sheridan. $91,625; Barbara Stan- 
wyck. $223,333; Max Steiner. $87,450; 
Hal Wallis. $124,833; Raoul Walsh, 
$158,500: Albert Warner, $92,750; 
Harry Warner, $185,500; Jack 
Warner. $185,500. 

Listed also was one salary for a 
fiscal year ending Oct. 31, 1943. It 
was: : ' ..'• ■.--. 

Universal Film Exchanges: Wil- 
liam A: Scully, $78,000. '"' ' ' •' ; 
Some Other Big Earners 
Hearst Consolidated Publications. 
.lM.;.„WilUamu. .Randfilfih. Hearst, 

$100,000. 

Hearst Publications, Inc.: William 
Randolph Hearst, $100,000. 

D'Arcy Advertising Co.: A. L. Lee, 
$149,847.' 

American Weekly, Inc.: Mortimer 
Berkowitz. $120,992. 

CBS: Paul W. Kestcn. $84,999. 
Cro well -Collier Publishing Co>: 
Thomas H. Beck, $80,260. 

Dailv Mirror, Inc.: Walter Win- 
ehe.ll. $86,343. 

King Features Syndicate: George 
McMnnus. . $100,995; Robert L. Rip- 
ley. $94,289: Murat Young; $146,421. 

Lennen & Mitchell, Inc.: Philip W. 
Lennen, $83,333. 
* RCA: David Sarnoff. $100,720. 
■JReader's Digest Assn., Inc.: A. L. 
Cole. $84,500: Kenneth W. Payne, 
$84,462; De Witt Wallace. $99,500. 

•Rnl-hrauff & Ryan:- F. B. Ryan. 
SI 00.000. ' ". •" "-.;'- ..-■:; 

-Young Si Rubicam: Raymond 
Rubicam. $92.5.00.-. 



WB s $37,000,000 Bank Loans at 1-1% 
Puts Company in Strongest Position 



Washer Back With Goldwyn 

Eugene Murphy, who had been 
eastern ad-publicity director- tem- 
porarily for Samuel Goldwyn, re- 
turns to Hollywood this week and 
will be succeeded by Ben Washer, 
just released from ihe Army. Washer 
goes back to the old post he held 
at the time he was inducted three 
years ago. ., 

Washer was public relations' officer 
for Irving Berlin's "This Is the 
Army" on its tour in the U..S. 
around the world. 



and 



Charles L. Glett Made 
Selznick's Studio Mgr. 

Hollywood. June ,26. 



Jimmy Savage Edits 
BM Mag Savagely, 
And Also for Laughs 

Chicago, June 26. 
Gagmen's delight and critics' envy, 
The Balabanner, B&K's employees' 
mag edited by Jimmy Savage, conies 
out every now and then and makes 
the people laugh. Cullihgs from Tiis 
latest critical survey of the town's 
current atractions include: 

"Pictures: 'It's in the Bag'— let it 
out! 'Son of Lassie' — when the dogs 
have dogs. 'Tonight and Every 
Night"— monotonous, ain't it? 'Pic- 
ture of Dorian Gray'— the Thin Man 
goes home. 'It's a Pleasure'— uncon- 
firmed. 'From Pillow to Post'— 
sleeping time, 80 minutes. 'Sudan'— 
eliminate the negative." 

That takes care, partially, of pix 
on tap in the Loop. Now Savage 
views the news: "Hitler's final 
revenge was to kick-off before War 
ner Bros, got 'Hotel Berlin' into gen- 
eral release." And some more 
critiques— niteries this time: "Em- 
pire Room— the Abbott Girls and 
Henny Youngman. or young gams 
and old gags. The Retreat— yes, 
let's. Chez' Paree — Tourists! Hel- 
sing's Vodvil Lounge — so that's 
where it went when it died!" 
- Menus around 'town get a going- 
over too: '.'Civilian K-ration is ap- 
pearing in Chi restaurants under 
more aliases than Bugs Bunny, viz. 
at Thompson's it's 'individual meat 
loaf; at Stouffer's it's 'pressed ham 
on toasted noodles'; at the Victorian 
Room it's 'cold cuts mayonnaise 
chefs supreme'; at Al Simon's it's 
'bologna on a bagel'; at the Pump 
Room it's '$3.50,'." ."' ; .',:':':,,'::. . . .. 

Tune-o.fr time: "Sinatra singing 
'Rum & Coke,' a calypso by. Collapse 
'Inner Sanctum' — run into the 
l-offifdRouse! "Nellie,* fie can't "corner 
you there. Clifton Utley, commen 
tatoi — the first casualty of peace 
Nate Gross, gabber— anchor man on 
the Crosslcy team." •• 

Savage is also looking forward to 
seeing Charlie Chaplin do "The 
Son Is My Undoing," and is all in 
tavor of forming the Society for the 
Prevention of Naming Helpless 
Babies Shirley. Thespis", he avers, is 
the God of Greek' drama, nee 
Skouras. and when a ouija board 
operated by radar was introcd at a 
recent exhib-distrib confab at 
spelled out the magic words, "N-o 
p-e-r-c-e-n-t-a-g-e," whereupon "an 
other Republic saga of the Old West 
bit the dust." 

Previously, the distrib had said, 
"I won't take a cent less than 
$50,000." It's a deal," replied the 
exhib. "I'll give it to you!" "But 
why -do you give in so easy," asked 
the distrib. "when you krtow I'll set 
tie for a mere $5,000?" "Because,' 
answered the exhib, "I thought 
you'd drop dead!" (He didn't, Sav- 
age footnotes, but the picture did!) 

Smash finale came, it's pointed 
out. when the exhib left and started 
"bicycling alternate reels of 'God Is 
[My Co-Singer' between the Varsity 
and the Tower." 

Ail of which : may help explain 
why Balabanner won the Midwest 
Employees' Mag Assn. annual award 



:-f Warner Bros, set a 10-year bank 
loan of $37,000,000 last week which 
frees substantially all corporation 
properties in U. S. from mortgage 
debt and brings the company to its 
strongest financial position in years. 
Harry M. Warner, WB president, 
announced the loan which is at 2"„ 
per annum until 1952 and '1V> 0 C from 
then until May, 1955. 

Money from this big loan together 
with treasury cash will be used to 
pay the $17,000,000 bank loan (for 
7 years i just recently completed as 
well as about $21,000,000 in principal 
amount of mortgage indebtedness of 
the company and its subsidiaries. 
It's expected that this refinancing 
program will be completed before 
Aug. 31. end of the company's 
current fiscal year. It Will be re- 
called that Warners set a deal for 
refinancing $17,000,000 in obligation's 
less than a month ago, the bank 
loan being for 2"i annual rate. This 
sum was to cover redemption of 
all its 4% debentures, amounting to 
$7,000,000. to-be called July 29 this 
year and also for calling all its 2% % 
term bank, loans ($10,000,000) for 
payment. June 28. New $37,000,060 
bank loan not^only will be used to 
pay this recent bank loan but also 
provides enough money to cover 
previously set mortgage indebtedness 
(long-term loans) which were at 
considerably higher interest. 

As a consequence, Warners wipes 
out the old indebtedness involving 
the mortgaging of company property, 
saves a material amount in annual 
interest and spreads payments out 
over 10 years, The new and bigger 
bank loan calls for 20 equal semi- 
annual installments of $1,850,000 
each starting next Nov. 1. . 

Banks participating in this loan 
are N. Y. Trust Co., Guaranty Trust 
Co. of N. Y., First National Bank of 
Boston, Continental Illinois National 
Bank & Trust Co. of Chicago, Union 
Trust Co. of Pittsburgh, The Penn- 
sylvania Co! for Insurances on Lives 
& iGranting Annuities of Phila- 
delphia. Banks Trust Co. of N. Y., 
National City Bank of Cleveland and 
First National Bank of Minneapolis. 



Famous Players, Loew's 
To Reopen 2 in Canada 

Toronto, June 26. 
Still blocked by wartime restric- 
tions on building materials, but anx- 
ious to provide playing time for 

backlogs of important . films. that are 
piling up bu the shelves,— Famous 
Players (Canadian) and Loew's plan 
to open their two Toronto houses . 
v-'h eh have l.een shuttered since the 
days of silent pictures. This will 
provide^ about 2,500 additional the- 
atre seats here. Consummation of 
plan, of course, awaits installation • 
of sound equipment. .'., 

FPC would reopen its Shea's Vic- 
toria, a 1.995-seater which was the 
flags-hip of the Mike and Jerry Shea 
\ Slice circuit in Canada when the 
brothers invaded this two-a-day ter- 
ritory in 1910. Because of angle for 
sound pictures. Famous will close off 
the second balcony, but the orches- 
tra and first balcony will provide 
over 1.500 seats after minor renova- 
tions. •;','' " . '" . 

Loew's will open its Winter Gar- 
den, atop Loew's Downtown, but 
will cut down tie former 1,501 ca- 
pacity to 1.092. It's been closed for 
-about 15 year*. Access' will ' be by 
elevators, v- • 



Charles L.. Glett. recently dis- 
charged from Signal Corps as major.' 
has been appointed general studio 
manager for Selznick International 
Pictures. Post. Which is newly cre- 
ated, includes supervision of produc- 
tion manager's office and varioti* ■; |. eC( ; n riy .as the" best of the lot 

other Selznick activities. ' , . ■: __: : — — ; — 

Glett has been in the film business 
.since . 1919Y when he started with' 
Far- Eastern Film Co, in N. Y. He 
has heid posts both in ' distribution 
and- production management and 
produced series of films himself in- 
dependently. Prior to entering Army 
he was v.p. and g.m. of Myron Selz- 
nick & Co. 



court ruled that the order submitted 
should provide for a special master- 
to hear and determine this issue. 



Giddyappers 48 Hrs. Only 

,- :'-, '•;•• Hollywood, June 26. 
Screen Actors Guild yesterday 
(25 i - cancelled agreement with seven 
producers of western film permitting 
a 54 -hour week. SAG now claims 
there is no justification at present 
for the longer week, and announced 
it plans to operate on a regular 48- 
hour week. - ■-,.'.. 
' Agreement was originally inked in 
1»:.!8. 



Wallis East, Hazen West 

Hollywood, June 26. 

Hal Wallis heads for N: Y. Thurs- 
day (28> to attend opening of "You 
Came Along." 

During 10-day stay there, Wallis 
will huddle with Lillian Hellman on 
script of her play. "The Searching 
Wind,": which he expects to put be- 
fore the lenses in October. 



Hazen West 

Joe Hazen left for the Coast Mon- 
day (25) . He .has taken a house in. 
Arrowhead Springs. '..<; 



RAINS GOES TO U 

Hollywood. June 26. 

Universal inked Claude Rains tor 
top billing in "As It Was Before," 
slated for an early July start. 

Picture will be Rains' first Holly- 
wood chore since his return from 
England. 



Wednesday, June 27, 19 IS 




Should bring ducats to the boxoffice . . . all 
the elements of acting, direction and pace are 
combined skillfully so that appetizing enter- 
tainment results. Andrew Stone deserves ap- 
plause in his dual role of producer-director!" 

—Hollywood Reporter 

"Well-contrived, streamlined comedy ... . okay 
boxoffice!" 

— Variety 

"There are a thousand laughs in 'Bedside 
Manner' ... it's the Treat of the Week!" 

— ----:-—> .... .__ . . — Hedda Hopper 

"Trim package of up-to-the-minute entertain- 
ment! Well-constructed comedy-drama right 
down the popular alley and should hit a nice 

stride at the boxoffice!" 

-MPaily Variety 

Pictute of the Week!" 

— Jimmy Fidler 

"A comedy that will entertain all with its dia- 
logue and unusual situations!" 

— Showmen** Trade Review 



"'XI'.''' 



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ANDREW STONE presents 

BEDSIDE MANNER" 

starring JOHN CARROLL and RUTH HUSSEY 
with CHARLES RUGGLES -and ANN RUTHERFORD 

Esther Dale • Grant Mitchell - Frank Jenks 
From the Saturday Evening Post story by Robert Carson 
Screenplay by FREDERICK JACKSON and MALCOLM STUART BOYLAM 

Directed by Andrew Stone - Raiaasod thru united artists 




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11 
11' 

1 1ll 

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••••4 



Wednesday. June 27, 19-45 



PICTURES 



27 



til's Burn at Memphis 



Continued from page 1 



it so happens that in the American 
Arms'. s ucn theatres are attended by 
•any Allied soldier in uniform. But 
the important thing was, that in 1,500 
soldiers present, there was a cross- 
section of America. There were not 
only soldiers from N, Y. C, Brook- 
lyn, Chicago and Los Angeles but 
from Memphis and all points south, 
southeast and south west. There 
were Jew and Gentile, Negro and 
White, Catholic and Protestant but 
most of all. . .Americans. V 

During the performance, the pro- 
jector broke down, What made it 
rather unusual was that it wasn't for 
just five minutes or even 10, but for 
52 minutes. Yes, I timed it. During 
all this tedious wait, with the picture 
better than three-fourths finished 
and the hour growing pretty late, 
this being the 9 p.m. show, not a 
man left the theatre. How do 1 
know? Well, I purposely Stood near 
the exit so that I could note just such 
a thing or any other incident. How- 
ever, the only thing that happend 
through the long wait was that vari- 
ous GIs made various and sundry 
remarks, all unprintable and in Vari- 
ous and sundry American dialects 
that covered America from Maine to 
California, as to the ability, or lack 
of same, of the two GI operators 
who would pick such an inopportune 
time to let the machine go on the 
blink. That was all; that and nothing 
more. Even that would come under 
the heading of humorous heckling. 
When the machine was finally rer 
paired and the film continued to its 
happy ending, everyone felt the 
same. Their comments added up to 
the fact that they had just seen a 
flue hunk of picture. . .worth waiting, 
for. 

Now please don't feel that I'm 
writing you because I feel that this 
was any history-making incident. 
Rather. I'm writing in the hope that 
there might be a possibility that the 
Hon. Lloyd T. Binford, of the Mem- 
phis Binfords, can in some way hear 
of this and get wise to the fact that 
the Americans of all colors, national- 
ities and sections, who teamed 
against Hitler, paying the inevitable 
price in blood and death, just, ain't 
gonna like the idea of some guy back 
home spoutin' off such Hitlerisms as 
hi'/zoner. Also, to throw a "good 
going" directly at Edward Small, who 
believes in presenting all peoples as 



Tli* Office of Allan Property Cat' 
toalair aivet nolle* that the invita- 
tion to bid, for lleoMM to distribute 
in tho United Statos oach of fifty 
motion pictures, iitnod Juno *, 
1*45, not boon withdrawn. Ac- 
cordingly tho public opening of 
bldi will not bo hold on July o. 
1*45, at previonsly announced. 
Any bidi rocatvad will bo returned 
unopened and there will be no 
awards made. 

FRANCIS J. McNAMARA 
Deputy Allen Property Custodian 
Dated: June 21, H45 



the human beings that they are, in 
spite of the fact that he may lose a 
few bucks in the south because a 
small minority believe that "a man is 
good enough to die for his country 
but not good enough to be shown 
dying for it." You know, I wonder 
what the Hon. L. T. B. would have 
done had he been "sweatin' out" the 
breakthrough at St. Lo, along with 
the rest of us, and had to dive for 
the nearest foxhole, only to find 
therein an American of Hamitic ex- 
traction. A rather amusing thought! 

Hope I haven't taken too much of 
your time, but I just thought you 
might be interested in knowing just 
how some of us over here think about 
things over there. May I? May I 
also congratulate "Variety" just for 
being American! 

Sincerely yours, ' 
S/Sgl. Charles Carpenter. 



Saga 



Continued from page 1 



religious publication, "Our Sunday 
Visitor," in 1943, and somehow made 
its way overseas, where it created 
international headlines when it was 
found on the body of a dead Ameri- 
can soldier. Little was known there 
about the origin of the piece and it 
was generally credited to him until 
it was discovered that Miss Anger- 
mayer was the author. Copies of the 
piece were even found on bodies of 
German soldiers at Metz. Since then 
it has been read over national net- 
works by Joe E. Brown, Ginny 
Simms, Shirley Temple, and was 
featured over the Union Pacific ra- 
dio program, "Your America." The 
latter firm subsequently issued re- 
prints of the poem for national dis- 
tribution. 

After creating all this stir, Gedf- 
frey O'Hara, author of the World 
War I hit, "K-K-K-Katy," and John 
W. Brat ton wrote a hymn-like tune 
to the words, but shortly thereafter 
it was felt that a four-quarter tem- 
po would be in greater keeping with 
popular taste, 

The words are the salient feature 
of the tune artd they are on the cov- 
er of the sheet music. Dealers report 
that many will ask to see the song 
and copy the words without buying 
the music. 

The publishers have no illusions 
that the tune will be the most 
played on the air— it's not in dance 
tempo, but they're confident that it 
will probably be one of the most 
talked of pieces of the war. 

It's been said that the greatest 
pieces of this war will be written 
by the GIs themselves when they 
become articulate enough to put 
down on paper all they've gone 
through. But here is one of the po- 
etic masterpieces written by an ama- 
teur poet which has been described 
as catching the spirit of soldiers who 
know that any second the shell with 
their serial number on it will hit. 



PEKS©N«Ai!v Sp. A nq by ^REQ /\L LEN 




Star •/ United Artists bit, 
"IT'S IS THE BAG" 



1— For years Hollywood kept turning 
me down."Noglamour,"the moguls 
said. Then a quiz kid wised me up. 




3— Now I'm a glamour boy Personnel- 
fied.thankstosHckPersonnashaves. 
And my career— "It's in the Bag." 




2— "DmchU, nothing's wrong with 
'you that good grooming can't fix" 
he said. I got hep. I got Personna! 



HERE'S WHY Personna Blades are 
as sharp as Fred Allen's wit: 

1— Made from premium steel. 

2— Hollow-ground for keenness. 

3— Rust-resistant for longer use. 
Personna, 599 Mad. Ave., N.Y.C.22 




10 far $1 . . . m wttth it! 



Wallis Stalls 'Discharge' 

Hollywood, June 26. 

Filming of John Farrow's wartime 
story, "Dishonorable Discharge." has 
been postponed until next year by 
Hal Wallis who had originally slated 
it for the coming autumn. 

New Wallis production schedule 
calls for "The Crying Sisters" in 
September," to be followed by "The 
Searching Wind" and "Love Lies 
Bleeding." after which he will hop 
to London to make "Whenever I 
Remember" for Paramount release. 



'G.I, Joe' Gets Rolling 

"Story . of G.I. Joe" has been 
booked into the United Artists thea- 
tre, San Francisco, July 18. N. Y. 
opening is expected to be set shortly. 

National Press club is sponsoring 
preview of "G.I. Joe" in Washington 
on July 3 in tribute to late Ernie 
Pyle. Film will be shown at Loew's 
Palace. Washington, to members of 
the club, of which Pyle was a mem- 
ber, and club guests. 

ITURBI BACK TO M-G 

Hollywood, June 26. 
Jose Iturbi, currently doing a 
series of concerts for servicemen, 
will return to films as an actor-mu- 
sician in "Holiday in Mexico" at 
Metro. 

Musical, with a long list of Latin- 
American tunes, will be produced by 
Joe Pasternak. 



Alien 



Continued from page 1 



a statement in which he said "Critics 
misunderstood the nature of the of- 
fer. No film could be released for 
distribution without prior approval 
of an appropriate Governmental 
agency." 

Rep. Ellis E. Patterson <D„ Calif.), 
the Beverly Hills congressman, 
jumped all over the offer last week 
in a statement in the House. 

"The purpose of these films," Tie 
said, "first and foremost was to 
Nazify those who witnessed them. I 
firmly believe that those German 
films now in the possession of the 
American Government ~should be 
destroyed or suppressed. They are 
all dangerous. Many are quite 
sordid. Even if a Nazi-made film 
has any artistic value, I am sure that 
our motion picture industry can pro- 
duce something finer. 

"Films under discussion glorify 
free love, the Hitler Youth Move- 
ment, Prussianism. and tell now 
'Nazism freed Europe from oppres- 
sion.' They are- the" antithesis of 
the themes of the great anti-fascist 
films made by our American com- 
panies all during this war." - 

A day before the Alien Property 
Custodian made the announcement 
that the auction would not take 
place, Jack Bryson, MPPDA rep 
here, and Rep. Gordon McDonough 
(R., Calif.), of the Hollywood dis- 
trict both objected to release of the 
pictures without a checkup to be 
sure, they were free of propaganda. 
Both men said they had no objection 
to releasing those which were prop- 
erly censored and found free of Nazi 
influence. 



Rank Yens Distrib Setup 



Continued from page 3 - 



in America would likely be sup- 
ported. 

Unlikely that Rank would be 
obliged to export funds from Eng- 
land for his American enterprises, 
since he could readily raise coin in 
the U. S. in addition to the rentals 
from distribution of his films here. 



Rank Says 'No Plans' For 
Theatres, Distrib Here 

Hollywood. June, 26. 

Whatever immediate . competition 
American films will get irom Britain 
will' be on strength of quality of 
product rather than on setting up 
business deals in the United States 
by J. Arthur Rank with American 
film toppers, the English motion 
picture chief stated yesterday 
(Mon.) on his arrival here from 
the east. Rank said competition 
would be stiff but friendly, with 
drive being put on to raise level of 
British product as well as an attempt 
made to . understand American pub- 
lic by sending producers over here 
to meet with people not situated in 
Hollywood but those outside of the 
film capital. 

Magnate said he does not plan 
rushing a distribution setup in this 
country, although he plans one at 
later date. He also stated he does 
not aim to establish a theatre chain 
or production outfit in this country 
at this time'but will let events shape 
the trend of what he will do. 

As to the question what he 
may he planning to do with David 
O. Seb.nick and Samuel Goldwyn 
on production-distribution alliances, 
Rank replied, "I met Mr. Goldwyn 
socially in London and Mr. Selznick 
socially in New York. Our meetings 
were purely social and no 'such 
business talks have occurred." 

Rank said he looked for the Holly- 
wood production code to be adopted 
informally or formally by British 
producers as one of steps to -lower- 
ing barriers between free exchange 
of product. Rank stated he would 
like to see freer exchange of players, 



as well as producers and directors, 
but that due to union difficulties he . 
couldn't s e e much swapping of 
technicians. 

Two things Rank wished could be 
eliminated were double income 
taxation, which prevents many 
players from going back and forth, 
and also British quota system, which 
comes to end in 1948. He sees televi- 
sion as no threat to theatres and 
expects to have it installed in British 
houses in about three years. 

Film production by Rank will be 
between 20 and 30 pictures next 
year with 10 slated for American 
distribution. United Artists will 
handle nine and 20th-Fox one. Ca- 
nadian film production will b e 
limited to documentaries and chil- 
dren's films, Rank said. { 

Construction on British studios 
damaged by blitz probably will not i 
start, soon, as homes and other, neces- 
sary dwellings will have to be re- 
constructed first. Rank and his party 
of G. I. Woodham-Smith. John 
Davis, Barrington Gain and Joclc 
Lawrence will remain here until 
July 5 and then;-,leave to try put the 
golf course at Pebble Beach. 



Saville Gets Gertie's Biog 

Hollywood, June 26. 

Gertrude Lawrence's forthcoming 
autobiography, "A Star Danced," 
will be produced and directed by 
Victor Saville, if and when it ia 
translated to the screen. 

Choice of 'Saville is the result of 
years of professional friendship and 
esteem. 



U CLIPPERS HYPOED 

Hollywood, June 26. 

Universal's scissors department is 
clipping in high gear.this week with 
seven features in process of editing 
for early release. 

Films are "Lady On a Train," "On 
Stage, Everybody," "Night in Para- 
dise," "Crimson Canary," "Girl On 
the Spot," "Pillow of Death" and 
"Secret Agent, X9." 



New York Theatres 



'OUT OF THIS WORLD" 

A Varamouiit Picture 
In Person • 
A 1.1. AN ..lO.NKS - fill. LAMB 
KM.KKN BAKTON 
JF.KKY WAT.D ami Buml 
BUY nONOS HERE 



SAMI F.I. OOI.BWVS prmrnU 

DANNY KAYE 

"WONDER MAN" 

. in TeclinU'olor 

B'WAjr . X CTAD CmiHiiinun 

* ir.il. SI. AOiUn l*u|Milur VrUes 



CC. B. Cochran's 1 
S Continued from page 2 ' 

50th year. I have plenty of good 
reasons for this— not the least Of 
which is my conviction, nobody is 
entertained or amused by an old 
crock. 

"Anyhow. Rank agrees with me 
the picture, will be a hit or a flop 
precisely to the degree it is a good 
picture and n.ot at all because it is 
my life story. It must be made on 
the theory nobody ever heard of 
C. B. Cochran— and as a matter of 
fact it's- the. truth as regard* a con- 
siderable proportion of film goers in 
this country - — never mind the 
States;' 

Although "C.B." refused to con- 
firm ••Variety's" forecast as to John 
Mills' playing. the impresario in the 
film, it can now be repeated with 
even greater authority: The young 
actor currently scoring a big per- 
sonal success in "The Way to the 
Stars" at the London Pavilion will 
have the title role— and present 
Cochran in the period between his 
20th and 50th years. 

A further detail. What Rank has 
bought is the film rights to hot only 
the two Cochran books already 
named; he also owns the rights to 
"Cock-a-Doodle-Do".' and to the 
fourth of Cochran's books, about to 
be published, entitled "Showman 
Looks On." 



Hnmpnrey ROOART, Alexis SMITH 
Sydney OREEN5TREET 
I* Warner froi. Hit! 

"CONFLICT" , 

Tn Tenon 

LOUIS PRIMA 

AND HIS ORCHESTRA 

Alw lu Person , 

DANE CLARK 
B'way at 47th St. STRAND 



SYLVIA SIDNEY 

BLOOD ON 

|JHESUN 



rfrnrtlSlil.H'aMj. 
IN PRISON 
m% mm 
Ml MMM MCI. 
1 ROSE MARIE 
JACK OURANT 
Cnlro'EIHl SMITIi 



FiVr MUSIC HALL 

"THE VALLEY 
OF DECISION" 

8pectac0lar Stage Productions 



PALACE 



B WAY 8. 
47th St. 



Robert YOUNG •Lorain. DAY 

"Those Endearing 
Young Charms" 

An nico-HAmo rtcf i'tiiD 



David 

NIVEN, 



• A 
tWO CltlH 
NIM 



OX SCKKKS 

fTliurs.. : .1unP 2S 
C'luiitJWtr 
CO I It I It'l 
Vrrtl 
MurMI JtR \V 

'Practically 
Yours' 



IN PKItSON 
Mary Btth 

HUGHES 

Bob 

HOWARD 



SOth 

VICTORIA 

I'woy I, 46lh St. _ 



% iohhoies -*| 

IHMIEtLHSM , 



4tft WEEK 




[ 



SPOTLIGHT 
ON CONGRESS 



MARCH 
of TIME 



AT ROXrV 



FRED MacMURRAY 

MURDER, HE SAYS 

A PARAMOUNT fffTfUE 
Brandts Air-Cooled 

Buy " CLOSE K'way tc 
Mar Bond* WW».« 48th 81. 



to 



Wednesday, June 27, 1945 







IlUll 



liipi 
lllttlfi 

■; x * 

■yy.-y/y/. :+■>■: 






GOOD ENTERTAINMENT 



SPEED TOTAL VICTORY! 
THI MIGHTY 7th WAR LOAN 




IS "INTERNATIONAL" 






wm WILLIAM DEMAREST* DAN DURYEA FRANK SULLY 

A CINEMA ARTISTS CORP. PRODUCTION 
PRODUCED BY GARY COOPER, directed by STUART HEISLER 

SCREEN PLAY BY NUNNALLY JOHNSON 
AN INTERNATIONAL PICTURE • Released by RKO RADIO PICTURES, INC. 



30 



RADIO 



FCCs Durr, Others Wonder Whether 
Radio Knows What the People Want 



More hard-hitting radio that pulls f 
no punches and is not afraid to of- 
fend people was prescribed as good 
for the industry in a speech last 
week by FCC Commissioner Clifford 
J. Durr. , ; y % . '■■ 

Durr was one of a number of 
speakers Saturday (23), who ad- 
dressed a radio panel at a confer- 
ence on employment problems in the 
postwar world, convened at the 
Waldorf-Astoria, N. Y., by the Inde- 
pendent Citizens' Committee of the 
Arts, Sciences and Professions. 

Picking at Procter & Gamble pro- 
grams specifically as the kind de- 
signed on the principle of "never to 
ofl'end a single listener," Durr ques- 
tioned whether that principle is good 
radio and declared: "The problem 
lies in- what we do not hear. Cen- 
sorship by overloading the air with 
programs which sell goods, to the 
exclusion of programs which no not, 
may be as effective as a complete 
denial of access to the air, or censor- 
ship by blue pencil," ' 

Durr recalled that, only a few 
years ago, the late Alexander Wooll- 
cott was considered "offensive" 
radiowise by making uncompli- 
mentary remarks about Hitler and 
Mussolini. He pointed to Norman 
Corwin's recent V-E show, "On a 
Note of Triumph," as the kind of 
challenging radio which should be 
given more air time. ' 

The FCC""commissioner tore into 
arguments about middle commer- 
cials, cow-catchers, hitch-hikers as 
time-wasters that don't touch the 
vital issues. He called for "a free 
. radio— free from economic domina- 
tion and overweaning greeds"; and 
for "a competitive radio— that com- 
petes for. the quality and sincerity 
of programs, as well as for listener 
ratings." 

"What Would They Like?" 
Three other discussants on the 
panel attacked present listener meas- 
urement practices as inadequate and 
umevealing of the real tastes of lis- 
teners. The three, who combined on 
one paper read at. the morning ses- 
sion, were Peter Lyon, prex of the 
Radio Writers Guild;. Anton M. 
Leader, veepee of the Radio Direc- 
tors Guild; and George Heller, 
executive secretary of AFRA. 

Heller read the trio's paper which 
declared' that, "replies on which lis- 
tener surveys are based, do not come 
from the broadest possible cross-sec- 
tion of the population, but from a 
rather limited group." Crosley and 
Hooperatings, said Heller, show 
preferences only for existing mate- 
rial on the air, but do not indicate 
what unexplored material the audi- 
ences might like to hear if given the 
chance. 

In the discussion, Lyon suggested 
that nets and ad agencies get to- 
gether to Finance a scheme for send- 
ing writer-director teams into the 
sticks: to develop new radio talent. 

Leader: pointed out that most of- 
the good radio directors came from 
other media, and asked that radio 
develop its own talents all along the 
line. 

In another paper, Robert Swezey, 
Mutual's veepee-general manager, 
told the conference that radio, as an 
industry, had grown so fast that it 
may -have failed to grasp its: full 
social responsibility. Swezey said, 
however, that radio has begun .to 

• show social cbn.scipus.ness, and asked 
that all strata cooperate with broad- 
casters in developing "the kind of 

. radio which the people have a right 
to expect:" 



Exclusive Chi Trio 

Chicago, June 26. 
This story doesn't make much 
sense, but neither does the new- 
ly-founded West of Canal Street 
Broadcasting Assn., which was 
founded here recently. \ 

Nobody can be a member of 
the tyro outfit except the found- 
ers, who are Glenn Snyder, sta- 
tion manager and veepee of 
WLS:. Ralph Atlass, prez of 
WIND; and Gene Dyer, prez of 
WAIT. They are, respectively, 
prez. veepee and secretary-treas- 
urer of WCSBA, and the reason 
they don't want any other mem- 
bers messing around is because 
they want to keep it exclusive. 
The reason they are so trucu- 
lent about being exclusive is be- 
cause they all had their begin- 
nings in stations west of the Loop, 
which' Canal Street cuts off from 
Chi's West Side, which they in 
turn claim sets them apart from 
the riffraff! Trinity as a result 
turned down Mark- Woods, prez 
of tHe Blue Network, for mem- 
bership last week, claiming 
there's no more room for any- 
more officers, which Wood want- 
ed to be, whereupon the latter 
beat a hasty retreat to his office 
in N. Y. in a high dudgeon, 
which WCSBA members de- 
scribed to acquaintances in . the 
Wrigley Restaurant as somewhat, 
resembling models they've seen 
of the 1946 Buick, only roomier. 




ED EAST and POLLY 

Toole over the 9 a.m. (R.W.T.) spot 
on NBC — Const -to-Coast — In Feb, 
At end of firsi 33 wwks their "Fun 
and Folly" Show has tripled the 
Hooper. Few personal appearance 
dates available. 

MAX RICHARD 
1776 Broadway . New York 



Centennial Series 
For Cedar Rapids 

• Cedar Rapids, June 26. 

"Centennial Harvest." series of 
public service programs celebrating 
Iowa's 100-year mark to be broad- 
cast over WSiT, beginning Sept. 8, 
is being developed in a Radio Work- 
shop conducted by Jean .Stout Brown 
under the auspices of the Cedar 
Rapids Radio Council. 

Fifty representatives of Council 
organizations, who attend the six 
morning workshops, are creating 
ideas, writing, casting, and getting 
ready for production programs for 
fall. Each organization is develop- 
ing a program to tie in with the 
series. The American Association 
o( University Women will dramatize 
the history of Iowa colleges; Boy 
Scouts will tell the legends of Iowa 
rivers; Junior League will sponsor 
an Indian play for children. Inter- 
views with old settlers, the story of 
Grant Wood, historical dramatiza- 
tions, factual quizzes about Iowa, 
and personality sketches — all are be- 
ing developed for fall production. 
Pearl Bennett Broxam, WMT public 
service director, is producing the 
shows. 

Accent is on the listener in each 
weekly session. Douglas Grant, 
WMT program director, conducts 
listener-analysis tests to point up 
the reasons for program preferences. 



Radio As Force 
For Unity— Kobak 

Minneapolis. June 26. 
Radio must play a larger part in 
spreading "education" which can be 
the only foundation for a sound and 
lasting peace, according to Edgar 
Kobak, Mutual president, here to 
meet with representatives of the 30 
stations in North Central Broadcast- 
ing System, Mutual' affiliate in Min- 
nesota, North and,^ South Dakota, 
Wisconsin, Iowa,. Montana and Mich- 
igan. 

People need to become better in- 
formed and more cooperative," he 
said. "There must be the same unity 
among the United Nations to build 
and preserve peace as there was to 
fight a war, and it's radio responsi- 
bility to bring the program of edu- 
cation to the people;" 

Speaking at a dinner for the radio 
executives at the Hotel Nicollet, Ko- 
bak expressed enthusiasm over ra- 
dio's future and said that Mutual is 
determined the public's habit of lis- 
tening to news broadcasts shall not 
slump with the war's end. 

"Although wartime excitement of 
news will be off. it will devolve 
upon the networks to keep public in- 
terest in peacetime hews keyed 
high." said Kobak. "Mutual already 
is working on this." 

The employment of Lt. Col. A. A. 
Schechter, former public relations 
officer for Gen. MacArthur, is in the 
above connection, according to Ko- 
bak. Schechter, he said, will give 
particular attention to planning post- 
war programs of news and special 
events. 

Still in its swaddling clothes, radio 
has unlimited ■■ possibilities, in Ko- 
bak's opinion. Television, he pre- 
dicted, will be the greatest means of 
education and entertainment ever 
developed. One big task for radio 
is to make education "painless — easy 
to take." he said. 



TOBIN, VELOTTA SPLIT 
JOHNSTONE'S DUTIES 

Resignation of G. W. "Johnny" 
Johnstone as director of news and 
special events at ABC (Blue) was 
followed by a division of respon- 
sibility at the web with Dick Tobin. 
ex-N. Y. Herald-Trib staffer, named 
to head up the news division, and 
Tommy Velotta designated as special 
events. 

The overall operation, as in "the 
past, will conic under supervision of 
veepee Bob Kintner. John Madi- 
gan has been named news editor. 

Johnstone, in town last week to 
confer with network execs, returned 
to San. Francisco (where lie's been 
heading up web's coverage of the 
United Nations conference) Saturday 
(23). Windup of the conference this 
week terminates Johnstone's tenure. 
His future, plans have not been di- 
vulged. 



EUGENE CARR TO HEAD 
BRUSH-MOORE RADIO 

- Washington, June 26. 
Eugene Cany on loan to the Treas 
ury as chief of War Finance's radio 
section since Feb., 1945, has re 
signed his position as assistant to 
the president of WJR. Detroit 
WGAR. Cleveland and KMPC. Los 
Angeles, to' become executive in 
charge of radio for the Brush-Moore 
Newspapers, Inc., owners of half-a 
dozen newspapers in Ohio and 
WHBC. Canton, and WPAY, Ports- 
mouth. . 

Appointment of C arl ' indicates 
Brush-More; is planning to expand 

its radio- activities. 



Wednesday, June 27. 19 IS 

Carroll Carroll's Dissenting Note 

.' '-:/:.■ Hollywood, June 20. 

Editor, Variety": 

I liked that box in your is,sue of June 13. The one that quotes Fred 
Allen as saying. "Radio is still in its infancy and is a problem child"; 
and Eddie Cantor's contention that "Radio has grown up and can afford 
to adventure," . ■• ' ' 

I disagree with both my friends. I don't think radio is still in its 
infancy. Nor do J-think it's grown up. I agree "it's a problem" be- 
cause anything so gigantic is hard to understand. But to say that "it 
can now adventure" is to deny the tremendous amount of adventurous 
thinking that has constantly distinguished this sprawling scapegoat. 

Radio today, as it has always been, is entirely the product of the 
men who control it. They are not all great men. They are not all 
wise men. Frequently advanced thinking is destroyed by well-meaning 
fools, jealous malcontents and malicious opportunists. Fortunately the 
medium is so .enormous, and so strong that no matter what it does it 
finds a sympathetic audience. And no matter how strenuously at- 
tacked, it is able to survive. , 

I can't find myself in agreement with Eddie Cantor,- that big business 
is not constantly casting around for new radio talent. This contention ' 
prevails in many quarters merely because business does its talent pros- 
pecting in such a way as not to interrupt success. When the DuPonts 
and Standard Oil (to use Eddie's examples) experiment to And new 
materials, they do not discard what is tried and true till they find bet- 
ter. , The DuPonts did not abandon the celluloid formulae when they 
decided to experiment with plastics. Standard did not discontinue 
making gasoline to try for synthetic rubber. The experiments went 
on simultaneously with the work. 

In radio new elements are constantly being added to old programs. 
Think of the shows that have come out of Fibber McGee and Molly . . . 
Chase and Sanborn . the Kra^t Music Hall. Henry Aldrich did not 
get born' in half -hour form. He was an experiment on the Kate Smith 
Hour. Ed Gardner was the result of CBS' summer tryouts. 

Out of the stooges insulting their bosses (which Eddie hates and so 
do I) we find the materials of stardom. . Nobody can tell me that 
Eddie Anderson couldn't carry his own show. Frances Lang ford, who 
weekly insulted Hope, is filling in for Edgar Bergen this summer and 
doing a fine job. Although I doubt if Charlie McCarthy will ever leave 
Bergen. 

Experimentation goes on constantly. Tommy Dorsey, a sideman in 
almost every radio orchestra when Cantor was with RubinofT, has come 
up through having his own fine combination to being, today, one of 
the finest masters of ceremonies on the air. He's headed for the time 
When the trombone, if he chooses, can be only an Incident in his 
entertaining. 

In spite of the Cantor contention, there's no shortage of experiment- 
ing, nor courage in radio. It's just— well, as the Commodore of tha 
Staten Island Ferry Lines once actually said to me of the New York 
Skyline — "It all came about so sort of sudden and gradual we didn't 
notice it." ,- ' ./ /. 

And, as Fred Allen points out. most of it is the work of "tired little 
men who create for the medium." Most of them are weary and many 
of them are small . . . but Fred, none are "tired little men" . , . if you 
get my distinction. And I think you do, and are sympathetic to it, or 
you wouldn't have rushed to their defense so handsomely. 

The Allen analysis, putting the future of radio on the shoulders of 
the writers, should be engraved on the inside of every comedy derby 
in the world. And in case a group of inferior writers takes this to be 
their certificate of enrollment in the Society of Supermen, no radio 
performer, comedy or otherwise, ever got to be a star unless he had 
incubating within himself the peculiar stuff that makes stars act the 
way they do and become the people they are; 

Carroll Carroll. 



GIL GIBBONS LEAVES 
WESTER, BUBECK IN 

Chicago. June 26. 

Gil- Gibbons, on the Carl Wester 
production staff for the past five 
years during which he has had a 
hand in directing all of the Irna 
Phillips-General Mills strips, has re- 
signed effective July 2, and will be 
succeeded by Harry Bubeck. Gib- 
bons is striking out for himself and 
has organized a production agency, 
activities of which will include the 
making of transcriptions for local 
station use. - 

With the change Herb Futran 
goes back to directing "Woman: in 
White," which he also writes, and 
Bubeck will put .on "Today's Chil- 
dren." . . 1 '■■ 



LaRoche Tackles Cantor, Allen; 
Sees Nets Doing Okay by Talent 



ABC (BLUE) GETS WTHT 

The Hartford, Conn., Times sta- 
tion. WTHT, becomes an ABC 
(Blue) affiliate Dec. 1 with Mutual 
latching onto the 5,000-watter, 
WHDT, Yankee network-owned out- 
let in that city. 

New Blue . station operates with 
230-watts oh 1230 kc. 



Nora Martin Checks Off 
Cantor Show in Fall 

While Nora Martin is continuing 
on the Eddie C ant Q>' summer . re- 
placement show, she will not return 
to the comedian's fall program, after 
being two years with him. 

Monica Lewis, whom Cantor has 
been auditioning, and who made a 
Boston benefit junket this weekend 
with him, may be the new songs- 
tress. . 7 •' 



MBS Has the Dough And 
The Will to Hypo Its 
Programs, Says Carlin 

Editor, "Variety": 

Here is our reaction to your edi- 
torial, "Bad Radio Showmanship," 
and our suggestions on ways to im- 
prove the situation you describe in 
these words: "Only making it 
tougher and tougher to spot a new 
idea or a new personality on the 
air/' : ■ . 

Our reaction. is to recall our recent 
programming record, which proves. 
I believe, even better than any pro-- 
testations from lis that we realize 
and take seriously our responsibility 
to program in the interests of our 
listeners — not only for today but for 
the future, - ; 

.As for suggestions, we have been 
acting on our own suggestions. We 
have not been "running a mile from 
newness" but. oh the contrary, acting 
on the belief that programming for 
the future means finding hew ideas 
and new talent and giving them their 
Opportunity on the air. we have been 
making room on our schedule for 
new shows.' /:•.'• 

As you well know, we have not 
been content with putting on new 
shows in the old tested categories; 
nor with getting new talent to do 
the old types of shows. We have 
been looking for and have put on 
some shows with new ideas, new ap- 
proaches and twists. To the best of 
our ability- we are using good new 
showmanship. 

"Queen For a Day" is an example 
of what we mean; for here is a Cin- 
derella-come-to-town show which is 
new and has caught on fast, "Be- 
tween Us Girls" has its new twist in 
that it puts a lone male into a pane) 
(Continued oi. oage 40 j 



♦ By CHESTER J. LnROCHE 

(Vice-Chairman' of American Broad- 
casting Co.) 
I think we all agree that "Vari- 
ety," Fred Allen and Eddie Cantor, 
in calling for new radio talent, hava 
touched upon one of the vital prob- 
lems in radio today. Certainly those 
of us who have watched radio grow 
have become increasingly aware of 
the talent problem. 

If new talent is to be found, and 
tested and proved, the job has to be 
undertaken either by the advertiser 
or the network. 

Look first at the advertiser's prob- 
lem: He is faced with realistic con-, 
siderations. He not only as to think 
about his show,' but his sales and his 
position in the industry as well. If 
he gambles on new talent and new 
ideas and loses — he is out not only 
his investment in the show, but (and 
this is even more important to him* 
he has lost out in the volume of his 
sales, and perhaps •jeopardised 'bU 
competitive position. 

This does not mean, however, that 
advertisers can't experiment. Those 
with variety shows have a great op- 
portunity to. test talent— and they 
frequently take advantage of it. The 
Aldrich Family started as an experi- 
mental dramatization in the Kate 
Smith hour, Ginny Simms came lip 
thropgh her work on the Kay Kyscr 
programs. The Great Gildersleeve 
was first a successful character with 
Fibber McGee, and then blossomed 
out into his. own (and this pattern 
has been followed numerous' times*. 

The advantage of having aii ad- 
vertiser' use an established show, for 
experimentation lies, of course, in 
the vast audience to -which new tal- 
ent, is immediately exposed. It 
doesn't take long to tell whether tal- 
ent is good or bad when you have a 
ready audience waiting to judge. 

But, of course, this does not — and 
cannot— supply all the new talent 
that's needed, Radio consumes such 
- (Continued on page 40) 



Wednesday, June 27, 1945 



RADIO 



31 




RULE RADIO ROOST 



Godfrey Becoming a 1-Man Industry; j COUNT MYSTERY 
Price Tag For CBS Show FORMAT 



Arthur Godfrey is. grossing $100,0004 
a year now out of early a.m. shows ' 
on two local stations, and lias a neat 
price tag of $312,000 a year for his 
half-hour network show on CBS. 

Godfrey is now on . the air,' live 
and transcribed, every morning for 
a total of three hours and 15 min- 
utes, from 6:30 a.m. .to 9:45. Only a 
radio traffic engineer, with the aid 
of a slide-stick and mirrors, would 
try to make sense of his hectic 
schedule. The fact is that some of 
that time he is heard only on WABC, 
N. Y.; other moments are reserved 
only for WTOP, Washington; and 
part of the sked, from 9:15 to 9:45 
a. in 




TRIBUTE TO ACTORS 

WMCA's "Ave Maria" to Hail Patron 
Saint 



An unusual tribute to the theatre 
will be aired over the N. Y. indie 
WMCA next Sunday (1). when the 
weekly "Avo Maria" show will be 
devoted to a dramatization of "St. 
Genesius," patron saint of actors and 
comedians. 

The "Ave Maria" program, which 
has been aired on the station since 



Easter, 1925, is .sponsored by a re- 
Godfrey is heard sustaining on I ligious order, Graymoor Friars, and 



the entire CBS web. 

In New York and Washington, he 
has 80 different sponsors during his 
six-day, cross-the-board week. Spon- 
sors pay $80 apiece for the N. Y. 
commercials, $30 each for the plugs 
in Washington. 

Godfrey is giving his time arid 
talent free to the network show, on 
the theory that it will soon pay off. 
The price tag on that slot was 
marked $10,000' a week at first. That 
ticket was only intended to frighten 
away prospective bankrotlcrs until 
the show earned.a network rep, says 
Godfrey. Now, the real lab has 
been agreed upon by Godfrey and 
the web— $3,000 for each 15 minutes 
of the half -hour slot. 

CBS thought enough of Godfrey to 
allot to him the time which, for. 15 
years, had been given to "School of 
the Air." (See separate story.) 

Godfrey show, which is entirely 
ad-libbed, consists of whimsical chat- 
ter, some news and commentary, and 
humor. Latter stint includes ribbing 
of sponsors and commercial plugs. 
"But I never rib the product itself' 
Godfrey insists, "and I never plug a 
product which I don't endorse per- 
sonally." 



is one of only two remaining re- 
ligious shows on WMCA. A recent 
count showed that more than 600 
actors and actresses have participat- 
ed' on the program since its incep- 
tion. 



Kaffee Klatch Kan 
Kill Fitch-Morgan 
Deal for Sun. Spot 

There's now a strong possibility 
that Fitch, despite its claims that 
it'll hitch on again next Fall to the 
"Bandwagon" for the between- 
Benny-and-Bergen 7: 30 Sunday night 
spot on NBC, may buy the $16,700 
Frank Morgan package for the cov- 
eted segment. 

Consummation of such a deal, 
however, is seen/ as bringing in its 
wake strong repercussions. This 
stems from the fact ' that Morgan 
has been identified with Maxwell 
House coffee and that his long time 
association with the product would 
inevitably carry over into the Fitch 
show. Which raises the question as 
to just how Standard Brands, which 
has invested millions in the Edgar 
Bergen 8-8:30 segment on behalf of 
a rival product, . Chase & Sanborn 
coffee, would take to it. Many con- 
tend - that S-B would put considerable 
pressure on the network to snafu any 
such back-to-back programming. 

Meanwhile several other potential 
clients are mulling the Phil Rapp-Z. 
Wayne Griffin (Berg & Allenberg) 
package, which will have Ralph 
Bellamy and Reginald Gardiner, 
among others, in support of Morgan. 



All AVCO Wanted 
Was Ice Boxes 

The ownership transfer of WLW, 
Cincinnati, and WINS, N. Y.. both of 
which are still to be okayed by the 
FCC, happened accidentally because 
the new purchaser .wanted a couple 
of plants making refrigerators and 
radio receiving sets. 

That was confirmed last week, fol- 
lowing announcement that the 
Crosley Corp. has sold out to Avco 
(Aviation Corp.) for a price that 
may reach $22,000,000. 

Avco, which made large wads of 
money during the war building 
bombers and battleships, was look- 
ing for a postwar industrial connec- 
tion, and cast its eye on the manu- 
facturing plants owned by the 
Crosleys. Latter, however, wouldn't 
sell the plants unless the buyer took 
the entire package — which included 

WLW and the agreement (with the I office, to the Coca-Cola Co. as vee 
Hearst interests) to buy WINS. 
• It was reported also that, figuring 
as part of the entire deal, was a 
50,000-watt transmitter which the 
Crosleys are said to have ready for 
early shipment to N. Y. 

WINS operates on 10.000 watts 
and has a construction permit for a 
50,000-watt transmitter. Construc- 
tion would be impossible until after 
the war. But the Crosleys had a 
50,000-watt transmitter which they 
released, more thaii two years ago to 
OWI overseas branch lor use in 
North Africa. 

The report is that the Crosleys 
would either get the North' African 
transmitter back soon, or that the 
government had allowed them to 
build another: to take the place of 
the equipment coopted by OWI. . In 
either event, the new transmitter 
would go to WINS— if, as and when 
transfer Of that station is approved 
by FCC from Hearst to Crosley to 
Avco. .'•'.< '•"''■"•".' • ..' 



DELANEY SEIZED IN PRAGUE 

Edward Leo Dclaney, former 
small-time actor from Illinois, who 
broadcast propaganda against the 
U. S. from Berlin during the war, 
has been arrested in Prague. 



John Toigo In For 
Steele At D'Arcy 

Switch which moved Alfred N. 
Steele from the D'Arcy agency, 
where he was v\p. in charge of N. Y. 



pee in N. Y. in charge of coordinat- 
ing advertising, sales and sales pro- 
motion, has elevated John Toigo into 
the top berth at that agency. 

It's presumed that boost will mean 
a vice-presidency for Toigo, al- 
though no official announcement to 
this effect has been forthcoming as 
yet. Toigo, long a business associate 
of Steele, has been affiliated' With 
several agencies in the past, includ- 
ing BBD&O, Campbcll-Ewald, Lord 
& Thomas, etc!, usually spotted at 
an exec copywriter's desk, 

Steve Mudge, active on Coca-Cola 
radio programs for D'Arcy during 
the Steele regime, is severing con- 
nections with the agency, its under- 
stood. Mudge was considered a like- 
ly proposed for the post vacated by 
Steele until Toigo got the nod. 



Recent weeks have produced a 
four-network rash of mystery shows 
that's unprecedented in radio his- 
tory. They're scattered all over the 
dials, cued to a surefire technique 
that's aimed at ready, tailor-made 
audiences. Just as quiz shows ruled 
the air roost in recent years, today 
the axiom appears to be: "give them 
a crime-mystery yarn, put a good, 
competent guy on the writing end, 
and your "miss' chances are slim." 
Few are aimed at snaring a high rat- 
ing, but for a low-budgeted show, 
the audience payoff is unmistakable. 

But one of the chief factors in the 
multiple-showcasing of the mystery 
format is the desire to steer clear of 
comedy shows in the face of the 
current dearth of competent script- 
ers. Feeling is that rather than risk 
a mediocre comedy program, the 
click chances are stronger via the 
mystery-crime routine. In- addition, 
the boff reception accorded the Bris- 
tol-Myers "Mr. District Attorney" 
show, which basically has a mystery 
format, plus the contributions of 
such guys as William Spier of the 
\ Biow agency and Frank Telford of 
| Young' & Rubicam (latter is credited 
with lifting "Molle Mystery Thea- 
tre" from a 7 to a 14 rating), are re- 
garded as factors in taking the who- 
dunits out of their, long-time rut of 
fillers-in and making them "respect- 
able" entertainment. • 

Along with such hardy st'andbys 
as "The Thin Man." "Mr. D. A-," 
"Inner Sanctum," "Suspense," "Mr. 
and . Mrs. North," CBS' "Crime 
Doctor," -"H oily' wood s Mystery 
Time," "Sherlock Holmes, etc., 
there's been' a recent wave 
of additions to augment the 
list. "The Saint" was brought 
back last week as summer replace- 
ment for the Jack Carson -show; 
"Charlie Chan" bowed in on ABC 
(Blue) last week; "Counterspy" has 
just been bought by Pharmacraft; 
"Professor Broadway and Boitram" 
a comedy-mystery, is a recent addi- 
tion, to the Mutual, schedule, as is 
the G. K. Cresterton "Father Brown" 
series and Mutual's new summer 
sponsored series, "Mysteries of 
Crooked Square;" "Gangbusters," 
also in the action-thriller idiom, has 
just been bought by Waterman Pen; 
"Man From G-2" is regarded by 
ABC as surefire sponsor-bait; the 
Fitch Sunday night, replacement 
show for "Bandwagon" is the Dick 
Powell mystery series, "Rogues Gall- 
ery;'' the new Helbros Watch "Ab- 
bott Mysteries" on Mutual; the new 
Jerry Devine "This Is Your FBI" 
show, along with P & G's "The FBI 
In Peace and War" also come within 
the classification. And it's even ex- 
tended into daytime radio via the 
General Foods "Two On A Clue" 
and "Perry Mason," 



6 OWI Slash Sounds Taps For 
Writers' War Board; Loss to Radio 



A Real Documentary 

WNEW, the N. Y. indie, has a 
novel July: 4 program in ' the . 
works 

Cast of show is currently be- 
ing assembled — all participants 
(culled from N. Y. telephone di- 
rectory) bearing monickers of 
the signers of the Declaration of 
Independence. 



Next Chapter Of 
'Bracken Story' In 
Court, MCA Sued 



Hollywood. June 26. 

Eddie Bracken js taking MCA 
Artists into court to have their dif- 
ficulties adjudicated. He wants the 
Superior Court to approve his split 
with the agency and to support his 
contention that he is sole owner of 
the radio package. "The Eddie 
j Bracken Story" which foundered a 
few weeks ago. . 

Attorneys for the comedian filed 
suit last week asking judgment on 
the following counts: That MCA 
had been guilty of breach of fiduci- 
ary obligation to Bracken and the 
agency contract is no longer in 
force; that Bracken and no one else 
owns the radio package; that MCA 
be enjoined from claiming any in- 
terest in the radio property, account- 
ing and repayment of $7,000 collected 
in commissions by MCA; that 
Bracken be compensated for any 
subsequent costs for such other re- 
lief that may seem just and equi- 
table. 

Bracken's complaint also recites 
that MCA sought to effect an agree- 
ment whereby the net prdceeds from 
the. radio package would be split 
up in this proportion: 60% to 
Bracken, 20% to Mann Holiner, pro-, 
ducer, and 20% to MCA. It was irri-' 
pressed on Bracken by MCA, ac- 
cording to the' complaint, that such 
an arrangement would be more ad- 
vantageous to him than his payment 
of 10% of the gross. Bracken re-" 
jected the offer and served npjjce 
on both MCA and Holiner that he 
did not want any partners in the 
enterprise, according to the suit. 



♦ The Writers' War Board, which 
during the war years has projected 
itself as one of the most vital forces 
in championing the cause of racial 
and religious minorities and in help- 
ing to break down the perpetuation 
of racial stereotypes in radio, as 
well as in.pix, literature, etc., is in 
the process of liquidation. Although 
an effort is being made to carry on. 
the manifold projects of the various 
Board committees by identifying 
them with other organizations, such 
as Freedom House, Friends of 
Democracy, etc., the WWB as such 
is skedded to pass out of existence 
on or about August 15. 

Although no formal statement, has 
been issued, the decision to liquidate ' 
is understood to have been made at 
a recent meeting of Board direc- 
tors in New York and stems di- 
rectly from inability of the WWB to 
function effectively under private 
financing and without financial as- 
sistance from the OWL (As dis- 
closed in "Variety" two weeks ago, 
the OWI served notice that effective 
July 1 the $30,000 annual appropria- 
tion from OWI will terminate per- 
manently, the move representing a 
victory lor Edward Klauber, second 
in command of the OWI, who has 
long regarded the Board as a "po- 
litical liability" and urged discon- . 
tinuance of Government support.) 

That restoration of the OWI budget 
by the Senate will not affect the de- 
cision to discontinue the WWB is 
indicated in the fact that notice was 
served on the Board even before the 
House started to apply the axe on 
the OWI budget, or made known its 
attitude toward the whole OWI op- 
eration, ', 

When queried.on the board passing 
out of existence, Rex Stout, chair- 
man, was inclined to be .reticent 
about the matter but indicated there 
might be some possibility of continu- 
ing, hinging on skedded huddles with' 
OWI officials. 



Goodyear's Folderoo 

Chances are regarded slim that 
Goodyear Rubber will return to ra- 
dio in the fall. 

Goodyear sponsored the recently- 
exited show on Mutual headed up 
by Roy Rogers. Last half-dozen 
broadcasts were disced in advance 
while Rogers toured Ai'niy hospitals. 



Bendix Aviation in Beef 
Over Limited CBS Net 
On New 'Vision' Show 

The new Bendix Aviation show 
oh CBS "Men of Vision" didn't go 
full network until its second show 
last Sunday (24), With the sponsor 
registering a squawk over failure of 
the network to e)ear more than 50 
stations .for. its initial program on 
June 17. Tempers were partially 
salved, however, by an approximate 
$5,000 rebate to Bendix because of 
limited number of outlets on the 
precm. 

Stations failing to come in on the 
June- 17 broadcast had already con- 
tracted to carrry the 7 to 8 p.m. 
Walgreen Drug Co. transcribed 
show of top pix-radio personalities 
which was slajited for the Seventh 
War Loan. The Bendix deal . wasn't 
set until a few days before show hit 
air:, : .'. ' "; • •■• 



Radio Directors 
Mull AFL Vs. CIO 



Reports that the Radio Directors 
Guild is about to receive an AFL 
charter as a federal local are slightly 
premature, . 

In the absence on the Coast of 
Bill Robson, new Guild prexy, other 
officers and members of the organi- 
zation's council would not discuss 
the matter officially, admitting only 
that affiliation "lias been under 
study and discussion." 



Mutual, Too, In 
PitchforP&GBiz 

In addition to Chet LaRoche's visit 
to Cincinnati to strengthen its post- 
war Procter & O amD le billings, a 
Mutual-to-Ciricy shuttle has also 
been inaugurated by Ed Kobak, the 
MBS prexy, whose presentation to 
P & G, in fact, predated ABC's 
(Blue) by several weeks. 

Although P & G's present $20,000,- 
000 annual expenditure in radio 
(time and talent) is virtually all 
confined to NBC and CBS, with 
about two-thirds of that amount go- 
ing into its vast daytime serial op- 
eration, P & G is blueprinting plans 
to spread itself wide via a four-net-, 
work post-war programming sched- 
ule which will include Mutual and 
ABC. Mutual currently has no B-& G 
billings while ABC is represented 
solely by the daytime "Glamor 
Manor" show, with the client also 
holding an option for an additional 
half-hour orf the web. 

Because of experimentation with 
a variety of drug products P & G 
post-war will segue more into night- 
But it was no secret that the "dis- j lime programming aimed at wider 
oussion" included not only possible ! audience appeal cued to its new pro- 
tie-in with the A.F.L.", but also- the j ducts. 

probability of latching onto the J ; ; : 

' Fact Js that,, directors' Guild has 

CHRYSLER DICKERING 

felt for some time that it. may gel 
further in contract negotiations With 
the; networks (currently at a. stale- 
male) if it: was part of organized 
labor's 'main stream, instead of an 



FOR KOSTY'S RETURN? 



Hearing Today (27) on WINS Sale 

Washington, June 26. 
FCC will conduct a hearing tomor- 
row (27) oh. the application of 
Hearst Radio. Intf, to sell WINS, 
N. Y., to the Crosley Corp. 



Rulhraun' & Ryan, which is shop- 
ping around for a second half-hour 
show for Chrysler, is reported inter- 
mdependent httle nvulet on ,ts mvn, ^ .„ bringing Andre Kostclanetz 
But no decision on A.F.L. vs. C.I.O. b;ick into the network picture. • Lat- 
has been made yet. ,, 



Campana's Switch to CBS 

CBS will inherit the Campana- 
sponsored "Grand' Hotel" program 
currently heard on NBC in the Sat- 
urday afternoon 5 o'clock segment. 
Show moves over to Columbia some \ coke account 



ter was last spotted on the Coca-Cola 
| "Pause That Refreshes" CBS Sunday 
i show before joining his wife (Lily 
Pons) on . ah overseas tour. Should 
j deal materialize, it's likely CBS will 
! find, a suitable slot for the show. 
D'Arcy agency, which handles the 
had high hopes of 



lime in October. ; keeping Kosty under wrap and had 

It will go into the 1:30 Saturday j him under option, paying him a re- 
afternoon slot long occupied by "Re- ! ported $1,000 a week "retaining fee 
poi t to the Nation." Latter has been | during the time he was overseas. 



switched to Saturday nit-'hts, 



However, the option lapsed June 1. 



32 



RADIO 



Wednesday, June 27, 1943 



111. Senate O.K.'s Amended Libel Bill 
But Chi Labor Orgs Still Say Nix 



Chicago, June 26. ♦ : ~ ' ~~ ' 

Illinois amended radio libel bill p ft Q|Q PROGRAM REPRINTS 
altered greatly from its original 



form but stiU considered by many in 
the trade here as a model for future 
legislation in other states, was 
passed' unanimously by the State 
Senate Thursday (2) in Springfield 
and sent to the House of Representa- 
tives lor ratification. 

Revised measure has the approval 
oE the many indie station operators 
here who had opposed the original 
bill because they said it would keep 
discussions of controversial and po- 
litical questions off the air, and was 
described as the "fairest, most 
equitable bill governing libel by ra- 
dio that it was possible to work out" 
by Sens. T. MacDowning of Macomb, j 
111., and Richard J. Daley of Chi, 
who sponsored it. 

Original bill, as proposed by. the 
Chi Tribune and WGN. Mutual out- 
let hire, made station owners, op- 
erators and staffers liable for de- 
famatory material, whether or not 
they had any previous knowledge 
that such statements would be aired. 
In its amended form, it provides that 
radioites may not be convicted un- 
less they "knowingly and malicious- 
ly" permitted the broadcast. As such, 
it's much less stringent than' the 
press libel law, radio being relatively 
new and possessed -oi less opportu- 
nity to prevent libel. 

Now. unless they have "advance, 
knowledge or opportunity or right to 1 
prevent" libelous utterances, nobody 
may be convicted of libel, and sta- 
tions won't be held responsible for 
libelous statements made by political 
candidates. Anyone convicted under 
the bill is subject to a year in jail 
or $500 fine. 

Laborites in Opposlsh 

. A fight to block its passage in the 
House of Representatives, mean- 
while, seems to be brewing, with 
Chi Federation of Labor and the Il- 
linois CIO still opposing the meas- 
ure, despite those glowing descrip- 
tions by Downing and Daley. Gim- 
mick here, to. quote spokesmen for 
unions and some of the still recal- 
citrant indie stations, is that the bill 
originally was nothing more or less 
than an effort by Col. Robert R. Mc- 
Cormick. publisher of the Trib, and 
notoriously in favor of newscasters 
rather than commentators, to "stifle 
free discussion of. controversial is- 
sues over the. air and to. .'con- 
trol • the utterances of political com- 
mentators." In other words, the sub- 
ject, as far as they're concerned, 
never should have been brought up. 



NYU English Prof Planning 'Play- 
back' Publication In Fall 



Atwood H. Townsend, an English 
professor attached to ' the NYU 
School of Engineering, is promoting 
a new weekly publication to be 
called "Playback" and intended for 
Tall publication. It - wilL specialize 
in the reprinting of radio programs 
of all kinds, including dramatics, 
talks, forums and so on. 

Periodical is supposed to be of 
general interest and not a conven- 
tional "fan" paper. 



Remote Hypnosis 

Ralph Slater, hypnotist who's been 
working his magic at service camps 
throughout the country in an en- 
deavor to help "battle fatigue." etc, 
victims, will teeoff a new series on 
Mutual late in July geared to the 
same idea. 

Mesmerizer will do a half-hour 
show, once a week with time and 
other details as yet unsettled. He 
goes in as a sustaincr with hopes of 
Sharing a bankrollci', 



For 

OWI, Senate Sez 

Washington. June 26. 
Voting today (Tues.) on the OWI 
portion of recently approved war 
agencies budget, the Senate ap- 
proved full amount of $39,670,000 set 
aside for OWI, rejecting amendment 
by Senator Styles Bridges (R., N. H.) 
to cut amount to $35,000,000 and 
earlier amendment of Senator Chan 
Gurney <R., S. D.) to cut it to 
S20.000.000. 

' Amount will give OWI nearly all 
the money needed for its work in 
Europe and Asia, as well as at home, 
and thus have a vital bearing on 
communications activities overseas. 

Matter will probably go to con- 
ference with the House this week. 
House having previously approved 
only $18,000,000 for OWI. Final 
figure will probably be a compro- 
mise, with chances good for OWI 
getting most of the coin needed. 



I New Civilians j 



A lot o/ guys from radio are 
getting out of uniform and returning 
to the fold: Because of the mdustrj/- 
u'ide interest in the "who-hoic- 
when-ichere" status of these "new 
(''•Gili<ns," "Variety'- will try to briny 
their movements up to date and to 
slww how the industry is responding 
in- taking care of its own. "Variety" 
iei'1 welcome any week-to-week ad- 
ditions to the list. 



(HAA's Latino 
Vital Statistics 



Washington, June 20. 
OIAA has compiled in booklet 
form, for advertisers and agencies, 
data on rates, time for sale, etc., of 
the Latin-American radio stations. 
Compilation is based on a question- 
naire sent, to all the Latin broad- 
casters, but there are gaps in the in- 
formation since sojme stations failed 
to reply and a few gave incomplete 
answers. J 

Nevertheless, the booklet is the 
first attempt to supply the industry 
in this country with anything ap- 
proaching comprehensive informa- 
tion oil the stations below the bor- 
der. It is figured, by OIAA to be 
useful because of the increasiifg in 
terest of U. S. manufacturers in 
pushing their products in Latin 
America. 

One interesting set of figures lists 
the number of stations and number 
of receivers in each country. An- 
other tabulation covers peak listen- 
ing hours in each country. 
Some of the top countries: 
BRAZIL: 120 stations, 1,200,000. 
receivers. Peak audience hours, 11 
a.m.-nobn: 4-5 p.m.; 9-10 p.m. 

ARGENTINA: 59 stations, 1.300.000 
receivers. Listening peaks: noon to 
2 p.m.: 4-5 p.m.; 9-10 p.m. 

MEXICO: 170 stations. 600.000 
receivers.' Listening peaks: 8-9 a.m.; 
12:30-1:30; 7-9:30 p.m. 

CHILE: 52 stations. 250.000 re- 
ceivers. Listening peaks: 11 a.m. to 
noon: noon to 1:30 p.m.; 6:30-10:30 
p.m. 

- CUBA: 106 stations. , 250,000 re- 
ceivers. Listening peaks: 7:30-8 
a.m.: 10 a.m. -noon; 12:30-2 p.m.; 8-11 
p.m. 



'BTAST CLUB'S' OWENS 
SIDELINED FOR 6 MOS. 



Mark Hawley. recently discharged 
from the Navy, has taken over an- 
nouncing chore on the new qui/, 
show, "Correction, Please"" on NBC. 



Chief Radioman John S. LaTouche 
. as been retired from active dutv 
Chicago, June 26. j with the tj. s Navy alter flve years 

Jack. Owens, "cruising crooner" on \ of service and has returned to his 
Don McNeill's "Breakfast Club" j post as national supervisor of corn- 
show, has been stricken with rheu- j munications for NBC. His return 
matic fever and will be off the pro- i moves L. A. Zangaro, who took over 
gram at least six months, according I for LaTouche, into the post of N. Y. 



supervisor of communications. 



to physicians attending him. He's 
confined to his home here. Owens, 
who composed "Hut Sut Song." "Hi Martin Seifert. ex-staff writer for 
Neighbor," and "Louisiana, Lullaby." Lang- Worth Feature Programs, just 
among other tunes, became ill in Des out of the merchant marine, in which 
Moines last week at the tail end of j he served for two and a half years, 
a rugged Bond trek with the troupe , now doing freelance. He's been as- 
through the east and midwest, and*! sighed to three scripts for the new 
was immediately ' taken home. I NBC "Men at Sea" summer replace- 
Jack Baker has been subbing for I ment for "Gildersleeve": is doing 



him on "Club" this week. Boyce 
Smith takes over next, and Curly 
Bradley the week following. Singer's 
spot on NBC's "Tin Pan Alley" 
Saturday afternoons is being idled 
by Harrv Cool. 



scripts lor Bob Shayon, of CBS. and 
a series of health shows for United 
Auto Workers' Health Institute in 
Detroit. 



RWG Asks Wage Tilt 
For Chain News Writers 



Ed Voynow. out of Army, back 
heading up Petiy office in Chicago. 



Johnnie Dunham, after three years 
in the Army Air Corps, back at 
WBBM. Chicago, on announcing stall'. 



Philip J. Reilly, recently out of 
the armed forces, has taken over 
promotion managership of WINX, 
Washington. D. C. 



Hollywood, June 26. 
Radio Writers Guild is moving in 
on the network newsrooms in Frisco 
to get an increased wage scale for 
writers and editors. Start is being 
made in the Bay City because of the 
increased activity due to that point 
being the clearance center for news 
from the Pacific theatre of opera- 
tions. Sam Moore, Coast head or 
RWG. submitted his proposals to Sid 
SUotz of NBC and Don Searle. 
American. '•;■. 

Moore has proposed that the 
writer-editor scale start at $265 a j the announcing staff of WCOP in 
month, which is the maximum for; Boston.* Prior ho donning uniform 
mast nets. Agreement has been vir-j he was with NBC announcing' staff, 
tually reached on. other elements of i WELL New Haven, and WBEN, Buf- 
the contract. I falo. 



:'■ After 20 months' of war service 
i overseas with OWL Diana Bourbon 
; has returned to Ward Wheelock 
; agency to head up radio activities on 
! the Coast. For more than a year in 
! London she was OWI's chief of pro* 
I duction for French propaganda radio. 

1 T. E. Finucane, Jr., recently dis- 
J. charged from the Army, has joined 



Transamerica to Set Up 
His Own Package Firm 

Hollywood. June 26. 
"Adventures of Maisie." in which 
Tony Stanford, makes his bow as a 
freelance producer, .was packaged by' 
E. J. "Manny" Rosenberg and sold 
to Biow for Eversharp, Rosenberg's 
resignation as v.p. in charge of pro- 
duction for Transamerica is effec- 
tive June. 30. He is setting up his 
own packaging firm, in which he 
will have as associates Stanford and 
Larry White, late of Hayward-Dever- 
ich. 

Sam Taylor will script the "Maisie" 
series, possibly in addition to his 
writing chore on "Aldrich Family." 
He is due out this week to look over 
the Ann Sothern picture scripts, 
which will be made available by 
Metro. Miss Sothern is starred in 
the aerial reenactment of her picture 
roles and only other casting so far is 
Al Sack as music director. Program 
airs at 8:30 on Thursdays, east and 
west, in the time vacated by "Death 
Valley Sheriff," beginning July 5. 



living in Ivory Tower?' 
Taint So, Sez Leader 

Editor. "Variety": 

The gist of your story about me 
last week makes me out to be a 
• long haired" liberal, whose sole pre- 
occupation is "shows of importance.'' 
I never inferred any contempt or 
displeasure at my assignment to pro- 
duce "Archie Andrews," because I 
happen to believe "that any broadcast 
provides a medium for expression of 
the right viewpoint as against the 
wrorig. And my work on this show 
must have demonstrated that fact. I 
have never been one to live in an 
ivory tower, literally or figura- 
tively.- 

Finally, in fairness to NBC, al- 
though it hasn't' generally been com- 
pany policy to single out any of its 
men for promotional acitvity, I can 
safely say that my name and work 
have been publicized by NBC at least 
as much as ally other — if not more. 
And as to commercials; I have had 
my share. Anton M. Leader. 



From the Production Centres 

JiV NEW YORK CITY ... 

Jean Meegan doing, a six-part piece for the AP on the history of radio 

in connection With industry's 25th anni Radio asked for it—and now 

it s got it. That "Mama, Mama, Mama, Won't You Larvex Me?" singing 
commercial, shows what can happen when you let .something get out of 
bounds. '■':., -:i 

Dick Bradley, WNEW announcer, slugged by thugs last week near his 
home in Jackson Heights. He's recovering in Park East hospital... . .Philip .. 
F. Mygatt, formerly with J. Walter Thompson, new script editor at Geyer, 
Cornell & Newell. . . .Ira M. Herbert has joined WNEW as national sales 

director, moving over from WHN, where he was assistant sales director 

Hal Moore, who conducts the "Start the Day Right" WNEW show, father 
of a. boy.... .Lola Woursell resigning as publicity director of WOV on July . 
1. Plans several-month rest at East Hampton cottage. Successor will be . 

announced shortly George Lewis, WHN's top flack, has packaged a , 

"Hollywood Talent Scout" show featuring Al Altman, Metro eastern talent 
scout as emcee. It's an audience participationer. . . .Helen Choat and Frank 
Readick join "Front Page Fan-ell" . . . Horace Braham and Andree Wallace 

added to respective casts of "Valiant Lady" and "David Harum" Alan 

Young show signed for another year, beginning next October, by Bristol 
Myers. 

Marjorie Duhan. Blue web writer, transferring herself to Hollywood 
on freelance basis. v. •.Dave Victor and Herb Little are other N. Y. radio 
writers trying the Coast for the nonce. . . .Josephine Ray, radio director of 
Connecticut College for Women, in Manhattan over weekend .... Robert 
Baral, once of CBS publicity staff, now with mayor's committee on enter- 
tainment at 99 Park Producer of "Correction Please" program (his first 

full producing job, incidentally) is Joseph Scibetta. Announcer (also on 
his fust job ince getting out of the Navy three weeks ago) is Mark 
Hawley. , ■._,' 

Evelyn Pierce appointed assistant program supervisor in charge of day- 
time radio at Compton agency, and Floyd Holm named assistant program : 
supervisor in charge of nighttime shows. . . .Vincent McConner, CBS staff 
writer, named to Merchant Seamen advisory committee on radio to help 
channel the boys into the industry ... .NYU Summer Workshop, opening 
July 2, has enrollment of 66 thus far. exceeding last year's. 

Amzie Strickland doing a lead on Tony Leaders new Mutual show, "Now 
It Can Be Told," Thursday (28) . .. Patsy Campbell doing lead on Jock 
MacGregor's "Real Life Stories" (WOR)i Thursday (28) . .Herbert Graf, 
NBC television operatic producer, to stage "Carmen" and "La Boheme" at 
Lewisohn Stadium, the former on July 9-10 and the latter August 2-3 — 
James Monks playing role of Tim Brady on CBS' "Cimarron Tavern." 

Wauhillau LaHay. top flack in N. W. Ayer radio dept., off on four-month 
cross-country junket to visit radio eds, station mgrs.. etc.. in connection 
with Ayer shows and principally the Durante-Moore Rexall program. 

J/V; CHICAGO ... 

Charles Goodman, formerly . with the D'Arcy agency. New York, has 
joined Mutual here as an account exec. .. .Patty Ford, heard over WBBM, 
has blossomed out as a song writer with "I Love the Whole United States" 

John Harrington.. CBS news and sportscaster. took his first solo flight 

last week after flying with instructors for sometime Jackie Heller re- 
cently flew in to make a series of transcriptions for the W. E. Long outfit 
...V.Dick Goode has joined the cast of "Tina and Tim". .. .Judith Waller, 
NBC central division public service director, speaks in Denver July 2 and 
3 in behalf of summer radio institute being conducted by U. of Denver. 

Marguerite Foster, formerly ofWHOT, South Bend, has joined the WIND 
traffic department. .. .Mary Pajton, originator and writer of "The Wishing 
Well," sponsored for past five years by Carson, Pirie, Scott over WGN and 
WBBM, is leaving the Wade agency, effective July 2, to join the Trade • 
Development Corp. . . .Skip Farrell's fan club, which had its first meeting 
at the Skyline club last Friday (22) are calling themselves "Skipperoos" 
Two new Mutual additions here are Goldwin P. Patton. midwest pro- 
ducer for the Coca-Cola "Spotlight Band" series, and Wayne Richard 
Griffith, announcer on the show.... Herb Lyons, public relations director 
ot WBKB, is on a two-week New York vacation sizing up the television 
situation. .. .John Edmands, foimerly of WRJN. Racine, . Wis., has been 
appointed head of Chi's Community and War Fund radio department, suc- 
ceeding Jay Lurye, who has left for San Francisco. . . .Jack Baker is pinch- 
hitting for Jack Owens, who is ill, on the "Breakfast Club". . . .Fritz Siegal,— 
concertmaster of Caesar Petrillo's WBBM-CBS orchestra, will be featured 
soloist with the Grant Park Symphony orch when summer concert series 
starts here (27). ' ■ 

IIS HOLLYWOOD . . . 

Radie Harris will do her ''dining" at the Beverly Hills hotel for a goodly 
part of the summer and the American network (Blue) is saving her that 
long haul to Hollywood by putting a wire into the hostelry Elsa Max- 
well has Globe Mills sponsoring her chit-chat along the Pacific. . . .Marge 

Kerr in town scouting talent for N. W. Ayer John Beck shelved his 

o.d.'s for mufti duty with KNX -as assistant director of the news bureau 
. ...Ernie Gill drew the baton on "Blind Date" for the duration of its Hol- 
ly wood t pitch Bud Edwards, late KECA program manager, moved' over 

to the American (Blue) as program operations manager. He succeeds Leo 

Tyson, who heads up the sale research staff Richard Tucker of the Met 

gives out with the vocals for Westinghouse during month's layoff of John 
Charles Thomas. . .Fair Taylor pulled out as publicity and promotion 
director for Don Lee network. Job went to her assistant, Harriet Crouse 
... .Orson Welles under doctor's orders to rest up and taper off on the 
volume .of vittles he takes aboard 1 . 

Bing Crosby delayed his return to Kraft Music Hall to rest up at Rancho 
Santa Fe from his War Bond tour.... Jim Andrews of Lennen & Mitchell 
had Dennis O'Keefe make recordings with both Constance Moore and 
Evelyn Keyes so that the Woodbury sponsors of "Hollywood Mystery Time" 
can make a choice of femme lead for the new series" . . .Joe -Stauffcr com- 
ing out to direct "The Electric Hour" for two weeks while Charlie Herbert 
takes a breather. . . .Neal Hopkins, producer of the Helen Hayes stanza, 
making his- home here. . . .Carlton Morse, who made a mint put of "One 
Man's Family," starts off another domestic serial on NBC for a hiatus run. 
It's called "The Younger Generation" and deals with the problems .of a 
typical American family. 

Young & Rubicam.is expanding Us general advertising department and 
brought out from New York Charles Lasher, who'll be .copy chief, and 
Bob Wilson, art director. .. .Mann Holiner east to sound but prospects for 

"The Eddie Bracken Story" Al Capstaft getting into the hossy set and 

has dated up his brood mare with Seabiscuit Loo Sherin ("Ukie") cast 

to work on the script of the Kraft summer show and make some guest 

shots Stu Sherman checks in next week, so does Charles Luckman of 

Pepsodent. . . Hal Kemp in town for tee-up of Marlin Hurt's "Belilah" 
show July 2. .. .Lud Gluskin will have the music on the Norman Corwin 
series. . . Both CBS and Don Lee-Mutual are said to be sparring for af- 
filiation of the new Palm Springs station, which will be operated by Dick 
Joy, announcer, and Don McBain, CBS engineer. • ' . . . 



Akron.— WADC, Akron, is airing a 
new womeii"s program conducted 
by Tay Tallett Monday through Fri- 
day at 4:30 p.m., featuring »ews of 
homemaking, beauty care and fash- 
ions. Sponsored by O'Neil's dept. 
store. 



Cincinnati. — Jim Parsons, writer 
and former orchestra leader and nc j 
tor, is a newcomer on WLW's con- 
tinuity staff. His assignments in- 
clude scripting for "Boone Counly 
Neighbors" and WLW Stock Com- 
pany plays. 



Wcducsilay, June 27, 19-15 



TELEVISION-RADIO 



33 



DU MONT'S $1,250 TREEZEOUf 



Higher Program Standards for FM, 
Video, to Pay Off-Ira Hirschmann 



Postwar programming standards* 
in FM and television should and will 
be much higher than present-day 
radio standards, as a simple matter 
cf good business. That's the opinion 
of Ira A. Hirschmann, veepee of 
Bloomingdale's and of Metropolitan 
Television, Inc., who was recently 
appointed to organize FM and tele 
activities for Federated Stores, Inc., 
a department store chain. 

Already working with an experi- 
mental tele program over W2XMT, 
N. Y. Hirschmann said he couldn't 
reveal yet the actual programs he's 
worked out to tie up with his stores' 
products, but that they were based 
on a general overall policy. His aim 
in both FM and video, radio's suc- 
cessors in the postwar period, is to 
demonstrate that a better standard 
of programming will be gratefully 
accepted by the American people 
and be profitable in the long run. 
He believes that the public resents 
the lack of restraint and taste shown 
by present day advertisers in "ram- 
ming" their products down the pub- 
lic's throats, so that, he says, "they've 
reached the state of revulsion." 

Radio, Hirschmann said, got off to 
the . wrong start, appealing to the 
cheapest elements in American taste. 
Radio aimed down, not up. Sponsors, 
he- thinks, were wrong in under 
fstimating the public. He intends 
to demonstrate that the American 
people are better than present op- 
erators of radio stations think they 
are. * 

"Down With Mediocrity!" 
By elevating program standards, 
Hirschmann feels people will get 
accustomed to wanting and buying 
better things. With tastes improved, 
they'll be less capricious and restless, 
and turn out to be better customers. 
His tests, he said, prove it. 

Referring to an "unconscious con 
spiraey" on the part of promoters, 
salesmen and agents to keep the 
level of radio programs and ideas 
"down to mediocrity," Hirschmann 
declared the American public is en 
titled to better programs. We're as 
good as the, English he insisted, or 
the Russians: the democratic process 
. is to expose more people to the best, 
not the worst. If television starts out 
with high standards, those will be 
accepted as the standards for the in- 
— dustry, -Theyai- keep-people happy, 
and they'll pay off. 

Hirschmann revealed what a 
battle he had back in 1924. when he 
put the N. Y. Philharmonic on WOR, 
the first radio man to dare such a 
*tunt. He was told people didn't 
want such stuff. He proved them 
wrong. The U. S. Rubber Co. is pay- 
ing over a million dollars a year for 
the same privilege now. 

Another Pay-off 
When Hirschmann conceived his 
New Friends of Music series for 
N. Y., he was warned it wouldn't 
pay. He was told he'd break his 
neck if he tried interesting people 
in so abstruse an art as chamber 
music. Not only has it paid in the 
concert hall, but it has gone over on 
the air. "•■'- ■>■". 

When the Book of the Month Club 
slatted sponsoring the series, selling 
no books but the book-club idea on 
'^Continued on. page 38) 

B&K PUTS JACKS UNDER 
WBKB FOR REPAIR JOB 

' Chicago, June 26. 
. Following two or three serious 
breakdowns in the past few weeks, 
WBKB,- Balaban & Katz, television 
station here, will close down from 
July 1 to July 1C for repairs.; Equip- 
ment will be given a thorough going 
over by Arch Brolly, chief engineer 
«f the siation, during the shutdown, 
out station's pattern will be kept 
, on the air during regular broad- 
casting hours for the convenience of 
■ manufacturers in this area who de- 
pend on WBKB for testing. 

Station is the only television out- 
let here following a regular, pro- 
gramming schedule and is on the air 
five-and-a-half hours, weekly tele- 
casting Tuesday. Thursday and Fri- 
day nights and Wednesday after- 
noons. Regular programs will be re- 
sumed Tuesday night, July 10. 



He Could Help 

While the fate of OWI over- 
seas radio operations Was still in 
the balance, with the chances 
good that the Senate would re- 
store most of the 1945-46 budget 
slash made by the House of Rep- 
resentatives, OWI people in 
N. Y, -were recalling this week a 
fact which may cue present 
White House interest in Elmer 
Davis' operations. * 

Back in 1943, a Senate commit- 
tee was probing war agency 
expenditures, and sent a sub- 
committee to look into OWI 
overseas office in N. Y. One 
Sunday, on his way from church 
back to his hotel, a member of 
that committee dropped in at 
OWI headquarters at 57th and 
Broadway. It turned out that he 
had expected to find only a 
skeleton staff, but was surprised 
to find the radio branch working 
at full speed despite the Sab- 
bath. He liked this unrehearsed 
show of activity, and became an 
OWI booster. 

That Senator's name was 
Harry S. Truman. 



NO MORE CUFFQ 





Scripters-Four AY 
Stalemate Broken 

The Radio Writers' Guild and the 
American Assn. of Advertising Agen- 
cies finally got together in N. Y. last 
week <20) for the first time as the 
prelude to Guild overtures to nego- 
tiate a minimum basic agreement for 
seripters. Considering that all pre- 
vious attempts over the past few 
years to sit down with the Four A's 
had failed, last week's session has 
unusual significance, despite the fact 
that authority of the Four A's to ne- 
gotiate still requires a re-canvass of 
the agencies. The Guild's looking 
for an ajiswer. within the next two 
weeks " . . 

While no details of the contract the 
Guild proposes to negotiate were 
ovjth'rredrthe seripters are-asking for- 
a Guild shop, minimum scales, solu- 
tion of the rewrite evil, air credits, 
etc. 

Four A's radio committee members 
present included Abbott K. Spencer, 
of J. Walter Thompson (chairman); 
Charles T. Ayres, Ruthrauff & Ryan; 
Leonard T. Bush, Compton; Gordon 
D. Cates,, Young & Rubicam; Walter 
Craig, Benton & Bowles; T. F. Har- 
rington, Ted Bates; Myron P. Kirk, 
Arthur TCudner; Lawrence L. Shen- 
field, Doherty. Clifford & Shenfield; 
Frederic R. Gamble, and Herald 
Beckjorden, of the Four A's. 

Representing the Guild and the 
Authors' League of America were: 
Russell Crouse, president of the Au- 
thors' League; Richard Rodgers, 
president of the Dramatists' Guild; 
Howard Lindsay; Peter Lyon, na- 
tional president- of the Radio 
Writers' Guild; Goodman Ace, Eric 
Barnouw, Carl Calmer, Sidney 
Fleisher, Stuart Hawkins,. Ruth 
Adams Knight, Robert Newman arid 
Dorothy Bryant, national secretary. 

KATE SMITH'S FORMAT 
SWITCH TO ALL-MUSIC 

When Kate Smith .switches over 
from her Sunday night CBS spot to 
Friday night and from a full hour to 
25 minutes, the program will under- 
go sweeping format revision. 

Show will revert to a musical 
stanza, with emphasis on Miss 
Smith's singing, instead of the long- 
time variety format from which has 
stemmed in the past some of radio's 
latter-day boff talent. It remains a 
$13,500 package. . , 

Drips Radio Consultant for OPA 

Washington, June 26. 
William E Drips, of Glen Ellyn, 
111., NBC director of agriculture, has 
been named radio consultant for 
OPA, the agency announced today 
i2(i). ' - 



DuMont tele Outfit' in New York 
has had a sudden change of heart, 
with; notices going out last week to 
stations . using DuMont facilities— 
WOR, WJZ, WNEW— that hence- 
forth it is affixing a $1,250 per-hour 
price tag for the use of its video 
equipment; (Figure also includes six 
hours of rehearsal time). The $1,250 
charge compares with the virtual 
"giveaway" policy that's prevailed 
up. to now. DuMont having attached 
a nominal $50 fee, same as applied to 
agencies, for the use of its equipment 
for audio-visual programs. ■ 

As a result of the DuMont move, 
the Mutual and ABC (Blue) flagship 
stations, along with WNEW. find 
themselves in a position where 
they'll either have to knuckle down 
to the tele outfit's demands or pull 
out of the New York video picture. 
It's reported that all three stations 
are doing a burn over the DuMont 
"freezeout" with possibility that last 
night's (Tues.) WOR presentations 
on DuMont may be the. last through 
those facilities. (Only alternative, 
unless they can hook up with NBC 
or CBS tele operations, which ap- 
pears unlikely, is to fall in with the 
General Electric setup in Schenec- 
tady.) ABC has a working agree- 
ment in force with latter outfit 
(WRGB). 

Behind the new move, it's under- 
stood, is the reasoning that why, in 
effect, should DuMont continue to 
lend-lease for peanuts its equipment 
to stations that are potential com- 
petitors of DuMont, since the day is 
not far distant when the two key 
stations of the Mutual and ABC 
(Blue) webs, as well as WNEW, will 
all have their own tele outfits, :yet 
today are obtaining virtually free 
tuition from an inevitable com- 
petitor::-" 

Feeling at DuMont is that, in view 
of the fact it was a. "johnny-come- 
Iately"' into video production, it 
was necessary to establish some 
measure of prestige and hence in- 
vited the stations in for the nearly- 
free price. But DuMont execs now 
feel they can stand on their own- 
hence the $1,250 per-hour tag. 



PETRI WINE DECIDES TO 
PICK UP 'HOLMES' TAB 

Despite the grape shortage which 
threatens curtailment of its product, 
Petri Wine decided this week to pick 
up the tab for another year on its 
"Sherlock Holmes" airer on Mutual. 
In billings and talent (show is head- 
ed up by Basil Rathbone and Nigel 
Bruce) it adds up to a $750,000 ex- 
penditure. : 

Sponsor has given Young & Rubi- 
cam, agency on the account, the "go 
ahead" signal to set up the budget 
for next season. 



Churchill (25G) Heads BMB Research; 
Create 15G Post for Paul Peter 



Joe Bigelow, Ukie Sherin 
To Script E.E. Horton Show 

Joe Bigelow returned to N. Y. from 
the Coast last week to handle the 
scripting assignment on the new Ed- 
ward Everett Horton show, which 
bows in on July 5 as the summer re- 
placement for the Bing Crosby-Kraft 
Music Hall program on NBC, , 

Ukie Sherin, also in from»» the 
Coast, will assist Bigelow oh. the 
writing end. 



World B casting V 
Program Morgue 

A radio program morgue on a syn- 
dicate basis may be established in 
the near future by World Broadcast- 
ing System, which already has the 
makings of such .a biographical-show 
file In a syndicated open-ender 
called "Footprints on the Sands of 
Time." - 

"Footprints," originated by Fred 
Friendly and aired in Providence for 
eight years, is a five-minute show 
which features biographical sketches 
of many well-known names. Most 
of the featured personalities are 
dead. But here and there, among 
the subjects, are some living,' in- 
cluding at the present former Sec- 
retary • of State Cordell Hull, Ma- 
dame Chiang Kai shek,. Gene Tun- 
ney and the aviation tycoon, Juan 
Trippe. 

In pointing out the need for pro- 
gram morgues in radio, it's been 
noted by the trade that, when a 
prominent personality dies, radio is 
forced either to ad-lib or fo slap 
shows together under great stress, 
-instead of having shows ready to 
air. 

The type of open-enders produced 
by WBS for its "Footprints" show 
would seem to meet the situation. 
Stations' that use platters could use 
the morgue material as is, right off 
the Waxings. 

WBS^execs^queried. j about. ihe,,.ru- 
mored project refused to discuss it, 
pointing merely to the success of 
their "Footprint" shows as an indi- 
cation that they are aware of the 
possibilities in program morgues. 



Meakin Out of F-C-B 

Hollywood, June 26. 
■ Jack Meakin is checking off the 
Foote, Cone & Belding production 
staff to freelance. 

He has been directing the Hoagy 
Carmichael show. 



Decision on FM AHocash Due Soon, 
FCC Promises As Hearing Winds Up 



Washington, June 26. 

A speedy decision on the perma- 
nent location of FM in the spectrum 
has been promised by FCC,, follow- 
ing a final batch of hearings last Fri- 
day "(22) and Saturday on which of 
three locations between 44-108 inc. 
should be adopted, y 

The three locations are 50-68 ma; 
68-84 mc; and 84-102 mc,: 

While, as was expected, the large 
bulk of the witnesses at the hear- 
ings urged the 50-68 location, ques- 
tions from the commissioners brought 
out clearly for the first tile the real 
reasons some of them felt that way. 

In several Instances, the best loca- 
tion for FM technically was ad- 
mittedly of secondary importance. 
Spokesmen for the set manufacturers 
said they wanted 50-68 mc. because 
it would enable them to get started 
producing sooner; one witness in- 
sisted speed was necessary because 
"the networks are out to throttle 
FM"; and still, another said he fa- 
vored 'the lowest channel for FM 



John K. Churchill, CBS director 
of research since 1942, moves over 
next Monday (2) as director of re- 
search of the Broadcast Measure- 
ment Bureau at $25,000 a year. His 
appointment, along with that of Paul 
F. Peter as executive secretary of 
BMB, was announced last week. 
Peter will get $15,000 a year, repre- 
senting a $6,000--hike over his pres- 
ent salary of $9,000 as director of 
research, for the National Assn._of 
Broadcasters. Churchill's annual pay 
check represents an approximate 
$5,000 boost of his CBS salary. 

Thus the three top-shelf jobs 
'Hugh Feltis, BMB prexy. is also 
down for $25,000) add up to a $65,- 
000 administrative nut. ■ 

Naming of Peter as exec secretary 
—a post which originally wasn't in 
the books — was strictly a compro- 
mise situation and a case of the as- 
sociation finding itself in a position 
where it had to spot the NAB re- 
search officials in a top BMB post. 

For behind BMB's press release 
over the weekend in which every- 
body from NAB prexy J. Harold 
Ryan down- expressed a hunky-dory 
attitude over the whole new setup 
is also the unmentioned' fact that 
Peter was the guy who was being 
groomed for the research job; that 
the BMB's last-minute change of 
heart in designating Churchill for 
the $25,000 post came as a blow to 
the NAB official and that BMB had 
to find an upper-layer berth for him. 

With a total of $775,000 in sub- 
scriptions in its jeans, the BMB now 
goes to work on its audience meas- 
urement job with one embarrassment 
still to be hurdled— the fact that 
NBC continues aloof from the oper- 
ation. 

Meanwhile CBS is mulling several 
candidates for the post Churchill !«• 
vacating with no decision reached as 
yet. 



because it was better for video to 
be in the higher locations. 

Some of the top industry people 
spoke strongly for the higher loca- 
tions, 

William B. Lodge; acting director 
of engineering for CBS, urged the 
84-102 channel as the best tech- 
nically, and said it was technically 
immaterial for video where it was; 
located between 44-108 mc. . 
' David B. Smith, Philco director of 
research, said locating FM in 50-68 
was best for television and said the 
antenna problem for FM would ,be 
simplified in that location. If FM 
were moved up higher, he said, it 
would be several months later in 
getting started, .'/'. 

G. E. Bears, assistant' manager of 
engineering 'at RCA. estimated it 
woul* take six to nine months to 
get into production of FM receivers 
at 50-68, ahd probably four months 
longer at 84-102. ; . . . 

Arthur Freed, speaking for 11 FM 
set manufacturers, called for imme- 
• (Continued on page 40) 



CBS to Bolster 
Sun. Nite Schedule 

General Foods' reshuffling of its. 
CBS programming sked may in turn 
cue some Sunday night juggling of 
shows by the network aimed at off- 
setting the terrific NBC competition 
that shapes up for the fall. . 

With the Fannie Brice . show 
skedded to move from 6:30 to 7:30 
p.m. " (Kate Smith shifts to Friday 
and the "Thin Man" goes into the 
opposite-Benny 7 o'clock slot) the 
network- is now maneuvering to 
switch the Super Suds show, 
"Blondie," from 8 o'clqck into the 
6:30 time. It's just a question 
whether the sponsor is willing to 
go along. And to counter the strong 
NBC opposish from Edgar Bergen, 
CBS wouldn't be averse to spotting 
such a strong contender as the Phil 
Baker "Take It or Leave It" in the 
8 o'clock segment. 



CBS' 'School's' 5 P.M. Slot 
Cues Program Changes 

CBS' "School of the Air," which 
has given up its 9:15-9:45 a.m. time 
to the Arthur Godfrey show (see 
separate story), has been spotted by 
the web for 5-5:30 p.m., cross-the- 
board, beginning Oct. !. 

Shift has cued some program 
changes on "School." "Story of 
America" Will replace "New Hori- 
zons" on Mondays; "Gateway's to Mu- 
sic," with the CBS Symphony qrch, 
will be aired as of old on Tuesdays, 
and "March of Science" will continue 
on* the Wednesday sked. Thursday 
and Friday stanzas will be shifted, 
the" Thursday airer being devoted to 
current events, titled "This Living 
World," and the Friday piece being 
called "Tales from Far and Near," 
dramatizing contemporary and clas- 
sical- literature. ' 



Wednesday, June 27, 1945 




Hartley's Argentina Documentary 
Hits At State Dept. 'Appeasement' 



Bv GEORGE ROSEN 

Arnold' Hartley's been burning (lie 
midnight oil again (his writing 
•chores are of necessity an -extra- 
curricular activity in view of .the 
pressure: of his regular duties t. and 
forTfi? second time in a month lies 
come up with a special documentary 
that reflects to the credit of both 
the N; Y. indie station and its pro- 
gram director. For Hartley realizes 
radio's responsibility to its* listening 
public. The fact that he brings to 
his comparatively small audiences 
the respect and intellectual honesty 
> due a mature and intelligent people 
merits kudos, for few are the sta- 
tions that have as yet assumed the 
obligation of exposing blatant in- 
consistencies in our democracy. 

In his recent "Memorandum to 
America" (chosen as the July 
• Script of the Month" by the Writers' 
War Board under the new title "Lov- 
ing Cup for Murderers"! Hartley hit 
out boldly at the coddling of Nazi 
prisoners in America. And on Mon- 



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For very confidential in- 
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Mr. Joseph Hayden. 



dav night (25) he directed and pro- 
duced the self-scripted "Argentina: 
America's Nazi Neighbor," which 
forcefully exposed the true nature ot 
the Argentine government and pre- 
sented an even more ominous type 
of coddling— that of our State Dept. 
in its willingness to play ball with 
Nazi Germany's Latin-American re- 
incarnation. . ' . 

"Argentina: America's Nazi Neigh- 
bor" was. essentially, a compilation 
of authoritative quotes from top 
journalists, newspapers and other 
periodicals, plus the State Dept. 
Utilizing the narrator-interlocutor 
technique, the program jumped right 
in with both feet and proceeded to 
prove that Argentina is a Fascist 

"ARGENTINA: AMERICA'S NAZI 

NEIGHBOR" * 
(Special Documentary) 
With Martin Wolfson, . Joe Julian, 

Irwin Mohr. Nat Hale, Lewis 

Charles. Hans Jacob 
Writer - Director - Producer: Arnold 

Hartley 

0 Mins.; Mon., Jan. 25; 10 p.m. . 
Sustaining 
WOV, N. Y. 



viewed, and Miss Ford fires away 
with her questions. During the talk 
interesting information regarding the 
one on the other end of the line 
comes to light, and in the case of Gus 
Van most fff it concerned his theat- 
rical career. • . 

If it could be worked out so that 
both ends of the phone call could be 
heard the show would really have a 
gimmick and inject a little more life 
into this segment of the stanza, which 
is a little draggy. Van's favorite 
tune, "For Me and My Gal,' is sung, 
ponies another commercial, then an- 
other song selected from letters and 
based on a vivid memory held by the 
writer, this time "I Should Care 
the closing commercial, and that s it, 
Miss Fora as writer, singer and in- 
terviewer, does all three jobs in an 
acceptable manner, and is musically 
backed by Len Cleary at the organ 
and Hank Winston at the piano. 
Three commercials are briefly deliv- 
ered by Tom Bilta. Mora. 



Alex 
Stefan 



slate. Through the simple expedi- 
ent of proving the non-existence of 
the Four Freedoms as expounded by 
President Roosevelt, all controversy 
over the definition of the word 
Fascist was eliminated. It was no 
superficial treatment; the script was 
well-documented, the return time 
and again to concise facts giving it a 
positive tone, one that conclusively 
betrayed the appeasement policy of 
our State Dept. 

The narration technique as em- 
ployed by Hartley lent itself effec- 
tively to- such an accumulated mass 
of facts and figures. Actually the 
diversity of the capsule quotes held 
interest throughout: they were 
punchy, short and telling in their 
awful implications. 

In presenting proof that the Four 
Freedoms had been abrogated in 
| Argentina, each episode culminated 
in the narrator's reminder: "Every I of 



school boy knows this!" And for 
corroborative evidence, Hartley 
brought on Irwin Mohr, the Brook- 
lyn school kid who had been chal- 
lenged by his principal when he 
called Argentina a Fascist state. 

Martin Wolfson, narrator on CBS' 
"Assignment Home" series, did the 
narration on the WOV documentary 
and made every word tell. Joe 
Julian as the interlocutor also 
turned In an effective job. 



"NOW IT CAN BE TOLD" 
Martin Gabel, narrator, with 
Scrourby, Don Morrison. 
Schnabel, Carl Emory 
Writer: Judson Phillips 
Producer: Dan Seymour 
Director: Anton M. Leader 
15 Mins,: Mon.-Fri., 8:15 p.m. 
Sustaining 
WOR-MBS. N. V. 

The war has produced countless 
stories of the "stranger than fiction" 
variety, and the security wraps are 
now being unwound from some of 
the secret an(J confidential operations 
that centered on the European the- 
atre. There will probably be a pleth- 
ora of exciting yarns told from here 
on in. concerning real characters in 
real situations. For his .first assign- 
ment as a freelance director on Mu- 
tual. Anton M. Leader, just resigned 
fr.om_.NBC,. was given the job of pi- 
loting one of those "Now It Can Be 
Told" serials, which preemed Mon- 
day (25) for a 15-minute run cross- 
the-board. 

With a team like Leader as direc- 
tor. Martin Gabel as narrator, and 
thoroughly competent actors in the 
cast, producer Dan Seymour was in 
for a natural on this show. Opener 
concerned a true story of efforts by 
the Foreign Economic Administra- 
tion to prevent Nazis from smuggling 
trategicallv important platinum out 
South America. Judson Phillips 



"THE SAINT" 

Cast: Brian Anerne. Louise Arlhar, 
Ken Christy, Theodor Von Elta, 
Carlton Kadel, announcer; others 
Writer: Leslie Charterls , 
Producer-Director; William N. Rob- 
son 

Music: Leilh Stevens 
30 Mins.; Wed., 8 p. m. 
CAMPBELL SOl'P CO. 
W ABC-CBS. N. Y. 

{Ward Wheelpck) , ' 
As its summer replacement for the 
Jack Carson show, Campbell Soup 
has put Leslie C'harteris'. famous boolc 
and film character, "The Saint," on 
the air again (it had been on lor 
Bromo Seltzer earlier this year). 
As heard on the precm (20) this 
time, stanza was a well-directed, 
nicelv-acted bit of repetition of an 
old theme that's worn the grooves 
from many a platter. 

Charter-is has written more than 
30 books dealing with the adventures 
of his smooth detective, who's always 
crossing the cops as well as the 
crooks. The gimmick was probably 
new when Charteris was young, It's 
no longer fresh arid gay in the air 
plavbaek: or a story that's been torn 
to shreds by countess, tries in book 
form, films and radio. 

One wonders whether it isn t dis- 
couraging to a top producer-director 
like Bilf Robson. or to a fine actor 
like Brian Ahernc; to find themselves 
slotted for the summer in stuff like 
"The Saint." With what they had. 
both did very well. But it didn't 
sound too well— even on them. 

Cars. 



"JONES AND I" 
With Ancle Strickland, .Mason 
Adams, Ethel Owen, Lorna Lynn. 
Michael Artist, Julian Noa, Mar 
Questel, William A. Irvin 
Producer-director: Stuart Buchanan 
Announcer: Glenn Kings 
25 Mins.; Wed., V:i0 p.m. 
Sustaining; 

WJZ-ABC (Blue), N. Y. 

"Jones and I," partial replacement 
for "Spotlight Bands," strikes an 
amiable, ingratiating note. Sustainer 
is another series -of small-town, fam- 
ily-life stories, easy lo take because 
the incidents are commonplace and 
the telling natural. Opening pro- 
gram Wednesday (20) concerned the 
return home of Scott (the "I" ot 
"Jones and 1"). an Air Force gunner 
medically discharged, who wanted 
to get back quietly to his home and. 
his girl (oddly called "Jones" in the 
yarn, that being her last name) and 
the attempts of Scott's misguided 
uncle Ned to welcome the lad with 
a brass band and a furore. 

Yarn, told in light, bantering 
fashion, revolved around . two kid 
friends of Scott, who first spilled the 
beans about his coming, and then 
saved him from an embarrassingly 
public welcome by hiding the town 
band's instruments. Show ran 20 
minutes, with music breaking in very 
frequently, briefly, to break il up 
nicely. Two youngsters, played by 
Lorna Lynn and Michael . Artist, 

(Continued on page 38) 




AUTHOR OF COMEDY 



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compressed the stanza into a tight 
quarter-hour capsule which Leader 
paced with just enough speed to 
make - out of the yarn a true-life 
thriller. Cars. 



•TATTY FORD'S BUSY LINE" 

With Patty Ford 

Producer: Larry Kurtze 

Writer: Patty Ford 

15 Mins.; Sun., 12:30 p.m. 

UNIVERSAL MOTORS 

WBBM, Chicago 

(United Broadcasting' Co.) 
* -In - this- -early-^Sunda \ — 15-m in ute 
Patty Ford has developed an inter- 
esting little show, sprinkled with I 
songs and talk, and highlighted by a 
telephone conversation with the per- 
son nonfinated as the celebrity of the 
week. Gus Van was the selection on 
this program. Nominees are always 
in Chicago at the time. 

Format is simple. After a tele- 
phone ring sound effect. Miss Ford 
sings a special song "glad that you 
are listening on the end of a busy 
line." announcer makes the opening 
commercial and reveals the celebrity 
to be phoned later, and Miss Ford 
goes into her first song. "Can't Help 
Singing." which has been selected by 
the listeners. About this time the 
telephone operator has made the con- 
nection with the one to be inter- 



."NEWS OF TOMORROW" 
With Don Gardiner, Ray Henlc 

(Hugo Carlson on repeat from 

Coast), others 
rroducer-Director: John T. Madigaii 
15 Mins.; Mon.-Wed., 8 p.m. 
Sustaining: 

WJZ-ABC (Blue), N. Y. 

ABC (Blue) has spotted a new 
show for its early evening time, put- 
ting on aii" 8 p.m. roundup which 
runs 15 minutes on Mondays. Tues- 
days and Wednesdays, and which 
will .jdd .Thursday _tp_ its schedule 
on July 5. Series opened Tune 18. 
When heard <25). it was ajsmoolh 
show of its type, with nothing in it 
new or exciting but as good as most 
of that type on the air. 

Show opened and closed with a 
summary of the news by Don Gard- 
iner, this time brought a commenta- 
tor from San Francisco and another 
from London, and plugged in Ray 
Henle from Washington with one of 
the day's significant stories (the 
chances of Edward R,. Stettinius. Jr.. 
to retain his job as Secretary of 
State). 

Format, while not novel, does give 
ABC the chance lo capitalize on 
more- airings from its correspond- 
ents, which is part of the plan for 
this show. C«rs. 



ST. LOUIS MUNICIPAL OPERA 

With Mimi Benzell. John Gurney, 
Morton Bowe, Opera choristers, 
Edwin MacArthur. orch director 

Producer: Jack Sexton 

Director: Lewis Shumate 

Writer: Ben Wilson 

SO Mins.: Sat., 6 p.m. 

Sustaining 

KMOX— CBS, St. Louis 

Tee-off of one of the infrequent in- 
stances when this" station originates 
a program for the entire CBS web. 
features three Metropolitan Opera 
stars and sets a lofty standard that 
will serve to keep future guest 
artists on their toes. Format of pro- 
gram that will run for eight weeks 
is to bally productions presented in 
the lO.OOO-seal al fresco theatre in 
Forest Park and air some of the 
songs and music in each production 
that stafTs"tire"MQiTdJry~lolltrwing the - 
broadcast. 

For music lovers the preem was 
sock as the initialer brought to the 
mike name singers who know their 
stuff and banged it over. The tag 
o£ show is a bit . misleading as the 
music is far from being heavy and 
leans far to the listening variety. 
Mimi Benzell. who teamed up with 
Morton Bowe in the rendition of 
"You Are Love" and again with the 
choristers in "Romany Life," was 
particularly effective. 

Bowe chipped in with "Softly As 
in a Morning Sunrise." .and John 
Gurney scored with "The Armorer 
Song." The chorus clicked in its 
contribution of "Municipal Park." 
and "Strike Up the Band." 

Seth Greiner, music producer for 
these shows, has assembled a capable 
orch of 22 and between -the warbling 
thev scored with their interp of 
"Dancing in the Dark" and "Some- 
times I'm Happy." Ben Wilson, the 
writer, painted a realistic word pic- 
ture of the open air theatre and this 
should stimulate b.o. activity for the 
non-profit enterprise. Sflliu. 



TIME TO TALK lo a city's t coning 
populace, time for reaching snbnr- 
. ban shoppers, or time for covering 
rich rural market* . . . Mich time i» 
the full-time concern of Weed & 
Company — specialists ia good I 
on good tuitions. 





EVELYN KNIGHT 

AT COPACABANA 
RIO 



CROWDS IN A FEVER 
CRIED "VIVA THE DIVA" 
SO SHE'S STAYING 



WM. MORRIS 



S T 1 1 1 II \ 

T 
U 



PRESTIGE thru 
SERVICE in 
OKLAHOMA'S 
MAGIC 
EMPIRE 




1 I | \ 



In Cooperation with 
THE AMERICAN 
LEGION 

Touring Eastern Oklahoma eaifc 

week with a Vital Message and 

ft forceful appeal to listeners.. 



CBS 



FREE & PETERS 
National Representatives 



I 



Mutual invites you to 

HEAR HYPNOTISM 



First of a new series of regular programs featuring Ralph Slater, 
the renowned American Hypnotist, begins over Mutual in July... 



SOMETHING NEW UNDER THE RADIO SUN 

For some time Mutual has been looking for some- 
thing completely new to bring to radio listeners. 
We believe we have found it. And we believe 
in presenting regular broadcasts of Hypnotism 
to the American listening public we will be pre- 
senting them with something at once entertain- 
ing and instructive. 

THE MYSTERY SURROUNDING HYPNOTISM 

s. 

In presenting the program, Ralph Slater hopes to 
remove from the public mind all impressions that 
Hypnotism is a"black art"...a"mysterious force". 
It is high time, he feels, that the story-book ver- 
sion of Svengali be dispelled and Hypnotism be 
revealed in its true light: as a science capable of 
some things, incapable of others. . .meriting 
further study and offering worthwhile applica- 
tion in human therapy. 

HYPNOTISM IN WARTIME 

War casualties by the thousands are suffering 
from amnesia and other mental complications. 
Certainly no method offering possible benefits in 
their treatment should be overlooked at this time. 
Slater points out that European nations, and some 
progressive American scientists a' id doctors, have 
found Hypnotism of definite value in treating 
nervous afflictions. — 

PANEL OF RECOGNIZED AUTHORITIES 

To insure diat each part of the program is authen- 
tic arid that the Hypnotic feats are completely as 
represented, a 'panel of recognized authorities in 
Medicine, Science and Psychology will be in 
attendance at each broadcast. In addition, spe- 



cial invitations Will be extended to doctors and 
scientists to attend the broadcasts. 

RALPH SLATER, THE HYPNOTIST 

Were it not for Halph Slater, who developed a 
quicker, more direct method of Hypnotism, and 
who has spent over 15 years in the study of the 
subject, it is doubtful if a radio presentation of 
Hypnotism would be possible. Since the Slater 
method induces complete Hypnosis usually with- 
in 5 to 8 seconds (as compared to other methods 
requiring 20 to 100 times that long), Hypnotism 
demonstrations meeting the rigid pacing and tim- 
ing requirements of radio are^possible for the 
first time. ; • - 

RALPH SLATER -HIS RECORD 

Ralph Slater has traveled extensively to demon- ' 
strate his technique. He has appeared by invita- 
tion— three times before the executive staff at 
Fort Jay, Governor's Island . . : at Doctor's CJubs 
throughout the nation ... before members of the 
medical staff of Halloran Hospital. . . and has won 
acclaim at the hands of the usually skeptical 
press. He plans in the near future to establish 
a free institute of Hypnosis for physicians and 
surgeons so that the knowledge of Hypnotism 
can be extended even further. 

WILL THE PROGRAM MEET THE TEST OF RADIO? 

We are confident that it will, though it's frankly 
something experimental, something new. And 
tin's more than any other consideration is the rea- 
son behind the presentation of the program. 

How can^you hear what is meant for the eye? 
Listen to Ralph Slater, Hypnotist, and findout... 



MUTUAL BROADCASTING SYSTEM 

VV HE RE SHOWMAN S 11 IP M E AN S BUS1NE S S 



WHAT OTHERS HAVE SAID 
— ABOUT -RALPH SLATER 



"Slater, who has been culled the fast- 
est hypnotist in the world, can hypno- 
tize some subjects in five seconds. A 
competent hypnotist can effect pro- 
nounced improvement in many alco- 
holics, stutterers and stammerers, 
sufferers from phobias and com- 
plexes and nervous conditions." 
« -. ' .• : 

LOOK MAGAZINE 

"I lypiiotism, considered since the days 
of Mesmer as "black magic" was re- 
vealed as a science capable of curing 
Amnesia, Insomnia and other mental 
ailments as well as an anesthetic of 
remarkable qualities in a demonstra- 
tion by Ralph Slater, famed Hypno- 

l,sti MIAMI daily Views 

"Ralph Slater, a man who can hypno- 
tize the willing as far as his voice can 
reach even over the radio, mowed 
down a whole row of soldiers of Fort 
Jay at the count o£ six." " 

1 CUE magazine 

"Slater, fighting to rid Hypnotism of 
the bogey of being called phony, is 
conducting a coast-to-coast fight to 
use his science in die treatment of the 
600,000 veterans expected to be suf- 
fering from war neurosis." 

/ DAILY MIRROR 

"Slater sat some subjects in a XewYork 
City studio, went into the control.room 
where diey could not see him and by* 
talking through a microphone put 
them into a trance. Slater's specialty is 
fast work. He puts almost any subject 
into an hypnotic state within fifteen 
.seconds. . life macazine 

. "I watched mildly attentive while this 
young man came out and held die 
audience spell-bound. He.took an 
assorted group of sailors, soldiers and 
marines and put them to sleep in five 
seconds by the clock. He had them 
playing imaginary pianos at his com- 
mand, taking imaginary showers. He 
told them they were hot and they 
perspired;, then he told diem they vyere 
cold and they shivered. We all sensed 
that here wai*somcdiing deep and 
uncanny. We were quiet." 

i-xsa maxwell's party line 

"Army and Navy authorities should 
be able to make great use of Ralph 
Slater's hypnotic ability in treating 
mental eases, shell-shocked and am- 
nesia. I had heard that Slater was 
known as the world's fastest hypno- 
tist, but I didn't believe it. I am now 
thoroughly convinced." 

VICK KENNY, DAILY MIIUIOR 

"Ralph Slater gives liis third demon- 
stration of hypnosis at Fort Jay, Gov- 
ernors Island tonight for the benefit 
of army and civilian physicians froitt 
local hospitals. They 're experimenting 
with hypnosis to enable soldiers to 
endure the rigors of warfare, sleep 
through a bombardment, etc." 

DANTON WALKER, DAILY NEWS 



Ralph Slater, will make his 

second appearance at 
Carnegie Hall, New York City, 
tonight, June 27 



36 



RADIO 



Wednesday, June 27, 1915 



WVTF, Hollandia, Gives GIs Red Hot 
News, Sports Results 10 Times a Day 



By LIEUT, (jg) HBRB GOLDEN 

(On heave from "Variety") 
Hollandia, Dutch New Guinea. 
With the curtain-dropping epi- 
sodes pf the war in Europe keeping 
CIs out here during the past few 
weeks hotter than ever for news, 
the local "Jungle Network" outlet 
lias been slaking its thirst with 10 
newscasts a day. The station has re- 
doubled its efforts on monitoring 
long and short wave etherizings 
from the States and has succeeded 
in getting a direct wire teletype in- 
. stalled to its studios from the Army's 
high-powered radio setup here, en- 
abling it to feed anxious Army and 
Nav.v base personnel and shrps in 
the area a lively budget of both of- 
ficial and unofficial highlights of the 
day. 

The kilowattcr, WVTF, is managed 
by Lieut. Mel Bartell, formerly of 
WHAM. Rochester, N. Y., and has a 
formidable staff of khaki-clad ex- 
pro's who have been brought up in 
U. S. commercial radio and are thus 
quick to sense and get on the air 
what their public wants. The sta- 
tion,, as dq,_all the other "Jungle" 
and "Mosquito Network" outlets 
(except one Navy-operated setup in 
the Admiralties^, comes under the 
Information and Education Section 
of the Army. All the stations, how- 
ever, have a surprising amount of 
freedom in their operation and nat- 
urally tend to pattern . themselves 
aftsr any standard small U. S. sta- 
tion, particularly since such ether- 
filler have been the source of most 
of the personnel. 

WVTF's program, director is Cpl. 
Tol Avery (professionally Tol 
Ware), late of CBS in San Francisco. 
Chief gabber is Pfc. Roger Von 
Roth, who handled talk-chores for 
NBC in New York and Washington. 
He's assisted in spieling news and 
special events by Sgt. Bill Ingram, 
who was with NBC in Chicago. Cpl. 
Art' Richards, who was in the sound 
effects department of NBC in New 
" York, doubles that business with an- 
nouncing out here. Pvt. Phil Cross 
does sports and edits the news, a 



job similar to tha»%hich he did for 
several Salt Lake' City stations. 
Continuity and special writing jobs 
are handled by Pvt. John Rose. 
That's the same thing he' did for 
Cleveland outlets. . ■,■ •'" 

In the engineering division man- 
in-the-goldflsh-bowl is Pvt. Reidar 
Gabrielson of Minneapolis: Cpl. 
Clayton Ryburn, chief knobtwister 
and former ham. and Cpt. Sam Ris- 
sien, who duals as clerk and an- 
nouncer, are the only non-pros in 
the setup. • .-- . - 

Plenty of Platters 
The station hits the atmosphere 
daily from 6 to 9:15 a.m.. from 11 
a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and from 3 p.m. 
to 12 midnight. Much of the time 
is covered by about 55 hours a week 
of transcriptions provided by the 
Armed Forces Radio Service in Hol- 
lywood. This includes top shows Of 
the commercial airways (sans plugs) 
and special GI platters. WVFT, ,in 
addition, puts on a number of local 
productions, including one, "The In- 
visible Enemy," in cooperation with 
U. S. Army; Counter-intelligence. 
Most of the home -grown productions 
are written to require only male 
voices, but the occasional necessity 
for a femme sends Bartell scurrying 
for celeb talent. Last week in "In- 
visible Enemy" he used Jo Hurt, 
who plays Gertie in the USO-Camp 
Shows of "Oklahoma!" visiting the 
island at the time. 

The station has obtained more-or- 
less permanent loan of topnotch port 
able equipment from the- Navy and 
has mounted it in a command 
reconnaisance car, which permits it 
to do anything hot that comes up in 
the way- of a remote. It carries 
play-by-play of -all the important 
ball games in the area and in the 
evenings does pickups of better 
known local service bands playing 
at dances. '.-•'. 

As with the other "Jungle" and 
"Mosquito Network" stations, most 
popular airers are the disc-jockey 
output. WVTF puts such a platter 
show on for 45-minutes each after 
noon, taking requests only from 
hospital patients, and ah hour-and- 
(Continued on page 40)* 



Morgenthau's Bond Windup 

Washington, June 26. 

Treasury Secretary Henry Mor- 
genthau, Jr., goes over the airwaves 
twice this week in the final push for 
the 7th War Loan. 

He will appear on the 5-minute 
spotlight with Mutual's "Spotlight 
Band" show tomorrow (27), person- 
ally interviewing a soldier just back 
from Okinawa. Again on Friday, 
the Treasury boss will face the. mike 
over NBC, 10:45-11 p.m., announcing 
the name of the Washington corre- 
spondent who has won the contest to 
select a slogan for the 8th War Loan 
from the late FDR's speeches. 

Winner will be presented on the 
program. 

DON LEE BUYS OUT 
ITS TIME SALES FIRM 

Hollywood, June 26. 

Sale of stock it) Pacific Broadcast- 
ing Co. to Don Lee Broadcasting 
Svstem was consummated last week 
aiid formal transfer of the certifi- 
cates will be made in Tapoma, Wash.. 
June 30. Pacific has been affiliated 
with Don Lee for the past eight 
years and represented the 22 affili- 
ates of the Coast regional to Oregon, 
Washington and Idaho. 

Lewis Allen Weiss, general man- 
ager of Don Lee, declared that the 
concentrated operation would result 
in increased revenue for the indi- 
vidual stations. Pacific handled the 
time sales for the network. 'V 



Neville Miller Joins 
Army-Navy Commission 

Washington, June 26. 

Neville Miller, former NAB prexy, 
has joined the staff of the Office of 
Army-Navy Liquidation Commis- 
sioner. He will be special assistant 
to Comm. Thomas B. McCabe, nan- 
dling surplus disposal activities in 
the Mediterranean theatre, African 
Middle East theatre, Persian. Gulf 
Command, and India T Burma theatre. 

Miller, who resides in Washington, 
is a former mayor of Louisville. For 
the past.year, he has been serving 
as senior deputy chief, -Balkan Mis- 
sion of UNRRA, with headquarters 
at Cairo. 



Baltimore's Reciprocal Plugs 

Baltimore, June 20 

Stations WFBR and WCBM here changed nets on June 15— WCBIVI 
going from ABC (Blue) to MBS, while WFBR shifted from MBS to 
ABC (Blue).- Stiff competition between the two was in the cards. 
It was also expected by all in radio row that there would be a snafu 
among listeners who would suddenly find theif favorite air program 
on a rival station and net. 

But as a service to their listeners — and, incidentally, to themselves 
and the industry — the two stations worked out a plan for reciprocal 
plugs. For instance, at the end of one stanza on WFBR, an announcer 
Said: "Tune in Gabriel Heatter next Friday on WCBM." If the flab- 
bergasted listener tuned in on WCBM, he heard this: "Beginning Fri- 
day, Ted Malone will be heard on WFBR." 

Cooperation went further than air plugs. Each station provided the 
other access to fan mail addressed. to programs that were skedded shift 
stations. Each station's telephone operators also answered program 
queries by telling listeners tfiat a specific program could now be heard 
on the rival transmitter. . ' \ 

Everybody in town was impressed by this cooperation. Both sta- • 
tions' execs have made it clear that they are not sacrificing usual 
trade rivalry. But both stations have found that the reciprocity cam- 
paign has resulted in maximum listening to .radio over-all in this area. 



Ed Kifby to Meet With 
N.Y. City Radio Comm. 

Col. Ed Kirby, chief of the War 
Dept. radio section, will meet with 
the N. Y. City Radio Committee and 
representatives of all stations in the 
metropolitan area, Friday (29), to 
plan further cooperation between 
the town's broadcasters and the 
armed forces. 

Announcement about skedding the 
meeting was made by Morris Npvik. 
director of the municipally-owned 
indie WNYC, who has been chair- 
man of the N. Y. city committee 
since its pre-Pearl Harbor inception. 

Among the problems to be dis- 
cussed will be the role of N. Y. sta- 
tions in projecting the Pacific phase 
of the war before their listeners, the 
vise of transcriptions, radio inter- 
views with big-shot generals who 
pass through New York, and the in- 
tegration of radio spots for local and 
national patriotic campaigns. 



$30 GANGES MODEL 

Washington, June 26. 
New company has been created 
in India to manufacture radio re- 
ceivers which will sell for about $30 
apiece. Plan. is. to assemble, there . and; 
to manufacture as many component 
parts as possible. 



GENE WILKEY SUCCEEDS 
AL SHEEHAN AI WCCO 

Minneapolis, June 26. 

Gene Wilkey has been elevated at 
WCCO, local CBS station, from 
asst. program manager to program 
manager. He succeds Al Sheehan 
who, after 17 years with the station, 
has resigned to open his own artists 
bureau here. Sheehan was asst.; 
g;m. in addition to program man- 
ager. Former post will be elim- 
inated for the present; — — — • 

During his WCCO association, 
Sheehan held almost every position 
from announcer and script writer to 
production manager and asst. man- 
ager. From 1934 to 1941 he 
managed the WCCO artists' ..bureau 
which now has been disassociated 
from the station and which he is 
taking over on his own. He also is 
producer of the annual. Aqua Folics, 
staged in connection with the local 
Aquatenhial celebration every 
summer, and superintendent of 
amusements for the Minnesota State 
Fair. 



Kansas City — Pat Osborne and Don 
Roberts are new spielers at KCKN, 
Mutual night outlet here. Dean Mil- 
burn, former KCKN mikeman how 
on Coast, returns July 1 to the staff. 




by the Idea Network 



w** w ... are neighbors to 



every home in the West 



Out here, we think there are no people in the world more neighborly than 
Westerners. They're always taking a deep interest in the folks across the 
fence ... folks like The Couple Aexl Door. 

Mary Ann and Bob arc typical. They're young, married, excited about life. 
Their domestic existence is warm and human. Mary Ann invariably adds 
up the bank account backwards . . , Bob usually brings everything home 
from the grocer's except what he was sent for. They have their worries 
—but they have their laughs, too. And everything always turns out fine. 

It's a familiar story. Listeners love it because the doings of The Couple Next 
Door so closely parallel those of their own lives— or those of the neighbors 
across the fence. Created for the Coast by the IDEA Network, The Cmtplt 
■Next Door makes the most of a well-established formula |pr stoiy- telling 
success- one that's shown its worth again and again in the high Pacific 
Hoopers of such well-known domestic dramas as Blondie (14.1); and 
The Aldrirh Family (14.7)*. ' 

Aimed at every neighbor... every radio listener ... on the Pacific Coast, The 
Couple Next Door is ready to team up with your sales message. Sponsors 
who recognize sales-wise programming— (at which the IDEA Network 
shines)— are in the habit of calling us or Radio Sales when an opportunity 
like this one presents itself. 

•C. E. Hooper Pacific Coasl Report for May, 19 45. 



A D I VIS I OA OF THE COLUMBIA Q 110 AD CA S T I Jf C S YS TE M 

Mice Ustel,SwlYa«ciK»}>ColiimbM Swan, LoiAw^ 




TO SPONSORS ADVERTISING AGENTS, AND All OTHER BUYERS 
Of TIME ON ANY STATION OR NETWORK ANYWHERE 

A new department, Commercial Program Sales—a division of WOR 
p ro g rlim Service, Inc., has just been established by WOR to create, develop 
and sell sales-producing radio shows. 

The program packages produced by Commercial Program idles will be 
new, but the experience and ability that will go into their creation will be 
the result of more than two decades of uniquely successful commercial show 
building by WOR, one of America's greatest program-originating outlets. 
The shows will be of all types, from fast-paced drama to rippling musi cals. , 
and carefully-clocked comedy." They will be priced to fit every budget, either 
large or small, and can be aired by an agency or client over any station or 
network in the United States! ; 

Commercial Program Sales will be under the direction of 
Edmund B. "Tun " Ruffner, veteran radio showman. 



write, wire or phone now, today, for all the facts. 

COMMERCIAL PROGRAM SAUS 

a division of WOR Program Service, 

at 1440 Broadway, in New York * 



3ft 



RADIO 



P^rTETy 



Wednesday, June 27, 1945 



Radio Reviews 



Continued from page 34 , 



weren't always intelligible, but other 
than that, cast carried, yam olT well. 

Last live minutes ,bt 25-mmute 
airer was devoted to explaining a 
limerick contest for listeners, to em- 
phasize safety. (Program is lied up 
with National Safety Council.) ";A 
'$50 war bond and smaller cash prizes 
are being awarded weekly. Program 
also had a very brief statement on 
safety by William A. Irvin of the 
Council, and ex*prez of the SI eel 
Corp. of America. Other than thai, 
there' was no strong plugging (or the 
obvious benefits of being careful in 
one's everyday life, so thai the whole 
program was palatable, while by its 
very underemphasis being a strong 
boost for the Council's work. Broil.. 



FORREST WILLIS 
Music. Talk & Variety 
80 Mins.; Mon.-Sat., 8 a.m. 
JOHN G. MYERS CO. 
WOKO. Albany 
I Here is one of radio's finest exam- 
ples of a program integrated with 
the home-front war effort and com- 
munity activity, presented by a 
broadcaster who is 'way above local 
caliber. If the Writers' War Board, 
or some other agency, were to make 
awards to outstanding back-of-the- 
line endeavors, Willis would unques- 
tionably rate an Oscar. It can be 
safely said that no artist in the in- 
dustry works harder to translate the 
public service angle of broadcasting 
into a reality, and that none does it 
with more effective showmanship. 



Naturally, the audience is more 
limited in Albany than it would be 
in a metropolis or on the networks, 
but per set. Willis' achievements will 
stand comparison with the biggest 
names on the air. Long an area in- 
stitution—he .started as a singer- 
pianist for Breslaw Bros, furniture 
chain via WGY, Schenectady, 15 
years ago— and launched present 
series in 1935— this lawyer-enter- 
tainer has reached his greatest 
heights since the war began. No 
man could do more— that's the ver- 
dict of every Albanian, every mem- 
ber of the Army. Navy. Marines and 
Coast Guard who has had any con- 
tact with him, every government 
agency with .offices or representa- 
tives here. 

Willis' presentation of war mes- 
sages, many i 7 them ad libbed and 
tied in with current news develop- 
ments or with persons interviewed, 
are nothing less than superb. He 
: seldom uses a script except for ad- 
! vertising. which he handles flaw- 
lessly. Willis' informal interviews 
| with officers (including a flight 
: nurse) and enlisted personnel of a 
! traveling "Airborne Attack". unit last 
I week. were a typical case of the en- 
! grossing, material he brings to the 
l microphone. A few weeks before, 
i he had a group from "Here's Your 
Infantry" company .to tell stories ol 
network level. Willis presents more 
people of more different types and 
I plugs more local organizations, 
j movements and. causes than any half 
| dozen other mikers around this scc- 
I tiori.. , . Jflco. 



"THE SINGING LADY" 

With' Ireene Wicker 

Director: Charles Warburton 

Writer: Miss Wicker 

15 Mins.; Mon. -I'l l.. 5:45 p.m. 

Sustaining: 

WJ/.-ABC (Blue), N, Y. 

One of radio's standard shows 
geared to moppet appeal came back 
this week (Mon.V in the person Of 
Ireene Wicker, the- "Singing Lady-" 
As expected she strings along with 
the format which first gained her 
recognition and the tried and true 
approach sounds just as surefire now 
as it has through the years. 

Miss Wicker's easy, informal and 
friendly ' style seems a sure bet to 
keep the youngsters close to the 
loudspeakers. Sprinkling songs here 
and there in between dialog and nar- 
ration, she makes the quarter-hour 
one which not only should satisfy 
the juves but smartlv escapes the | 
gushy technique adults find so hard 
to take, '•;',•; 

Preem, handled in its entirety by 
the "Singing; Lady." was the familiar 
childhood story of Cinderella with 
Miss Wicker handling all the parts 
and chipping in "Come to the Ball" 
and other related ditties. She uses 
• Little Bov Blue" as themer. 

Do int. 



Erudite Gabber 

Salisbury. N. C. .June 26. . 
Prof. Russell F. W. Smith, of 
the Catawba college language 
department will be a part-time 
announcer at radio station 
WSTP| at Salisbury. V 
Prof. Smith 'will retain his 
college position, and devote only* 
part o£ his time to the radio 
work. 




If goes without saying that those 8,000,000 
prosperous, free-spending folk who live within " 
voice of the WIP strong, clear signal have a 
definite place in your sales-making picture. 
It's also a proven fact that WIP is the station 
which can sell them your product. Why, then, 
don't we get together and "talk turkey"? 



610 K. C. 




5000 WATTS 



Philadelphia's MUTUAL Affiliate 

Represented Nationally by GEO. P. HOLLINGBERY CO» 



"IT'S UP TO YOUTH" 

Rill Slater, moderator: cast: Warren 

Parker, Ethel Kemcy. ' .feannetle 
; Dowlinx. John Brewster, Dick 

Hamilton. George Ward; others 
Writer: Ed Brainai'd 
Producer-Director: Don Frederick 
:!0 Mins.; Sat., 12 (noon) 
Sustaining 
WOE. N. Y. 

New York's Mutual flagship latched 
on to a line method of highlighting 
current problems of importance 
whem-it-s-terted its-4-ts-Up-to--Yoi.ith". 
show last Saturday (23). Idea is to 
dramatize a problem, in this case 
dealing with juvenile delinquency, 
then having the problem discussed 
by some juves who really know what 
they're talking about. . 

Former Lt. Col. Bill Slater, now 
in mufti, made a good moderator for 
the show, pitching his voice and en- 
tire attitude With just enough au- 
thority to avoid seeming condescend- 
ing. 

Preem's problem, selected for this' 
stanza and for those to come by a 
juvenile delinquency ' expert. Prof. 
Frederic M. Thrasher, of New York 
University, dealt with a 14-year-old 
boy from a decent family who joins 
up with a gang from "across the 
avenue.". After the kid's downhill 
plunge was dramatized, a 17-year- 
old girl .and two adolescent boys 
were given their chance to discuss 
the problem. 

Slater led the youth discussants 
skillfully, from the individual young- 
ster who was getting into deep water 
to consideration of the problem posed 
by the gang, and how to , retrieve 
members of the "across-the-avenue." 
bunch. The fact that intelligent 
youngsters were going into efforts to 
solve the problem of youth made the 
listener feel that some sensible solu- 
tions might be aired on their pro- 
gram from time to time. Cars. ■ 



"APO CLEVELAND" 

With John Saunders and members of 

WGAR's overseas staff 
Producer and Director: John Saun- 
* dels . 

-S»-Mins.- r -Sat.,_5:30_p.m — _______ 

Sustaining' 



FOUR GRACIE FIELDS' 
AUSSIE COLGATE SHOWS 

Sydney, June 26. 
Gracie Fields has been signed to 
do four commercial radio shows in 
Australia by Colgate-Palmolive via 
MacQuarie network with Key Sta- 
tion 2GB here the point of origina- 
tion. Amount involved has not been 
disclosed but reportedly it will be 
about $4,000 per program. 

Miss Fields' personal appearance 
conceits in Sydney via Williamson- 
Tait have been smashing all records 
for a single performer, with extra 
shows needed to take care of crowds. 
W-T is donating all concert money 
to' wartime charities.: After her 
tour of nearby Army camps. Miss- 
Fields starts a tour for the USO and 
then goes to Burma. Expects to be 
away from U. S. and Great Britain 
eight months, 



Mutual Mulls Dramat 
Hour Show on Sundays 

Cleveland, June 2(i. 

You can't do a good adaptation of 
a dramatic play over the radio in 
less than an hour. 

That's the opinion of Herb Rice, 
top Mutual producer, who was in 
town recently for a quick review of 
t h e chain's five-a-week variety 
series "Fun With Music" from WHK. 

Rice pointed out that in half-hour 
shows it is almost impossible to per- 
mit characters to portray their roles 
in a convincing manner and'that the 
play is re- written, to the point where 
it strays too far from the original 
drama. 

Rice revealed he has adapted a 
number of Charles Dickens' stories 
for radio and he hopes to find a 
spot for them. He also added that 
Mutual is considering a full hour 
drama series for Sunday afternoons. 



WGAR. Cleveland 

WGAR has a nice 30-minute show 
to credit to its attempts to bring the 
War Front- to the Home Front. In. 
reality this format is personalized 
journalism over the air. Bringing it 
down to its simplest ingredients, the 
show, through a series of interviews, 
brings about tour or five Greater 
Cleveland men. now overseas, back 
home via transcription. But the 
manner in which it is done, although 
not original, is nevertheless quite 
well accomplished. * 

For its overseas correspondents. 
WGAR has utilized the services of 
Vic : Knight, of the Armed, Forces 
Net-work. AVhen Knight interviews 
a Cleveland boy. it's -.something to 
listen to. At the same time the sta- 
tion has sent Carl George, one of its 
top-nolch men. to the •Philippines, 
and his recordings don't take a back 
seat. They have also contacted BBC. 
and hired several other persons- 
Mary Collins. London, and StefTan 
Andrews. Chungking — to turn in in- 
terviewing jobs. 

Recently, on one show, they had a 
Knight interview from the Siegfried 
Line; a pilot telling of his jump from 
his plane over Yugoslavia, and three 
men in Alsace-Lorraine. The last 
number was the live broadcast of a 
Cleveland woman whose son was one 
of the first to be liberated by the 
Yanks. Also, when vets, who have 
established outstanding records are 
back in Cleveland, theyi too, are 
given a brief spot. Program also 
boasts Red Cross drives, Bond sales, 
etc. •': ..''.- ... 

Program also attempts to bring 
different theatres of operation into 
one show. ;- 

What makes the show so entertain- 
ing is the first-class job of putting 
the program together. Saunders has 
geared the tempo excellently and 
has utilized a nice background of 
music to give the half-hour perform- 
ance an appearance of a good job 
well done. • Markey. 



CBC Salaried Manager 
Reports Crop Up Again 

Ottawa, June 25. 

Newspaper and grapevine rumors 
are out again on possibilities for the 
position of full-time (salaried) mgr. 
of the Canadian Broadcasting Corp., 
a post okayed by CBC governors 
months ago but still empty. 

Latest nominated by rumor is Dr. 
Norman Mackenzie, prexy of Uni- 
versity of British Columbia. 



Johnson Back at Don Lee 



_ _ ____j 1 ____. j une 

Walter Johnson is coining back to 
the Don Lee chain July 9 after 10 
years' absence. Inactivated recently 
by the Marines after serving more 
than two years in the Pacific with 
the rating of captain, he was engaged 
by the Coa^t regional as program 
director. - 

He was with the network as a pro- 
ducer before moving over to Young 
& Rubicam and later MCA as Coast 
radio director. 



Ira Hirschmann 

Continued from page jj 

the air, Hirschmann said, the com 
pany in one day got 24.000 requests 
for books, the letters thanking the 
sponsors for their dignified approach 
their taste in not interrupting the 
music for commercials, etc. Hirsch- 
mann calls selling chamber music 
on the air. a phenomenon, but » n 
indication too of a trend. 

A people is as good as its educa- 
tion and exposure, he declared. Ex- 
pose them to better goods and they'll 
buy, while becoming a people of 
better taste. The decency, imagina- 
tion and good taste of the American 
people should be appealed to; not on 
a cheap, emotional basis. 

He fears only one thing— FM and 
video falling into the hands of 
people afraid of it (" like film com- 
panies "), or those out for quick prof- 
its. These may make the same pit- 
falls that faced radio. 



Cincinnati.— Two new announcers 
added to staff of WCKY. They are 
Jack Strader, a Cincinnatian. and 
Dave Lee, from Ft. Wayne, Ind. 



P 0 



C. E. HOOPER- April, May- 1 945 
8 a. m.tab p. m., SATURDAYS 



WCPO. 


33.9°« 


Station 'B' 


23.8% 


Station 'C 




Station T 




Station T 





; ; CUNNINGHAM ACROSS 

Boston, June 26. 
Bill Cunningham, .WNAC-Mutual 
commentator, broadcast from Paris 
last Sunday (24). He's over to cbver 
the war trials, if and when they 
occur. 

Lester Smith, special events direc- 
tor here, is standing by for Cunning- 
ham, on days when contact cannot 
be made. as. he h«* been doing for 
Cedric Foster. 



Radio Followup 



Norman Thomas went on - CBS 
Saturday night (23) and onoe more 
gave evidence that the hate-mongers 
among us are making ready to sell 
America short. The Socialist stand- 
ard bearer spoke on behalf of the 
Post-War World Council whose aim, 
it would appear from the broadcast, 
is to follow the teachings of "Mein 
Kampf' by spreading the preach- 
ments of divide ana conquer. Thomas 
made a fervent plea to end the war 
with Japan now; he saw no need for 
the complete annihilation of Japan 
and followed the tack that, even 
after complete victory for America, 
the benefits will accrue to Stalin and 
Soviet Russia. 



WCPO's schedule is 
pretty crowded during 
the week— but— we have 
good Saturday availabili- 
ties. Cash in on our high 
Saturday Hooper ratings. 
See our Branham repre- 
sentative for availabilities. 



C. E. HOOf ER TOTAL* TIME PERIODS 



Station B 

Station f 

Station D 

Station [ 



! 3 5 % 



'Every roted hour j!»en equal weight. For 
»Mi rcaion, the total tndci li NOT an 
arithmetic average of the day-port indciet. 



AFFHIATED 
WITH THE 
CINCINNATI 
FOST 




UICPO 

CINCINNATI'S NEWS STATION 



THE KIND OF 





THAT REALLY COUNTS 



A SAILOR, hQ 




KANSAS CITY 



OWNED AND O P E R 



AT E D BY THE KANSAS CITY STAR CO M P A N Y 



40 



RADIO 



Wednesday, June 27, 1945 



LaRoche Tackles Cantor, Allen 



Continued from page 30 . 



volumes of materia] and requires so 
much talent that it's doubtful wheth- 
er the supply of topnotch people and 
writing will ever meet the demand. 
So radio sponsors and agencies must 
resort also to experimentation wher- 
ever possible. .. - v ; 

On our own network, sponsors are 
experimenting with new talent and 
new shows: The Alan Young show, 
and the Niles and Prindle show, arc 
efforts, for example, to' build new 
comedians. 

Stars Won't Sustain 

The other garden plot for talent, 
of course, is the network. Cantor 
would appear to believe that there 
are fewer hurdles to network ex- 
perimentation than there are. The 
network must experiment on sus- 
taining time — and must pay sustain- 
ing rates. Unless talent is brand 
new, it is not often eager to get in 
and pitch on sustaining rates— cer- 
tainly most managers of likely talent 
don't encourage any such deal. On 




the other hand, if you take inexperi- 
enced talent and build it, huge sums 
of money can be invested in backing 
up the talent with suitable shows, 
suitable music, suitable writing sup- 
port, etc.— only to have that talent 
snatched out from under the very 
hose of the network and placed 
somewhere else, 

Over here we have developed 
singers, some of whom went com- 
mercial on another network. No one 
can blame the singers for that, yet it 
is certainly unprofitable from our 
standpoint. Not that we are dis- 
couraged. We are developing "One 
Foot in Heaven," "The Washington 
Story," "Reunion in U. S. A.," 'The 
Man From G 2," and a number of 
other shows in which we are* trying 
out new talent, new techniques, new 
writers, and new ideas. In many 
cases we want no permanent hold on 
any of these properties; we think it 
is a good investment for all of radio 
to keep busy building good shows 
which are commercially practical. 

The Breakfast Club and Breakfast 
in Hollywood are two shows that 
came up through network experi- 
mentation—and both of them are an- 
chors in our morning, and help us 
get more listeners than any other 
network has from 9 to 12. 

It is to get this experimental job 
done that we have established our 
program and talent departments. We 
have made substantial investments 
here in personnel that is experi- 
enced not only in building shows, 
but in selling goods with radio — and 
talent should never forget that their 
fortunes are inevitably tied up with 
their sponsor's sales. Radio is show- 
manship plus salesmanship. 

In closing: There is still room for 
improvement in botli network and 
advertiser's activities in this field. 
But. on the pther hand, don't forget 
that much is being done, more will 
be done — and it's not as easy as it 
looks. The only easy thing is seeing 
the problem. And part of the prob- 
lem is: What to do about the rising 
costs of established talent— when it 
is traded up too high, .it will no 
longer be profitable. That's some- 
thing for talent to consider. 



Nitiono! Salti Ittfi'rteniaiivf • Fouf H- Ptoymat Company 



SURPLUS GADGETS ON 
WAY TO SCHOOLS, ETC 

Washington, June 26. 

Surplus Property Board Is prob- 
ably heading for a donnybrook with 
the commercial webs and stations 
under its plan, announced last week, 
to sell, surplus military radio and 
electronic equipment to schools and 
colleges to establish a system of 800 
educational broadcasting stations. 

Stuff could be purchased "at nomi- 
nal cost" by the institutions so that 
they could operate stations and 
broadcast lessons to pupils. 

Other, surplus will be offered tor 
police radio stations and for other 
governmental services. 



Munich Service Outlet 
Has Strong CBS Tinge 

Munich, June 18. 

Radio Thunderbird, voice of the. 
45th division in Munich, Germany, is 
staffed by three former CBS spielers 
and an ex-CBS engineer. Head man 
is Capt. Stuart Novins (ex-WEEI, 
Boston). With him is S/Sgt. Lee 
Vines, who used to do commercials 
on N. Y. Philharmonic programs, 
and Cpl. Al Morgan (CBS-N.Y.). 
Ex-CBS N. Y. engineer is S/Sgt. 
George Huether, who repairs radios 
for the 45th's Signal co. 

Weekly feature of Radio Thunder- 
bird is "The Gotham Four," com- 
posed of Cpl. August Papile and 
Pvts. Reed McClelland, George 
Boehm; Ernie Villatoi*. McClelland 
was stage director of the Phila- 
delphia Stage Door Canteen; Boehm 
played bull fiddle with Tommy 
Dorsey: Papile, accordion with Rudy 
Vallee and Villatore, guitar with 
Morton Gould • . 



Boston.— Paul F. 



been named 
WCOP. 



chief 



Bradley, has 
accountant at 



MRS. KAMPFS KUDO 

Washington, June 26 
For "exemplary performance of 
duty" as traffic manager of "The 
Army Hour." Mrs. Idella G. Kampf 
was awarded the Exceptional Civil- 
ian Service Award, highest honor 
the* War Dept. gives to .a civilian, 
last .week. < 

She joined the War Dept. in 1942 
on leave from NBC. where she was 
ofice manager of the production di- 
vision. She is the wife of Edgar 
Kampf. radio scientist, who is on 
I leave to work with the Navy Dept 




CBS Wash. Outlet Maps 
3R's Radio Workshop 

Washington, June 26, 

WTOP, the CBS station here, has 
tied in with the Radio CommitteD 
of the D. C. public schools to set up 
a "radio workshop,'.' now tentatively 
slated to operate Sept. 4-14. 

Stunt will make use of the WTOP 
facilities for a course in radio's edu 
cational possibilities, with particular 
reference to the schools of this city. 
Combined conference and workshop 
technique will be used, half of each 
day being set aside for lecture, dem 
onstration and discussion and the 
other half for actual work. 

Workshop courses will include 
writing, production and program- 
ming. There will- also be an intro- 
duction to the technical aspects of 
video and FM. 

Among those who will take part 
in the experiment are Dr. Lyman 
Bryson, director of education broad- 
casts for CBS; Martin D. Wickett, 
WTOP program : director; Betty 
Grove, chief script writer for 
WTOP; Dr. R. R. Lowdermilk, con- 
sultant to the Federal Radio Educa- 
tion Committee; Dorothy Lewis, 
women chief of NAB, and others. 



«T)EOi?LE Know Everything." an entertaining telephone tjv'i. it breed- 
*■ cait aver WOV at 1:25 a.m. ana* dearly Iran 4:25 ta »:25 a.m.. 
Monday through Saturday. Par each period, a question it selected from 
Mia thousands submitted by WOV listener*. The announcer audibly tele- 
phones a number aad if the person wha answers knaws the answer te the 

■IHHM. %hm Juu.li I. -I l ii . l._ ' .* . . 



: — — ■ I — ■ -— ■■ nnw wMvnwv* m* mmmwmw TV in* 

question, the maney en deposit It shared eajaally by ejuestleaee and 
If the question it net answered the maney accumulate* far 



qNMMoRttr. .. .■. „ mm -> - «n»wvf«fj rntJ .**>•;*•»; ■CCMP(IM{«T*f ft 

Meceedlnf shews, ■'•eoale Knew everything" it spotted la programs high 
In listener appeal. A limited number of strips are available. . 

Ralph N. Well. General Maiitgcr a John E. Pearsen Ce., Nat'lRes. . 




Pitt Sponsor Wants 

Show on His Vacash 

Pittsburgh, June 26. 

Herb Dimling, the local candy 
bai'on, likes the local show he 
sponsors weekly over WJAS so well 
that he's . having the phone company 
install a special line at his summer 
home in Margate, N. J., where he'll 
spend the next three months, so he 
can hear Sho-Biz-Qniz direct every 
Tuesday night. 

Program is a quizzer, confined ex- 
clusively to movie, stage and radio 
questions, with listeners sending 
them in and the three local critics, 
Karl Krug of Sun-Tele, Kap Mona- 
han of Press and Harold V. Cohen 
of Sun-Tele, trying to answer 'em. 
Half-hourer started May 1 on an 
initial six-month contract. 



Decision on FM 



; Continued from page 33 , 



diatc acceptance of the 50-68 chan- 
nel. He said he was not an engi- 
neer and approached the problem 
from the economic point of*view. 

J. E. Brown, assistant vice-presi- 
dent Of the Zenith Radio Corp., ad- 
mitted in response to a question 
that he had heard the large net- 
works are out to throttle FM. "They 
are in AM and would like to stay 
in AM," he said. • He urged adoption 
of the 50-68 location because an im- 
mediate start can be made on manu- 
facture and because sets would be 
cheaper for the public. 

Frank Marx, director of general 
engineering of the American Broad- 
casting Co., urged the higher FM 
location. He said ABC (Blue) wants 
to create nation-wide FM and video 
webs, and that his company was in* 
terested only in putting them in the 
best locations in the spectrum tech- 
nically. 

Both Philip G. Loucks, counsel for 
FMBI, and William A. Roberts, 
counsel for" TBA, plugged for '50-68; 
so that an immediate start could be 
made. F. J. Bingley, chief tele- 
vision engineer for Philco, admitted 
he had supported the 50-68 location 
for FM with the thought of w'hat 
was best for video. 

C. R. Jolliffe, chairman of panel 
2, RTPB, admitted that this panel 
had voted in favor of 50-68, with a 
view of which plait was best for all 
radio services rather than which 
was best for FM. 

C M. Jansky, Jr., chairman of 
panel 5 of RTPB, and Dr. Edwin 
Armstrong, father of FM, both came 
out strongly for the 50-68 location 
on technical. grounds. 



WVTF, Hollandia 




Continued from page 

a-quarter late each evening, hon- 
oring requests phoned in by any GI. 
It* disc library, comprised mainly 
of ' the - APRS basic and supplemen- 
tary service, compares more than fa- 
vorably with that of any small sta- 
tion in the States. 

Etherizer puts out 470 watts at 
1430 kcs. The whole affair is housed 
in three Quonset huts, in which the 
staff also live. Right now they are 
trying to beg, borrow or trade prac- 
tically anything for a coffee-maker 
and refrigerator so they can go into 
light housekeeping and avoid a 
lengthy trek to another company to 
which they are attached for mess. 



MBS Has the Dough 

SSiS Continued from page 30 . ■ 

of the so-called weaker sex and per- 
mits the fur to fly. "Calling All De- 
tectives" and "What's the Good 
Word" and "Never Too Old" . each 
has its features, both distinguishing 
and new, and certainly Arch Oboler 
is blazing new trails in his "Plays" 
in which he has free rein. And 
many more. 

Some of these shows will become 
box, office, and others will fail to 
catch the public imagination. The 
failures will do a fade and will be 
replaced by more and more shows 
on which we are working and which 
others will bring to us, knowing that 
our doors are open and our air 
friendly. All this -takes money, 1 of 
course, but we have been given by 
our board a 7-digit increase in 
budget expressly for programming. 

Summing up: We realize our re- 
sponsibility,' we are doing and will 
continue fo do our best to live up to 
it, and we have the money and the 
will. The rest is up to the listener. 

Phillips Carlfit, 
(V.-P. in Charge of 
Programs, Mutual.) 




EVERY day, deep in Utah moun. 
tains, men and machines are tap- 
ping rich and almost Inexhaustible 
coal deposits. Average prewar pro- 
duction was 4Vj million tons a year. 
The 1944 production was 7.206,107 
tons. The market extends throughout 
Utah and all states west. Coal min- 
ing is jnst one of Utah's basic Indus- 
tries that support a dependable and 
always active buying power among 
Utahnt. 



jLocal Advertisers Know 
KDYL Brings Results 



business is better in Utah because of 
coal . . . and business it better for 
KDYL's local and national advertisers 
because this is the station people na- 
turally tana in for 
favorite network 
thews and local 
features. Listeners 
plus showmanship 
brings results. 
KDYL hat both. 




National Representative: 
John Blair 6 Co. 




UNITED RKXAM. DRUG CO 
t'rlilay— CBS— 10 p.m., EWT 



STOP PRESS 

TH08IN . . . TING8N . . . 
CMV „£JS BT » • • ■ CtlZAV . . . 8YINQH8 
• • • C J** V TINO0H . . . TCARZY HIN08 
. . . OH Juit Mitt* to • mat nns anS • 
treat artist . . . WHAT? WHEN? WHO? 

• N, £.:-' • K*AFT SNOW . . . July 
5th . . . HILDEQARDE . . . Pat. by Davit 
UtrHiten, 117 W. 41th St.. New Vara City. 



Wednesday, June 27, 1945 



RADIO 



41 



SENATORS TO PROBE 
DUTCH TUBE CONTROL 

Washington, June 26. 
An- investigation of basic radio 
natents, with. a view, to determining 
f „,any are under foreign control, 
has been started by a Senate Inter- 
Ita'te Commerce sub-committee, com- 
nosed of Senators Frank P. Briggs 
ffi Mo,)i Francis J. Myers CD., 
Pa."), and Homer E. Capehart <R., 
Ind.). 

. open healings at which 'sensa- 
tional developments" are promised 
are slated to begin probably next 
rribnth. "The question," said Briggs. 
the chairman, - 'is whether the U.S. 
should allow a foreign government 
to hold patents vital to our security." 

The senators are gunning for Phil- 
ips Incandescent Lamp Works, of 
Eindhoven, Holland; which controls 
basic' patents "on radio tube com- 
ponents and some radar specialties. 

After July 1, Briggs pointed out, 
only three American firms, RCA, 
GE and Westinghouse, will be in a 
position to manufacture sets since 
philips has cancelled an agreement 
permitting RCA to sub-license Philip 
patents to other firms. 

When Ihe sub-licensing agreement 
runs out. according to Capehart, 
other U. S. manufacturers "will have 
to so .hat-in-hand to Philips" to get 
licenses. 

Toppers in the American industry 
are slated to appear as witnesses at 
the coming headings, at which the 
public will learn all about Philips 
as the "kingpin" of world radio. 

Fori Wayne.— Farnsworth station 
WGL, and the Fort Wayne News- 
Sentinel are cooperating in a new 
series of safety broadcasts featuring 
city parks and playgrounds. They 
will stress keeping kids* off streets 
and In the parks:. Slotted from 10 
to 10:30 a.m. Saturdays. .;. 



Another HIGH HOOPER 

from WTAG 
, 9:30-10 p.m. Tuesday 

\K I'lt-y Average National) 
CIS— This li My l««t— 7.t 

(City Zon« Average Worcester) 

WTAG— This It My BesT—19.7 



World Broadcasting's 
flatter-Plus' Shows 

Four new ' "platter-plus" shows, 
and one open-ender, are being 
readied for early syndication by 
World Broadcasting Systemt Decca 
subsidiary, 

"Platter-plus" shows (which WBS 
calls "Audi-Flex") are discs plus 
script continuities, so that a local 
station using the waxings may bring 
commercials into the show as an in- 
tegral part of the program, 

Tentative titles of the shows are 
"Golden Bantam Revue," which will 
use Tjny Hill and his orch, the Sere- 
naders, the Harmon izers, and the 
Jesters; "Here Comes Louis Jordan," 
which will have the Delta Rhythm 
Boys and Mills Bros.; "Sing, 
America, Sing," with Bob Grant and 
his orch featuring old-time faves; a 
Latin American series called "Tropi- 
cana"; and ah open-ender which will 
probably be called "Songs. You For- 
got to Remember." featuring George 
Byron. 

According to "Wesley Edson, sales 
promotion manager for WBS, 200 
stations have signed for shows since 
the company went into syndicate 
program packaging last January. \ 



Mexico Radio Strike 

Ties Up Key Station 

Mexico City, June/26. 

Mexico's first radio station strike 
in years, that against XEOY, big lo- 
cal outlet, was lost by the strikers 
when the Federal Board of Concilia- 
tion and Arbitration declared it il- 
legal. Lasted four days, and board 
found only a few favored it as a 
means of getting a demanded pay 
hike and some other cash benefits. 

Guadalajara, Mexico's second 
largest city, faces complete shutdown 
since "a strike is set for July 1, 
against* its three stations, XEAV, 
XEHL and XELW. Walkout is over 
50" c wage lift and other concessions, 
including that of allowing the work- 
ers 30 minutes daily time to air their 
opinions about various things. 



Detroit— Two new additions have 
been made to slafT of WWJ. Burton 
Wright, producer, from WKY, Okla- 
homa City, has been assigned to two 
special programs, "Listen, to Leash," 
and to Louis . Teudler's "Veterans' 
Advisor" program. Norman Palmer, 
former announcer at CK.LW, Wind- 
sor, Out., has been assigned to' regu- 
lar staff announcer duties. 



Record Mail Call 

Chicago, June 26. 
Saturday morning radio time, 
long considered one of the dogs 
of the industry, came in for 
orchids last week when it was 
revealed that a .couple of .casual 
mentions on Smilin' Ed McCon- 
nell's "Buster Brown Gang" pro- 
gram, heard over NBC. Satur- 
days at 10:30 a.m.. resulted in 
210,055 cards and letters and 525 
gift packages being sent to an 
infantile paralysis victim in St. 
Louis.. 

This came about when McCon- 
nell read a letter from an eight- 
year-old, wheel-chair confined 
listener who told him she was 
having a birthday and asked him . 
to send her a birthday card. Mc- 
Connell read her letter on the 
air, without solicitation, and his 
radio audience did the rest. The 
mail floodr-according to St. Louis 
post office officials, is. an all-time 
record in the history of the city 
(as of June 20) for mail to one 
person, with letters and pack- 
ages still pouring in by the sack- 
full. 



'ATTACK' BOND CARAVAN 
USING LOCAL AIRTIME 

Albany, June 26. 

"Airborne Attack," one of the most 
thrilling service shows on the road 
to demonstrate battle tactics and to 
promote the sale of War Bonds, has 
been using radio extensively before 
and during local stops. The big 
transport planes carry complete 
broadcasting equipment, including 
transmitter. In "Attacks' " swing 
through the midwest and into the 
east, tieups have been arranged with 
city stations by advance and hold- 
over press relations officers. The 63 
overseas men and a girl fa flight 
nurse with many months of service 
in the Pacific) are spotted as guests 
on regular local as well as special 
broadcasts. Pickups are wade from 
the airport the afternoon the planes, 
gliders, jeeps, etc. are open for 
public inspection, while a supper 
hour origination is effected for the 
actual airborne-attack demonstra- 
tion. The latter is a hair raiser. 

A broadcast from a giant plane, 
supplementing another on the 
ground, is part of the schedule. In 
Albany, officers, the nurse and 
enlisted personnel were interviewed 
on various local programs via 
WABY and WOKO. 



Cincinnati.— More than 40 pro- 
grams a week aired by WLW are 
being piped directly to 'all wards in 
Wakeman Hospital Center at Camp 
Atterbury, Ind., through a newly- 
installed radio sound system. 



Chi Gal Runs Unique Casting Office 
As Part of Treasury Bond Drives 



Chicago, June 26. 

Vivian Bennett is in charge of the 
"Ready-made Radio Characters" 
dept. at the U. S. Treasury's Chicago 
branch. There was no such dept. 
when Miss Bertnett went" to work a 
few years ago on publicity that would 
sell War Bonds, and the truth of the 
matter is that officially it still doesn't 
exist. At least, it's not in the rec- 
ords. But it's there anyway, and no 
mistake about it. 

What created the job was Miss 
Bennett's unique talent (accidentally 
discovered) for digging up charac- 
ters to fit exactly radio scripters' 
dreams of what they wanted on their 
bond pitches. Miss Bennett isn't 
sure just how or when it all started, 
but is of the opinion that the writers 
figured that somewhere among Chi's 
5,000,000 or so inhabitants there 
must always be someone to fit into 
any and all situations they could 
whip up. So they'd call the Treas- 
ury, as a matter of course, and Miss 
Bennett would answer the phone. 
Simple as all that. 

She thinks it started on what you 
might call a "comparative basis"— 
that is, a scripter wanted a gal who 
worked in a war plant while her 
husband was overseas, had a couple 
of kids to support, and sold a lot of 
War Bonds in her spare time. At 
first, when writers frflm various local 
stations called the Treasury, it wasn't 
such a hard task supplying charac- 
ters like that, because they weren't 
too particular. They'd merely ask 



for a gal, or anybody else, who "sold 
a lot of bonds." • . 

More Particular Now 

It's gradually gone from the com- , 
parative to the particular, however.. • 
Now it's common for them to ask <, 
for a gal who makes parts for B-29's, ' .-,<; 
has a son in the Marines, daughter 
in the.Wac, husband in the Army, X 
etc. And they'd like it even better . 
if Miss Bennett could get them the 
one in that category who sells more 
bonds in her spare time than any 
other woman in Chi! . v . "Or pos-. 
sibly in the country? Huh?" 

Payoff, to date, was on V-E Day, 
when she got a call for "the woman 
in Chi to whom the day-meant the 
least," to tie in with an airer whose 
theme was "Now let's get the Japs!" 
That was a tough assignment, but 
Miss Bennett's experience up to then 
was such that she felt no qualms 
about trusting impliclty in the selec; 
t ions of her field men throughout the ; 
city, contacts she'd made who had 
never let her down, Out of the 
dozen .or so cases submitted, she 
picked ;a woman whose husband had • 
been killed just a few days before 
the big.dayV. who worked in a war : 
plant, and Who had been matching . 
dollar for. -dollar, her husband's de- -; 
ductions lor bonds. 

Needless to say, Miss Bennett will ,■ 
be glad when there's no longer any: ... 
need forlher services. As she points" 
out, "The more bonds people buy, •-,";» 
the quicker I'll be out of a job. And . ' 
it'won'fc.b* a minute too soon." 




WTAG 

WORCESTER 



I. • 



m •' 



-i • 



take great pleasure 

in announcing 

to the industry 

that I have placed myself 

under the direction of 

ANNA SOSENKO 

who will be 

my personal manager 

HARRY SOSNI K 



RETURNING TO THE RALEIGH ROOM 
NIC. SEPTEMBER II - 



SUMMER SERIES 
NASH KELVINATOR 

BLUE- NETWORK BEGINNING JULY 1ST 
SUNDAYS. 4:30-5:00 P.M. 



t.clMlr. Direction: MUSIC CO R f O RATION OF AMERICA 



Could -be a gent back of home plate. 

Could be the plug in the bath tub; 
,0r a red light at an intersection. 

BUT IT REALLY REFERS to Cousin Jack 
and his sunrise Roundup Gang of 
WKY that chases, the sandman out 
oi Oklahoma every weekday morning 



OWNED AND OPERATED IV THE OKLAHOMA PUIKSHINO CO 
Th. Daily Oklah.moo ami Tim.t - Th* f«m«r-ll««Vm»« 
KVOK, Col. rod. $»rin»« . Kit, D.nv.r (Affiliated Mfm»<) 
REPRESENTED NATIONAUV IY THE KATZ AGENCY, INC. 



42 



ORCHESTRAS-MUSIC 



Recording Outfits, 130 of 'Em, Face 
Battle for Survival in Postwar 



With jukebox manufacturers hav- 
ing been given the go-sign and with 
elaborate blueprints formulated for 
the phonograph of the postwar world, 
disc manufacturing firms have mush- 
roomed to the point where there are 
now 130 firms on the market that 
are pressing discs under as many 
labels. 

Many of these are now in a somno- 
lent stage and others are engaged 
in specialty work such as discing for 
skating rinks or discings for music 
teachers, but the bulk will attempt 
to maneuver a permanent niche in 
the spot now occupied by established 
firms. ' , ' . 

The late Petrillo ban on record- 
ings and shortage of shellac for some 
time crimped influx of capital into 
this field, but now that these items 
are a thing of- the past, discers have 
expanded to the point where an an- 
nual sales volume of 600,000,000 Ms 
possible. 

In .addition to already established 
outfits such, as Victor, Columbia and 
Decca, newer outfits such as Beacon, 
Capitol. Cosmopolitan, Guild, Hit. 
Majestic and a few others loom as 
serious competition to the established 
firms. These have already made 
considerable inroads in the trade 
and seem to be permanently estab- 
lished. .' , . 

However, observers point out that 
luccess of most commercial firms' 
will depend on the talent signed. 
The formation of the newer firms 
Jias accentuated the scramble for 
talent which now seems to be at its 
height. Most firms realize that their 
existence will depend upon the 
bands and performers- signed. As a 
result, terms to recording artists are 
the most favorable they've ever been, 
ranging anywhere from a free hand 
in selection of times to healthy sti- 
pends for dates. 

Observers also point out that the 
jiewer firms can handle hits as well 
as the oldsters. Success of the Ma- 
jestic label with Louis* Prima is re- 
garded as a good example: 

It's also believed that despite the 
record-breaking number of firms in 



the business today, developments 
within the next few years may shave 
this number down to. half the pres- 
ent number. 



Discollectors' Worries 
Over About Wirecords 

Hollywood, June 26. 

It won't be necessary for collec- 
tors of musical platters to toss away 
their' libraries after the war, in spite 
of all the talk about music on wire 
spools. Disc companies are going 
ahead with plans for bigger and bet- 
ter records in the post-war era, with 
improvements invented during the 
war but not yet put to public use. 

One improvement is the long- 
playing disc, measuring 14 inches 
and capable of spinning two hours 
and a half without lifting the needle. 
Another is the new pick-up head 
which will give a truer tone to re- 
cordings. General trend of the in- 
dustry is toward improved waxing 
rather than; the wired spool for 
home Use. 



Music Pubs Holding Corp. 
Spots Vic Blau on Coast 

Herman Starr, president of Music 
Publishers Holding Corp., announces 
the appointment of Victor Blau to 
the office of vice-president of music 
publishers Harms, Witmark and Re- 
mick. 

Blau's headquarters will be in 
California and he!ll be in charge of 
professional activities on the Coast 
for the firms of Music Publishers 
Holding Corp. . . 



10 Best Sheet Sellers 

( Week Ending June 23) 
Bell Bottom Trousers. ....Sanity 

Dream ................ . .Capitol 

Sentimental Journey . , . .Morris 
There I Said It Again. .. .Valiant 

Laura .Robbins 

Belong to My Heart.. Sou them 
Just A Prayer Away . . . .Shapiro 

There Must Be a Way.. Stevens 
More I See You ...... .Triangle 

All of My Life ......... .Berlin 



Wednesday, June 27, 1945 



Bands at Hotel B.O.'s 



■■'•'"'■■..>>''•""■ ... . Co»»ri 

tVook* rant 

Bund ■ . HOW . Miwed \V«eU 

Hal Aloma* Lexington (300; 75c-$1.50) 36 1,855 

Sonny Dunham.. New Yorker (400, $1-$1.50). .... .... 7 2,125 

George Paxton. . .Pennsylvania (500; $1-$1.50). 3 • 2,175 

Nat Brandwynne" 1 Waldorf (550; $2) 7 3,335 

Erskine Hawkins. Lincoln (275; Sl-$1.50). .. .. 7 1,745 

Eddie Stone. Roosevelt (400; $i-$1.50). .» 7 2,115 

Harry James. . . . . Astor (750; $1-$1.50) . . . i . . . . ».. . . . 2 6,260 



Total 

-Cowti 
On Unto 

62,350 

24,475 

5,975 
22,485 

8,145 
17,315 
12,535 



ASCAP's European 
Jaunt Pays Off 

ASCAP g.m. John G. Paine and 
attorney Herman Finkelstein are 
largely credited with stealing a 
march on Broadcast Music, Inc.. via 
their recent jaunt to London and 
Paris. ASCAP not only signed new 
international treaties with England 
but the French and also the Spanish 
music performance societies. 

The British Performing Rights So- 
ciety was so pleased with ASCAP's 
enterprise in sending Paine and Fin- 
kelstein over that it (BPRS) dis- 
seminated correspondence io all the 
European music societies plugging 
ASCAP's vision, particularly as re- 
gards the grand works— meaning the 
concert, opera and other symphonic 
compositjonSi 

ASCAP, heretofore, was too close- 
ly identified with so-called popular 
and light operetta works, and this 
has permitted the Society of Euro- 
pean Stage Authors & Composers 
(SESAC) and others in the U. S — 
including BMI— to have a trading 
point. 



♦ Asterisks indicate a supporting floor show. New Yorker has ice show; 
Lexington, on Hauiu'inii jloor show, : ,y 

Chicago 

Wayne King (Beach Walk and Marine Room, Edgewater Beach hotel; 
4,600 combined; $1.25-$1.50 admission to Beach Walk for dancing and show; 
50c-75c cover charge and no minimum in Marine Room). Beach Walk 
open every night, to cue a strong 9.800 for King: 

Dick La Salle (Mayfair Room. Blackstone hotel; 350; $i.50-$2.50 min.). ' 
Carl Brissoa and LaSalle played to great 2,300. ; 

Fi ankle Masters (Boulevard Room, Stevens hotel; 650; $3-$3.50 min ). 
Masters and_big_sliow_had . ropes up most of the time. Proms and parties 
for returning servicemen, etc., big here as elsewhere, kept it up to a 
smash 8,700. ;.- • . ■ ■ 

George Olsen (Empire Room, Palmer House; 700; $3-$3.50 min.V. Tidy 
7,600 for Olsen. with Henny Youngman, Lalhrop"& Lee, et al. on floor. 

Emile Petti (New Walnut Room. Bismarck hotel; 465; $1.50-$2.50 mill.). 
Petti packin' 'cni in. Played to fine 3,300. 



BROTHER ACT 

Virginia McLaughlin, formerly 
secretary to Dave Fox, head of N. Y. 
local of American Guild of Variety 
Artists, has switched allegiance to 
Guild Records, recording outfit, 
•where she is chief assistant to Boni 
B. Fox, head man. 

Her new boss, incidentally, is a 
brother of her former one. 



MAESTROS LECTURE 

Lectures on the Schillinger System 
of musical composition at the Juil- 
liard School of Music, N. Y., start 
Monday (2) with a talk by Arnold 
Shaw.oE Leeds Music. 

Others scheduled to lecture are 
Nicolas Slonimsky, Nathan L. Van 
Cleave. Rudolph' A. Schramm, Paul 
LaValle. Vernon Duke and Mark 
Warnow. 



Los Angeles 



Freddy Martin (Ambassador; 900; $1-$1.50). Turning away coupler oven 
in mid-week for 4.300 tabs.- " 

Joe Relehman (Biltmove: 900; $1 -$1.50). Clicking away with good turn- 
over and crowds all night at 4.300 covers. 



Location Jobs, Not in Hotels 

; (Chicago) 

Gay Claridge (Che/. Paree; -650; $3-$3.50 min.). . Sophie ..Tucker and . 
Claridge holding business up around nifty 5,700. 

Del Courtney (Blackhawk: 500; $2-$2.50 min.). Mardoni & Louise and 
Jane Slater followed Imaginators and Marjorie Lane Wednesday (20 >, with 
Courtney held over, for slick 4,200. 

Ted Lewis (Latin Quarter; 700; $3-$3.50 min.). Crumpled tophaland 
clarinet showing the way. with 5,900. 



(Los Angeles) 

Tommy Tucker (Palladium, B, Hollywood, 2nd week). Still doing solid 
business at 27,500 admishes. 

Jack Teagarden (Trianon. B. South Gate,. 1st week). Took a climb with 
the new band to 9,150 entrants. , f . 

. Lelghton Noble (Slapsy Maxic's. N, Los Angeles, 27th week). Never 
seems to bat an eyelash with usual capacity 3,200. 

Carlos Molina (Tiocaderor N, Hollywood, 14th week). King Cole moved 
out and Covers fell off to 2.400. 

Carmen Cavallaro (Giro's, N, Hollywood, fifth weekl. Still building 
and getting almost double turnover each night for 3,000 tabs. 



: 



A %*tcvuU--rt Real Wottey So*t$ 



I DON" CARE WHO KNO 




From the 20th Century-Fox picture t Nob Hill" 
lyric by Harold Adamson • Musit by Jimmy McHugh 



4 Hovelty Sony TViti 4 Jtatut ?(Wt 

NO CAN DO 



lyric by Charlie Tobias • Music by Nat Simon 



LA U 





R A 



ROBBINS MUSIC CORPORATION • New York 19 • JERRY JOHNSON, Qen. Prof. Mgr. 



SEE NEED FOR NEW BANDS 



Immerman (Gale) Letter to Douglas 
Of MPPA May Lead to Libel Suit 

■ ■ . ■ ' t ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ 



The long expected opening gun in4 
the battle between the newly formed 
music rack outfit, Song Distributing 
Corp., operated . by Moe Gale and 
Saul Immerman' with distribution 
by American News Co., and the 
Music Dealers Service, distributed 
by International Circulation Co. 
(Hearst) opened . this week with the 
writing of two letters by Immerman. 

In a letter to Walter Douglas, prez 
of Music Publishers' Protective Ass'n, 
Immerman 'charged MPPA with "fa- 
voring Hearst" (because MDS dis- 
tributes through International Cir- 
culation Co., a Hearst subsidiary) . 
He further charged that, by dealing 
with MDS "legitimate publishers 
were being cut" because of the fac- 
tionalism displayed ' by the pub- 
lishers' organization which repre- 
sents only one segment of the in- 
dustry. 

In a letter to Larry Richmond, 
head of MDS, Immerman charged 
the outfit with going after rack lo- 
cations in an effort to monopolize 
the field, and further charged that 
many songs were not properly dis- 
played in the locations they con- 
trolled. 

Subject of Immerman's letter to 
MPPA will be taken up at a meeting 
of the MPPA board today (Wed.). 
MPPA attorney T. Newman Lawler, 
of. O'Brien, DriscoU & Raftery, 
has advised Douglas that Im- 
merman's letter can be the basis of a 
libel suit. However, no action will 
be taken until the board decides. 

Richmond yesterday (Tues.) an- 
swered Immerman by stating that 
the policy of his firm is to sell as 
much sheet music as possible to as 
many new outlets that can handle 
it, withoul^nx..cojiJlicJ;.arjth,existing 
music dealers. He declared that the 
prbgram has been eminently success- 
ful. Richmond also cited the fact 
that ICC launched an expansion pro- 
gram about year ago, and while the 
program is now in effect, many 
facets of it have been stymied be- 
cause of inavailability of metal for 
racks. He wrote Immerman, "Just 
what your percentage of retuwas will 
be through your distribution oulets, 
I cannot venture to say. I can only 
affirm the fact that ICC has always 
endeavored to keep returns at a 
minimum and that the time-proven 
theory of 'a good song will sell' has 
been maintained." 

Richmond declares he doesn't 

know the purpose of the Immerman 
note but, he says, if there is any 
dissatisfaction among the publishers, 
because of returns, it may be be- 
cause of faulty song selections. Songs 
are selected from a list of best- 
sellers made up by individual pub- 
lishers. An occasional "log" will 
creep in., but the majority of tunes 
displayed in the racks have a low 
percentage of returns. 

T. DORSEY TO REPEAT 
'400' OPENING SEPT. 6 

'■ T,le 400 club, ,N. Y., set to close 
for the summer, June 30, will unveil 
next season, Sept. 6, with Tommy 
Dorsey, who originally opened the 
club earlier this year. 

Dorsey will be followed by Woody 
Herman, who starts Nov. 22 with 
Jimmy JJorsey .following -on- Christ- 
mas day until Feb. 4. 

Dave "Taps" Schorenstein, club's 
booker, is currently 'dickering with 
Benny Goodman, Sammy Kaye and 
Louis Prima for dates after JD's 
stay. 



275G Dancery Bid Nixed 

Hollywood, June 26. 
Wayne. Dai Hard, owner of the 
Pacific Square Ballroom, turned 
down an offer of $275,000 for his 
dancery by the Walter Stutz Enter- 
prises. 

This was the second bid for pos- 
session of the ballroom. First was 
made by Horace Heidt, and turned 
down. 



Pubs Assn. Moves 
Frisco Use 



Further indication of the disturb- 
ance created among songwriters and 
publishers by the adverse decision by 
Judge John W. Clancy in N. Y. Fed- 
eral court in the "Hello, Frisco, 
Hello" case was given last week 
when the Music Publishers Protec- 
tive Assn. sent word to its member- 
ship that all contracts in sales to 
films are to have an additional clause 
stating that only by express permis- 

for a film and that "the "lyrics and 
music can be changed only by the 
copyright owners. 

MPPA is the second organization 
to show concern over the Clancy 
ruling. Last week the Songwriters 
Protective Assn. declared it may step 
into the -case as a friend of the 
court. 

The MPPA memo seeks in some 
measure to negate the damaging ef- 
fects of the Clancy decision because, 
unless decision is l'eversed by higher 
courts, fees ranging anywhere up to 
$18,500 for non-exclusive recording 
privileges will be lost to tunesmiths 
and pubs. - 

The Clancy ruling was made in 
the suit instituted by estate of the 
late Louis A. Hirsch against 20th- 
Fox over -synchronization rights to 
"Frisco," which was used in the film 
of that name. The decision said that 
a song cannot be dramatized and can 
therefore be construed that no 
"grand rights" exist, to popular mu- 
sic. 





Mack Clark Appointed 
Paramount Pro. Mgr. 

Mack Clark has been named pro- 
fessional manager of Paramount 
Music, N. Y„ succeeding Ralph 
fcmitman who resigned last week. 

Smitman hasn't announced his new 
connection. 



BLAINE'S COSMO SALES JOB 

Jerry Blaine, former bandleader, 
Aas been named veepee in charge of 
jales of Cosmopolitan records by 
Ha«y Bank, president. 
.. Blaine will leave shortly for a trip 
W the Coast to line up sales con- 
tact!. 



PHILLY SYMPH IN RED 
TO TUNE OF $25,478 

Philadelphia, June 26. 

The Philadelphia orchestra wound 
up its season with a net deficit of 
$25,478, its president, Oryille H. Bul- 
litt, announced last week— but the 
season was one of the most "artistic- 
ally successful" in the orchestra's 
history, he said. 

.Bullitt made his report to the 
board of directors. The total operat- 
ing deficit was $81,357— when all the 
receipts were counted, including ad- 
missions, broadcasts and recordings. 
. But an income from endowments 
of $52,668 and $3,210 from contribu- 
tions brought the net deficit to the 
$25,478; figure.. Last year-s -deficit- 
was $28,088. 

Attendance reached a new peak of 
447,285 against 370,932 last year. The 
Pension Foundation, fund to be used 
for retirement pensions for orches- 
tra' members, received $55,656, bring- 
ing the foundations total to $118,965. 

Johnny Long Returns 
To Sweet-Swing Style 

Johnny Long, who has led a swing 
band for over two years, is returning 
to his original sweet-swing style. 
The changeover occurs early next 
month. First date With the new style, 
band begins July 9, at the. Vogue 
Terrace, outside of Pittsburgh. He 
follows it with Frank Dailey's 
Meadowbrook, Cedar Grove, N. J., 
Aug. 26. 

The new band returns to Long a 
total of 14 men, plus himself and 
vocalists. This is the same setup 
and the same style that produced his 
recordings of "Shanty Town," "Blue 
Skies" and ' Rose Colored Glasses." 



BY BIG NAMES? 

Band talent agencies, which have 
seemingly accepted the premise that 
for the duration no mew bandleader 
names could be built, are exerting 
increasing interest in that direction 
now that the almost insurmountable 
problems that confronted such activ- 
ity during Hitler's ride to limbo are 
easing. At least two of the major 
agencieSj Music Corp. of America and 
General Amus. Corp., particularly 
the former, are placing sharper em- 
phasis on the idea of pushing new- 
bands. And all are on the lookout 
for potentials. 

Band buyers have long been aware 
Of the public apathy toward names 
that have occupied the top slots for 
+he-past-foivr~years^-They-.have~felt 
it where it hurts most— at the b.o. — 
and their opinions have contributed 
heavily to the new interest by -the 
agencies. Few, if any, of the top-slot 
maestros available all during the 
wartime period have been able with- 
in the last year ^ z so to consistently 
justify their reputations and prices 
at the b.o. According to one-night 
operators/nitery men, theatre opera- 
tors, etc., the public-is simply getting 
tired of the same old faces. 

There aren't many new bands yet 
available which MCA or GAC deem 
worthy of concentrated attention. 
MCA is working on Ray Bauduc, 
whose new band, how on the Coast, 
it has been trying to set into an east- 
ern spot. Same agency also has 
Shorty Sherock booked into Glen 
Island Casino, N. Y., for the summer. 
GAC is concentrating on Randy 
Brooks, now at the Roseland: Ball- 
room, N. Y. 

Name-Singer Craze 

Contributing to the agencies' ( be- 
lated stance on the new faces situa- 
tion is the knowledge of the buying 
habits of youngsters who are now 
name-singer crazy instead of name- 
band conscious. These kids are now 
buying vocal records in much 
greater proportion, it's claimed, than 
band discs. 

Their reasons, according to people 
whose business it is to check on 
buying habits, is that the singers like 
Bing Crosby, Perry, Como, Frank 
Sinatra, Dick Haynles, et al, are at 
the peak of a vocal rage, and the 
kids can't see buying band record- 
ings that include mediocre tonsil 
work in comparison. They will go 
for unusual straight-band instru- 
mental just as solidly as always. 

MCA Must Answer 
Anti-Trust Suit 

Los Angeles, June 26. 

Motions by Music Corp. of Amer- 
ica to dismiss the monopoly suit 
filed against it by Larry Finley, San 
Diego dancery operator, were denied 
by Judge Paul J. McCormick in U.S. 
District Court. • Verdict says in part: 

'■Upon consideration of the three 
motions of defendants before the 
court, the memoranda on file and 
the arguments of respective counsel, 
it appears that none of said motions 
is meritorious. Accordingly, defend- 
ants' motion to dismiss for failure to 
state claim is denied; defendants' 
motion for more definite statement 
of claim is denied, and defendants' 
motion to strike from complaint 
certain matter alleged in said mo- 
tion to strike is. denied.": /. . 



SHAW TO SUMMY 

William D, Shaw joins Clayton F. 
Summy, Chicago publishers, July 1, 
as sales manager to the trade. ' 

He was former sundry sales man- 
ager for G. Schirmcr, Inc., and a 
board member of Music Publishers 
Ass'n. : V .V, 



Al Goodman' at Stadium 

Al Goodman has been named 
gue.st-cOnductor for the Dinah Shore 
concert at the Lewisohn stadium, 
N. Y., Monday (2). ■ 

Aside from his conducting for 
Miss Shore's pieces, program will 
consist . of tunes from Rodgers & 
Hart, Jerome Kern, Irving Berlin 
and David Rose. . . 



Yankee Music Publishers Elaborating 
On Plans to Expand World-Wide With 
Wholly Controlled Offices Abroad 



Art Mooney Corp. 

a Albany, June 26. 

Art Mooney Enterprises, Inc. has 
been chartered to operate a business 
in orchestras fqr restaurants, night 
clubs, etc., with<-offices in New York. 
Captial stock is 200 shares, no par 
value. •"'•'■..•■■'■' . v •„•" 

Directors are: Milton B. Kolb, 250 
West 57th street; Jacob Cohen, 640 
Riverside drive, and attorney ' Joyce 
Bushel, 1501 Broadway, NYC. Each 
owns-one-share-of -stock. r 



Paragon Moves In 
On Market Music 



Los Angeles, June 26. 

Paragon Studios pulled a fast one 
on the wired music field by signing 
68 grocery markets for installations, 
with 15 of them already wired for 
sound. Company announces that a 
total' of 100 food dispensaries in this 
district will be lined up for tele- 
phoned melody and commercial 
plugs by July 1, when the system 
goes into operation. 

Carl Crow, chief or the firm, is 
installing equipment in the markets 
free of charge, with expenses to be 
paid by commercial sponsors whose 
Wares will be given 15-second plugs 
between musical numbers. Debra 
Fisher, femme announcer, will do 
the spieling, consisting of suggestions 
to housewives who prowl the.market 
shelves in quest of provender for the 
home. 

ASCAP tunes will be avoided un- 
til some future date when Paragon 
hopes to arrange a basis of charges 
satisfactory to both sides. Under- 
stood ASCAP will consider this new 
use of music at its next board of di- 
rectors meeting. Meanwhile, Para-, 
gon will use tunes, in public domain 
and is currently dickering for a li- 
cense to utilize BMI music. Com-, 
pany .will use nothing but transcrip- 
tions for its music, with- breaks be- 
tween songs for commercial inserts. 
Transcriptions are from the library 
of "fitee' 5 tunes made by C. P. Mac- 
Gregor. 

Under the company's new method 
of salesmanship, the prospective ad- 
vertisers will be given free samples 
of plugging for one month, after 
which contracts will be made on 
Aug. 1. By. that timerCrow predicts, 
Paragon will have 200 markets in 
operation. 



•f American music publishers are 
'elaborating on their recent idlas 
toward opening up branches abroad. 
The focal part of their program is 
to set up wholly controlled offices in 
England', Australia and Canada. This 
would closely follow the acumen of 
Max and Louis Dreyfus with their 
Chappell firms in America, Canada, 
England, France, and Down Under. 

Today the Yank firms license to 
some British publisher on approxi- 
mately a 10% basis, of which 50% 
goes to the writers, and for which 
the English publisher allegedly con- 
tributes little. That is, according to 
U. S. allegations, the London or 
Sydney agency sits back to copy the 
original piano parts and even the 
stock orchestrations, after the Amer- 
ican has invested heavily to exploit 
the songs into hitdom, and for this 
back-breaking investment the Brit- 
ish publisher merely pays a per- 
centage, with little headache or 
heartache in having forced the songs 
to popularity. '. '. • .i " 

Metro-Robbins will pioneer this 
international expansion ' for several 
reasons, including the potential press- 
ing of the new Metro Records on for- 
eign soil. Robbins Music of Cuba, 
S. A., is already set up. Frariee- 
Melodie, S. A., heretofore a Metro- 
Robbins subsid in Paris, will now 
become Robbins - France - Melodie, 
S. A., as the Continental headquar- 
ters. And when Robbins-Feist-Mil- 
ler's deals with Francis Day ,& 
Hunter expire for England, Jack 
Robbins has his own subsid ideas. 



ANNA SOSENKO WILL 
ALSO MANAGE S0SNIK 

Anna Sosenko, personal manager 
for Hildegarde, is taking one other 
artist under her wing besides the 
chantoosey. That's Harry Sosnik, 
maestro-arranger for Hildegarde's 
Raleigh Room shows. Miss Sosenko 
has some fancy plans for the .band- 
leader. 

Incidentally, Hildegarde and her 
manager leave in mid-July for 4-6 
weeks in Paris and other spots un- 
der USO (Special Services) aus- 
pices. • , '-•''•".'.'.•'. 



Jess Stacy's New Band 
Opening at Va. Beach 

Jess Stacy, who's making his third 
try at forming his own band, has 
been booked, starting July 6, at the 
Seaside Park hotel, Virginia Beach. 
He'll have Lee Wiley (Mrs. Stacy) 
as vocalist. ' • • 

Stacy's previous attempts to form 
•an— outfit.- -ended., JUo^bxilb..- instances, 
with him going to work for other 
bandleaders as a pianist. Pianist re- 
cently bowed out of Tommy Dor- 
sey's band after an earlier stretch 
with, Horace Heidt. 



ROSIE OGRADY' TOSSED 
UP IN AIR BY JUDGE 

In dismissing Maude Nugent 
Jerome's plea for a summary judg- 
ment in the' case of the right of 20th 
Century-Fox to use the title and 
song "Sweet Rosie O'Grady" in its 
film of that name, Federal Judge 
Murray Hulbert threw the case 
completely up in the air so that it 
will be difficult to decide just who 
will have the right to sue, . • 

Fox sought to bar suit by Mrs. 
Jerorne, widow of the composer, on 
the ground that Columbia Films 
owned the pic ri ghts. Fox contended 
that the composer and her publisher, 
Mills, had Sold the rights to Herman 
Starr in 1925. Starr later that year 
sold the rights to Columbia. Com- 
poser's estate contended that only a 
license to make one film a year was 
•granted in-her-assignment- to Starr,.- 
but the court found that her conten- 
tion was negated by the fact that 
the contract read otherwise. 

The court ruled "Since Columbia 
was given the right only to protect 
the copyright on its own motion 
picture against infringement, Colum- 
bia might not be the proper party 
to sue and the plaintiff could in that 
event sue for infringement under the 
rights reserved in her contract with 
Starr." ' ' 

The court further ruled that "it 
does not appear that Columbia ever 
assigned or. licensed Fox to produce 
the film 'Sweet Rosie O'Grady,' 
whether it infringes upon Columbia's 
copyright or whether Columbia has 
ever sued the defendant for or 
claimed infringement. It appears 
therefore a question of fact , exists 
whether the plaintiff is the proper 
party to sue for alleged infringe- 
ment, because it has not also been 
shown whether defendant's picture 
is made with the consent or infringes 
upon the Columbia copyright or may 
be within the domain of the plain- 
tiff's copyright." 

Further opening of the suit now 
revolves upon the question of 
whether Mrs. Jerome or Columbia 
is. the rightful plaintiff. 

Attorneys explain that a summary 
judgment. is. regarded as a. shortcut 
in legal proceedings and is used 
only in cases where the facts are 
clear and only .points of law are 
involved. Judge Hulbert found no 
such case and dismissed the plea. 



41 



ORCHESTRAS-MUSIC 



P^RIETY 



Wednesday, June 27, 194.5 



10 Best Sellers on Coin-Machines 

(Record? below are prabbino most nickels this week in Juke bares 
tlitouflhWit the country as TepoTtert by operators to "Variety. Names 01 
more than one band or vocalist after the title indicates, in order of popu- 
larity. whose recordings are being played. Figures and names in paren- 
thesis indicate the number o! twwfcs each song has been in the listings 
and respective publishers.) . 

■ I Jesters .. I...^ ...... • .Decca 

1 Bell Bottom Trousers (6 ) (Sairtly >..... . ! Tony Pastor ;;Y ict ° v 

.- . I Louis Prima .. ... . . . .Majestic 

■ J.": t.Les Brown . ..... .Columbia 

2. Sentimental Journey (Hi- (Morns), , •. Hal Mclntyrfr-. ... .. .Victor 

"' ( Freddie Martin .Victor 

3. Dream (11 j (Capitol) ..■ . , pi e d Pipers. .. ...... .Capitol 

( Freddv Martin... ; .Victor 

4. Laura (8> (Robbins"> j Dit .]. Haymes... .Decca 

-^Tl>ere--ISnid-It-Again-(a»_(-Valianti. .... Vaughn. Monroe. .... .Vietot 

• : . . i Bin? Crosbv Decca 

6. You Belong to My Heart (4) (Harris),., j Mil ] s Bros .....Decca 

. .. . . Mills Bros. . . . . . . .Decca 

...... Dick Haymes Decca 

( Tommy Dorscv ..... . .Victor 

9. I Should Care (3) (Dorsey) ... ... . , ... . . j Martha TOfon .Capitol 

( Les Brown... Columbia- 

10. My Dreams Getting Better (18) (Santly> J Martha Tilton. . ..f. . .Capitol 



7. I Wish (2) (Sun) 

8: I Wish I Knew (4) (Triangle* 



BMI Pm tip SHEET 



Hit Tunes for July 



ANY OLD TIME 

Turin 

BAIA 

■bit 

CALDONIA 

Weedy HMBMM1— 
lauli Jerdori — De 

I MISS YOUR KISS 



(StnMO, 

Temrny Oeney— Vk. JO-iMI • (Iwrlle lorn.t— Dti. IMS 

■big Cresby-Xoyier Cufal— Oec. 1M1 1 • tammy tucker— Cel. »•>"♦• 
ChcU, welc.lt— Dec. M3M 

(PrtviewMoim) '',-'■ 

Weeny Herman— Cel. 347M • fciklne Hawkins— Vic. I0.1»5» 
twit Jardan— Dec. ' • ':. Iran rrima— *»ni. 7114, 



(Republic) 

Jammy Koy«— Vic. J0-H4J • loddy Franklin— Mus. 1 1034 



(My P«t Iruiwtte) 

(Marks) 



LONELY LOVE 

Introduced by Frank Sinatra ' . 

NEGRA CONSENTIDA 

Andy Rusitll— Cop. 16t • Jimmy D.rny— D*c. 11474 
Jose Itthancourt — Mui. 311 

REMEMBER WHEN 

((ampbellPotjie) 

Wayne Kino— Vic. J0-147J 

SOMEDAY SOMEWHERE £ 

Joan Creeks — Mui. 11030 • Tommy Tucker— t.l. 3*m 

STARS IN YOOR EYES 

(Melody lane) 

Frank Sinatra— Col. * Soy lombordo — Die. • tarry invent — Vic. 
(wan to be released) 

THERE I'VE SAID IT AGAIN 

V Vaughn Monroe— Vic. 10-1437 • jimmy Oeriey— Dec. 11470 
Medernolres— Cel. 34800 • Dick Irown— Suild 109 

THERE MUST BE AWAY .. 

Charlie Jnlvok— Vk. 20-1443 • Johnny Johntton— Can. 1*4 

YOU BELONG TO MY HEART 

•In) Croiby-Xavler Cufnl— Dec. 13413 • Charlie Jalvok— Vic. 10-1441 
Francei lanalerd — 4*4 1 13 ,'.'•' Petit Ifltt— Mill. 1101 f 
'•','."' medernnlres— Col. 34100 . • Charlei Welcoll— Dec. 13343 
l*k Strong— Hit 70»l 

The BMI PIN UP SHEET it a special service to Sroadcosters 
. issued monthly. It serves as a convenient and timely 
reference ta current Hit Tunes licensed by BMI . , 

KNOW YOUK (Ml MUSIC 
AND KNOW NOW 
■Ml CAN StHVl YOU 



ERNO RAPEE DIES AT 55 
OF A HEART ATTACK 

Ei no Rapee. 55, chief conductor of 
the Radio City Music Hall orchestra 
for the last 12 years, guest conductor 
of numerous symphony orchestras 
and associated with music in picture 
theatres in many capacities for years, 
died Tuesday (26) morning following 
a heart attack at his New York home 
at 25 Central Park West. He ap- 
peared in good health the night be- 
fore, having played cards with Leon 
Leonidoft. also of the Music Hall 
staff. However; he awakened with a 
heart attack and died a short time 
later. 

Devoting much of his career to 
bringing music to the large motion 
picture theatre audiences, along with 
the late Dr: ilug'o Riesenf eld, he was 
a pioneer in presentation of music 
in film houses and in synchroniza- 
tion of music to screen productions. 
He also was known to radio audi- 
ences, having conducted the Music 
Hall Sunday broadcasts from 1932 
until the end of 1042, He also was 
music director of National Broad- 
casting Co. in 1931; 

However. Rapee probably was best 
identified and known for his work 
associated with pictures and in film 
theatres. He directed the pit or- 
chestras more than 23 years ago at 
the Capitol. Rivoli. the old Rialto 
and Roxy theatres. At the Boxy be 
became conductor of the theatre or- 
chestra and director of music for the 
Widely known Roxy air show. His 
close association with S. L. Rothafel 
("Roxy") at this theatre continued, 
and when Roxy went to the Music 
Hall on its opening he went along. 

Born in Hungary, he became a 
concert pianist -at 19. His musical 
talent brought him the appointment 
of assistant conductor of the Dres- 
den (Germany) Opera House or- 
chestra. While young, he traveled 
to South America and Mexico on a 
concert tour, and later came under 
the auspices of the William Morris 
and Henry W. Savage Productions. 
Rapee became conductor of the 
Rialto theatre orchestra in 1917, 
moving later to the Rivoli and in 
1920 to >the Capitol, increasing the 
size and renown of his organiza- 
tion with each move. 

He was with the Fox theatres in 
Philadelphia for a time, then was 
guest conductor of symphony or- 
chestras of Berlin, Vienna and Buda- 
pest on his return to Europe. While 
there, he was made director of music 
for Ufa Film Co.. his task being to 
present music in the American style 
to German film audiences. 

Returning to the U. S.. Rapee 
scored and wrote more than 100 
pieces for music accompaniments to 
silent films, ft was after this chore 
that -he returned' to N. Y., in 1927, 
to go first with the Roxy. He went 
to Hollywood in 1929 to compose 
music for several of the earliest, 
sound pictures, writing numerous 
popular theme songs, such as "Char- 
maine," "Diane," "Angela Mia" and 
"Jeannine I Dream of Lilac Time." 
He was appointed general musical 
director for Warner Bros, and First 
National Pictures in 1930. Rapee 
went back to the Roxy in 1931, and 
moved over to the Hall in December, 
1932, when the -huge showplace first 

opened ' 

. Besides - '" his Music Hall Broad 
casts, he also was known for having 
conducted the Roxy theatre orches 
tra broadcasts. He had conducted 
and arranged the musical programs 
for such network shows as Ccneral 
Motors and General Electric. 

Survived by his widow, Mariska, 
and two sons. 



NBC, CBS, Blue, Mutual Plugs 

TITLE PUBLISHER 

A Friend of Yours— f "Great John L". .Burke 

All at Once ................ . .Chappell 

All Of My. Life ........... '. :.. Berlin 

Can't You Read Between the Lines'.'. . . . ....... ....,' Shapiro 

Counting the Days • • Santly 

Dream-. .. •• ••• • ••'•■•. • • • • Capitol 

Ev'ryUme ........ ..w .ABC 

Good. Good Good .... ..V ....Berlin , 

I Don't Care Who Knows It...... ; Bobbins 

If 1 Loved You— "'"Carousel" ...... ..:».;......... .. ..... ,.T. B. Harms 

I'll Always Be With You v.................. Broadway 

I'm Beginning to See the Light Grand 

I'm Gonna Love That Guy. . t . .........'.-. .Bourne 

I Should Care— t'.'Thf ill of a Romance" ................... .Dorsey 

I Wish I Knew- f'Diamond Horseshoe" ...... BVC 

Laura— t"Laura" . . '. .'. .'. .' Robbins 

Lonely' Love . . .v.'. • • • • , • .» • • ■ • • ......... , 4BM1 

Remember When .... tC-P 

Rosemary Famous f 

Sentimental Journey ...... .Morris 

The More I See You— f'Diamond Horseshoe" BVC 

There I've Said It Again .................. . .JiValiant 

There Must Be a Way '.{Stevens 

There's No You .............. ,-. Barton 

While You're Away ., ..',... " . . . . . . ... . .', . ..... ... ..' Rernick 

You Came Along— t "You Came Along". . . . . . .■.,.'' Paramount 



t Filmusical. " Legit Musical. 



t B.M.I. Affiliate. 
♦ — 



'Big Three Again | 
Resigning MPPA? 

Jack Bobbins has instructed his J 
general manager. Abe Olman. to re- J 
sign from the Music Publishers Pro- I 
tective Assn. This would affect the I 
Big Three (Robbins, Feist and Miller j 
Music Corps.'. 

It will mark the three Metro 
firms' withdrawal from the MPPA 
for a second time, and follows an- 
other major fllm-song publishing 
group, the Warner Bros, interests 
(Herman Starr), which resigned 
from the MPPA some months ago. 

Bobbins has expressed himself 
confused by the division of interests 
within the MPPA, referring to Wal- 
ter Douglas and Harry Fox: and fur- 
thermore feels that the W'c fees to 
MPPA for its musical trusteeship jh 
handling collections, etc.. is needless 
since Metro-Robbins consummate 
these matters individually. 



Music Notes 

Fred Finklehoffe and Ted Grduya 
defied "I Could Have Sworn it Was 
You," for publication by Bourne. 



Peer International will publish 
two Ray Wade tunes. "You Can't 
Give Me Back My Heart" and 
Don't Care Any More." ■: 



Hal Hopper's ditty. "There's No 
You." was waxed for Decca by 
Charlie Barnet. 



Songwriter Maceo Pinkard's all 

Negro operetta, '"New-World Phan- 
tasy." readied for opening in N. Y. 
area, followed by a servicemen's 
cross-country tour,. 



Jan Savitt's string quartet ar 
rangements of Stravinsky's "Fire 
bird Suite'! and Handel's "Water 
Music" will be published by Rob 
bins. 



Tarn Mi I then and George Ande 
sold their tunc '111 "Carry On," to 
Peer. 




Madriguera's Agent Puts 
Rap In With Union On 
N. Y. Copa Commissions 

Abner J. Greshler. indie agent, 
has filed charges with Local 802. 
American Federation of Musicians, 
against Enric Madriguera, bandlead- 
er, charging default on commissions 
on the latter's current N. Y. Copa- 
cabana date. 

Greshler got Madriguera his first 
date at the Copa'eai'ly this year, and 
he now claims that the first engage- 
ment was not only instrumental in 
bringing about his return there, but 
that he consistently submitted him 
again for his return. Greshler claims 
his last conversation with Monte 
Proser. spot's operator, was as recent 
as two weeks prior to Madriguera's 
opening. 

Current deal was consummated 
through Bill Kent. Madriguera's per- 
sonal manager, and Music Corp. of 
America. 

Madriguera reveals that he has no 
contract with Greshler. and that if 
the agent had submitted his name to 
Proser he had no knowledge of it. 
Besides, the maestro reveals the 
dickering to bring him back to the 
Copa had been going on for some 
time between Kent and the Copa. 




BOURNE 




BOURNE, Im 

"'99 Stvcntn Ave. pttw York 1? N \ 



PUBLIC NOTICE 

Oeat.inatxrlal Is alwayrt welcome, and 
that'll whs < kazv TJIIN'CIS Ih beta*; 
mm! by no many nande, ymiallstn and 
caiuedlam. It w» great the 
Balflali koen hroadeautt, ... it watt 
tnrrlflr on this Texaea Nltotv ... an 
lead an ear t» f'RA/.Y an 
Jaly ith . . . NBC . . .the Kraft 
Shaw . • . Hn.1IKGA.1tnK! ! ! 



I'll Stt 
YOU IN NW 



Mu»< by 



THE BLOND SAILOR 

WELCOME HOME 
• 

I CAN'T BELIEVE 
THAT YOU'RE IN 
LOVE WITH ME 



MILLS MUSIC. INC. 

HI 9 Broadway New York 



-Si" 4S* 



Ifts 



JULES MEGOFF 

(M-O-.M ricliires) 
And Mutlc Research Depts 
of ALL Motto* ricture 
Studiot 

Vso Oils Sx5 VISL'AT. rcroid 
of aong" lilts of over 3 il'ti piii»- 
lisbcra, plus old favorilfjy. J"- 
cludey lead slieetri und lyt-ii-c 
of chorus. SAMTLKH FISKK' 
16] » 
Broadway 
New Xork 19 



JUNE-DEX 



'FIGHTING SONS 
OF THE NAVY BLUE' 

■ .'.'■ . . by - .' .'■ ■ • /.' 
BILL WATTERS 
err, u.sVn.h. ' 

I'eatund on the Nation's Batlln Shows 
Material Available 



VANGUARD 

1509 N. Viae Si. 



SONGS 
Hollywood 



"Wcducsilay, June 27, 1945 



P^RIETY 



45 



w 

|>|><|><g>. 



<><;>< 




... pp#####< 

MM, 
MMMMNN 

.f^^^MS^<^^®<^ 




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"Sin 



46 



VAUDEVILLE 



Wednesday, June 27, I9.J5 



Chi Crime Commissioner Asks Stricter 
Niteries Control as Delinquency Curb 



Chicago, June 2G. 

■Recommendation for stricter li 
cense control of niteries here, to 
keep them from becoming ' - breed- 
insplaces for delinquency and crime," 
plus a charge that the criminal 
courts of Cook County showed losses 
in 1944 of many gains obtained in 
previous years, were made by Virgil 
Peterson. Chi crime commissioner, 
last week. 

Summarizing his commission's 
work for '44, Peterson said that 
many operators of spots here last 
year were found to be gunmen and 
hoodlums, although liquor licenses 
were issued In the names of 'other 
people, and recommended that the 
entire license setup here be re-ex- 
amined and chai.ges made that will 




TOMMY LYMAN 

Appearing Nightly H t 

JIMMY RYAN'S EASTSIDE 

AIK-rOOLKIt 
55 East Mtti St.. Sew York 
Introducing 
"I'd Do It All Ovar Aqoia" 

By Dick Robert sou 
(Shapiro- Berogtelit) 

"I Wai He?e Whtti Yoh Loft Me" 

By Sammy Steut 
(Irving Berlin, luv.) 

"Who Said Dreams Don't Cam* 
Traa?" 

By Benny Iluvis 
(( 'hnpnell Single) 



Green, 



Hom«" 



Green Hill, of 

By Kirk Kenny 
(Lincoln Music O.) 
Snertal Material by Mll/C FRANCIS 



PERFORMERS NOW IN 
ARMED FORCES 

If yon are in Special Serrlres or nol — 
for Immediate use or post-vrar return 
tu'&noiv business. 

Her* Is a Service You'll Always 
Want 

FUN-MASTER GAG FILES 

Contain Modern Comedy Material for 
AH Type Performer* 
Earn Script Contains Over 100 
Surc-Fira Gags— X 1.05 Kadi 

Nos. I Thru 10 New Ready 

Make Cheeks Fayable to 
. PAl'I,A SMI 1 11 
„„„ ... Mail to "Fun-Master" 
200 W. 6411, St., Ne„ York City 19. N.». 



"properly protect the welfare of the 
citizenry and, in fact, preclude hood- 
lums and persons . of had reputations 
from operating or managing such 
spots." 

Criminal court records last year, 
Peterson said, showed sharp drops 
in convictions and jury trials, along 
with increases in defendants dis- 
missed without prosecution, habitual 
criminal and felony count waivers, 
findings of not guilty, and jury mis- 
trials. 

"The record is" further aggra- 
vated," Peterson continued, "by po- 
lice statistics which disclose increases 
in all major crimes with the excep- 
tion of manslaughter. In the face of 
the statistics, there is no denying the 
fact that in 1944 criminal court per- 
formance deteriorated to almost the 
level of 1933, when it commenced a. 
10-year improvement climb which 
was not seriously interrupted until 
1943." -'• • ■ 



COMO PIC FORCES UNIT 
WITH GLEASON TO EXIT 

Unit headed^ by Perry Comb and 
Jackie Gleason had to be abandoned 
last week by General Amus. Corp. 
because ot^ a sudden call upon 
Como's services by 20th-Fox, to 
which he is under contract. Como 
reports July 31 for the film assign- 
ment. Package had already been 
booked by: the . Adams, Newark, and 
the RKO, Boston, with other dates 
pending. 

Layout was also to have included 
Eugenie Band. 



Philly Nitery Op Snagged 
For Hiking WPB Permit 

Philadelphia, June 26: 
Frank Pascuzzo, nitery operator, 
was haled into court , last week by 
the War Production Board, and for- 
bidden to complete, work on his new 
nitery on the grounds that he had 
violated WPB restrictions on build- 
ing. 

Pascuzzo was charged with putting 
about $12,000 worth of renovations 
into the spot in face of WPB okay 
for only $2,000. Pascuzzo told Fed- 
eral Judge Harry E. Kalodner he had 
already spent $10,000 and all that 
was needed was about $1,500 in til- 
ing and plastering, but court or- 
dered an injunction to prevent him 
from proceeding further. 

Pascuzzo offered to serve a 30-day 
prison sentence if he would be al- 
lowed to finish the work. Under 
present conditions he can't open at 
all, - 



Comise, Chi Nitery Op, 
Draws 6 Mos., 1G Fine 
For Assaulting Son's Pal 

Chicago, June 26. 

John Comise, former head of Chi 
Cafe Owners Assn. and operator of 
the Club DeLisa, was found guilty 
of assault with a deadly weapon by 
a jury in Criminal Court Wednesday 
(20) and sentenced to six months in 
jail, plus a $1,000 fine. Comise was 
freed immediately • under $9,000 
bond, and George M. Crane, his at- 
torney, entered a motion for a new 
trial, with Friday (29) set as the 
hearing date by Judge Cornelius J. 
Harrington. 

Comise had been indicted on. three 
counts for attacking 17-year-old 
William Fortier, a neighbor whom 
he accused of leading his son, John, 
Jr.. astray. Fortier charged Comise 
beat him with a blackjack and 
threatened him with a revolver last 
April 6. when he refused to tell him 
where his son, who had left home, 
was staying. 

After the beating, which laid For- 
tier up in County hospital for a 
week, Comise had the youth arrested 
for disorderly conduct. Comise de- 
nied on the witness stand that he 
struck the lad, but admitted tussling 
with him, also claiming Fortier 
slugged him. 

The long-drawn-out case didn't 
wind up with Comise's conviction, 
however. He appeared in court 
again Thursday (21) to press a dis- 
orderly conduct charge against his 
own son — also Fortier— which the 
elder Comise brought against the 
boys because they threw a brick 
through a window of his home and 
struck his 76-year-old father on the 
head. Lads got off easy, however, 
with six months' probation and a 
provision that they'll be fined $100 
and costs if they violate it, plus a 
warning to keep away from each 
other and be home nights by 10 

p.m. „.•'•=' 

To top it off, Raymond Janos, who 
was summoned as a witness in the 
trial of Comise, Sr., was also out on 
$5,000 bond, after pleading not guilty 
in Felony Court on a charge of 
perjury. State's Attorney Richard 
B. Austin said Janos gave different 
testimony at the trial than that given 
before the April grand jury.. He 
told the latter he saw a gun and 
blackjack in Comise's hands during 
the attack on Fortier. Austin said, 
but changed his story later. 



Barnum Was Right! 

There's nothing like adver- 
tising. 

Johnny Greenhiit of the cafe 
department of Music Corp. of 
America, is wearing a hand- 
painted necktie with his initials 
and 10% splattered all over the 
cravat. It's a gift from .one of his 
acts. 



2- Week Loew's State Bill 

Loew's State, N. Y;. will have one 
of its infrequent two-week bills 
starting Aug. 2. Already booked for 
the run are singer Ruth Terry and 
Johnnie "Scat" .Davis orch. 
• Reason for the two-week stay is 
subsequent-run of "Valley of Deci- 
sion" (M-G). 

House has also set tenor Frank 
Parker for week of July 19. 



P. 



TUwims 
LOEW 

BOOKING 
AGENCY 

GfwiMi txtcurivt orncis 
IOEW BUILDING ANNEX 

; M0 W. 44* Si., N. V, C. • M x o„i e.7»oo 



Fed. Court Kayos OP A 
Suit Vs. Latin Quarter, Det 

Detroit, June 26 
Some brightening in the troubles 
which have beset Lou Walters' Latin 
Quarter since its opening here came 
last week. Federal Judge Ernest A. 
O'Brien ruled out triple damages 
sought by the OP A for alleged liquor 
price violations. 

The court's point was that the 
swank .nitery had not willfully over- 
charged. The decision was based on 
the fact that Lloyd Rock, OPA spe- 
cialist, had advised Walters and Ar- 
thur Rosen, operators of the nitery, 
that they could charge prices equal 
to those in their New York, Boston 
and Miami establishments. 

Judge O'Brien also ordered all 
parties to the federal suit to file 
briefs, since he said he was unde- 
cided on how the OPA had computed 
overcharges at $36,778. 



MILLER WINS RIGHT TO 
OPERATE LUNA PARK 

Bill Miller, talent agent and nitery 
operator, won the first round on 
Friday (22) of a duplicate suit 
against the. Prudence Bond Corp. of 
N. Y., to regain possession of Luna 
Park, Coney Island, N. Y„ which he 
had operated for several seasons 
Victory came via Judge John P. 
Morrissey's decision in Brooklyn 
municipal court. Judge ordered the 
defendant corporation to return the 
amusement park to Miller and Luna 
Park Amus. Corp., of which Miller is 
prez by July 1. 

Miller's action was a two-ply mo 
(ion to establish his status on own 
eiship and to dispossess current op 
erators, Phil Pate and Abe Seskin 
to whom Prudence leased park for 
current season. Repercussions are 
expected from this direction unless 
Miller gets together with the boys, 
on which there's an even chance. 
Pate had been associated with park 
during. Miller regime and Seskin had 
had the concession in past seasons. 

Miller had arranged to purchase 
park last season from Prudence for 
$225,000. Terms were that Miller and 
those associated with him in deal 
were to lay $100,000 on the line and 
that PrucUsnce would carry addition' 
al $125,000 on a 10-year mortgage. 
Miller's corp. plunked down $40,000 
to bind deal, but when fire razed 
most of the park later in season, Mil- 
ler's backers refused to come through 
with the additional $60,000 after 
Prudence is alleged to have collected 
$150,000 insurance money and re 
fused to rebuild the burned-out area 
but still demanding the original pur- 
chase price. Backers' stance was 
that at original figure they had 
bought buildings and other proper- 
ties that went up in smoke and were 
entitled to the- insurance,, or that 
Prudence should have replaced the 
razed buildings. When Prudence re- 
fused they bowed out on the deal. 

Miller, meanwhile, had gone to 
Florida to operate a nitery during 
the winter and Prudence contended 
he had forfeited rights through aban 
donment. Judge Morrissey ordered 
return of park to Miller without not- 
ing opinion on other elements of 
suit. 



Saranac Lake 

By Happy Benway 

Saranac, N. Y., June 26. 
Oldtimers who beat the rap here 
and returned to work. in local enter- 
prises are: Marty Fisher, Evan 
Evans. Pauline Russell, Helen 
O'Reilly, Edwin Wilkins, Benny 
Resslei- and Carl Greaves, 

William Cairns furlougrred to New 
Rochelle to visit father, who is re- 
covering from recent operation. 

Vera MacDonald, who with her 
mother managed the Actors Haven 
hotel in Hamilton, Ontario, bedded 
again after serious setback. 

Jack Phillips, comedian, who 
"cured" here, back for summer 
vacash and annual checkup. 

Boyea and LaFountain have taken 
over Durgan nitery and will feature 
orch and vaude acts in floor show. 

Help shortage is so acute here that 
the Will Rogers and Raybrook sans 
may conscript advanced patients as 
waiters and house men. 

Frankie Cullen, musician, shot in 
from Arlington, Mass., for routine of 
rest. . 

Albert Bagdasarian, radio an- 
nouncer, suffered another setback 
and ordered to bed. 

Write to those who are 111. 



Palace, Cleve., Resumes 
Vaude After Pic Policy 

After a seven-week hiatus, the 
RKO Palace. Cleveland, is restoring 
vaude Friday (29), with Guy Lom- 
bardo's Orch topping bill. 

House had several good weeks in 
last couple of months with straight 
film policy but not commensurable 
to the vaude takes. For week of 
July 6. Harry Schreibeiy new local 
zone manager, has set Rochester and 
Nan Wynne; July 13, Andy Russell, 
Pied Pipers and Raymond Scott 
orch; July 20, Sammy Kaye crew 
for a return date in its home-town 
and Skinnay Ennis orch for July 27 
Dick Haynes and Helen Forrest ten- 
tatively dated for week of Aug 31 



Ruloff 3 Fined $500, 
Barry Parks $250 By 

AGYA for 'Unfair' Date 

Ruloff Trio and Barry Parks, two 
of the acts suspended for continuing 
engagement at Lookout House, Cov- 
ington, Ky„ after spot had been de- 
clared unfair by American Guild of 
Variety Artists, were given hearing 
at the Pittsburgh local of AGVA last 
week and found guilty. Trio was 
fined $500 and Parks $250. All paid 
and money was forwarded to na- 
tional headquarters of AGVA and 
turned over to the relief fund. 

The Juvelys, aero act, also sus- 
pended with above-mentioned for 
same cause, will be tried before 
Chicago local this week, while the 
Gloria Lee Dancers' case will • be 
tried by Cleveland local of AGVA 
they having been booked out of that 
city. 



The 

Drunkenest 
Drunk You 
Evar Saw. 
Tha 

Laughingest 
Laughter 
You Evar 
Hoard. 

Put 

Together 
Ifa 




STEVE 
EVANS 



CURRENTLY 
EARLE.' WASHINGTON. 0. 

MC.T.— MATTS ROSEN 



c. 




DURING THE 
ENTIRE 
SEVENTH WAR 
LOAN DRIVE 

ARTHUR 

*ltOI( Y\ 

Master of Ceremony of the J anions 

U. S. TREASURY 
VICTORY VAN 
of World War II 

l aft. Currently Touring the Five 
Horouchs uf Greater New Vork 

Also Rroailcaattna^lfo Comic Imner- 
•onatlniiN on tlie Radio tor 

GIBBONS ALE 
Dir.: Nat l Concert Artists Bureau 



ALWAYS WORKING 

"WHITEY" ROBERTS 

Last Week. Oriental Theatre, Chicago 
Now Tower Theatre, Kansas I'Uy' 

"•".cSSR ft 1 * ,SH| ,or * 

3fl.>' ( lull. Sun l'raorlet'o 

Hired Inn: Wm. Morrl* 



Currently at the 
EARLE. PHILADELPHIA 

THE MACK TRIPLETS 

Btcln, Material TenonM Mil. 

HARRY COHEN PHIL FARRELL 

1697 Brmiiwty ttjo Irtadway 



Currently LOEW'S STATE 
NEW YORK 



(WEEK JUNE 21) 



Fred and Sally 

HARTNELL 

NEWEST DANCE SENSATION 

Sacond ■roadway Theatre Appaaronen Within a Month 
CLOSED AT THE STRAND IN NEW YORK IN MAY 

WEEK JULY 5TH, RKO, BOSTON 

Direction: WILLIAM MORRIS AGENCY 



Wednesday, June 27, 1945 



PRriety 



VAUDEVILLE 



47 



See Lookout House Settlement On 
Herman Hyde Claim; Ingalls Payoff 



Controversy- between American* 
Guild of Variety Artists and Jimmy 
Brink, operator of the Lookout 
House, Covington, Ky., nitery, over 
$1,200 salary claim due Herman 
Hyde on a curfew conception, re- 
mains status quo as far as the talent 
union is concerned. The nitery is 
"out of bounds" for both AGVA 
member talent and AGVA-fran- 
chised agents. 

Brink, who wants to book in a, 
new summer show, tendered an 
olive branchJast week when his at- 
torney met with Mort Rosenthal, 
general counsel for AGVA. After 
conference, Matt Shelvey, AGVA's 
national administrator, . ruled that 
the claim would have to be paid, and 
Brink also would have to sign basic 
minimum agreement and post cash 
bond before the unfair listing would 
be lifted.. 

Earlier in the week Miles Ingalls, 
agent who booked Hyde into spot, 
claimed that he had cancelled the 
date with Hyde's consent. When 
Hyde was appraised of this,, accord- 
ing to Shelvey, he denied it and re- 
iterated his claim against Brink. 

AGVA is adamant that the claim 
must be paid and was apprised this 
week' that Ingalls would pay it off 
so that Brink may again be in the 
clear for his new show, tentatively 
skedded to open July 2. 



COAST AGVA ELECTS 
NEW ADVISORY BOARD 

Hollywood, June 26. 

West.coast local of American Guild 
of Variety Artists elected new ad 
visory board last Friday (20), re 
placing former board that was dis 
banded by AGVA's national office 
some months ago subsequent to the 
resignation of Florine Bale as Coast 
regional director of the vaude union 

Board comprises Jim Hope, Fred 
Scott, Jack Mulhall, Maxine Gates, 
Pat O'Shea and Jehn Augler. 



Joe E. Lewis' 2d Date 
At Chez Paree in 6 Mos. 

Joe E. Lewis has been set for the 
Chez Paree, Chicago, for four weeks 
starting July 13, He follows Sophie 
Tucker, his- second date there with- 
in six months. 

Lewis expects to vacation a few 
weeks after the Chez date before 
opening at the Copacabana, N. Y„ in 
early September. 



Ex-Maestro Billy Arnold 
Hears of Brother Henry, 
Long Prisoner of Nazis 

Billy Arnold, known as the "Paul 
Whiteman of France" in the 1920s, 
just heard from his brother, Henry, 
45. Latter was interned in a Nazi 
concentration camp. He was caught 
in the Lowlands putsch. Henry 
Arnold was manager of a nitery in 
Brussels and Ciro's, in Blankenberg, 
Belgium. Being .an American he 
was interned. 

. Billy Arnold meantime is a suc- 
cessful nitery operator in Paterson, 
running the Rendezvous, and latterly 
has opened an adjunct Rendezvous 
across the George Washington bridge 
in New Jersey, primed for the motor 
traffic, and incidentally with~an eye 
to brother Henry running it when 
he comes back from Europe. 

As a maestro, Billy Arnold was a 
longtime fave in Paris, Cannes, 
Deauville, etc. 



Gayety, Mont'l, Folding 

•The Gayety, Montreal, playing 
burlesque, will close for season after 
this week. 

House had a stormy season which 
included a provincial government 
order closing the theatre for'allow- 
ing Sunday shows and censure in the 
legislature by various members for 
projecting strip acts. 

Ban on Sunday shows was lifted 
after a few weeks. 



Tommy Dix Returning 
To Metro by Mid-July 

Tommy Dix, youthful baritone on 
leave from Metro, for vaude and 
nitery dates,' is due back at-the studio 
in mid-July. He's spotted for role 
in Joseph Pasternak's Technicolor 
musical, "Holiday In Mexico.'} 

Dix will round out a two-week 
stint at Beverly Hills Country Club, 
Newport, Ky., opening tomorrow 
(.28), before training to the Coast. 



Chi Cafe Owners Rebel 
Vs. Tie-in Liquor Sales; 
Won't Take It Any More 

... Chicago, June 26. 

Chi Cafe Owners 'Assn. served no- 
tice last week on liquor distributors 
here that henceforth none of its 
members will buy products from 
companies which force customers to 
take unwanted merchandise in tie-in 
sales. Letters were sent, according 
to Milt Raynor, attorney for the 
group, to all distilleries and dis- 
tributors, informing them that cafe 
owners will buy only from dealers 
who permit them to select the 
liquors they 'want. 

More than $100,000 worth of rum, 
cordials and other slow-moving 
types of liquor forced on them in 
such sales are now stored in the 
basements of 60 of the bigger spots 
here, Raynor declared. Added that 
CO/A will ask Tavern Owners' Assn. 
to join with his group in the cam- 
paign to end tie-in sales in liquor. 

Meanwhile, Charles J. Fleck, Il- 
linois Liquor Control Commission 
chairman, charged that conditions 
here as far as this practice is con- 
cerned are far worse than in any 
other city. Aiso said there isn't much 
the commission can do about it now, 
because they don't have sufficient 
power to act. 

Known, however, that legislation 
is pending in Springfield, state capi- 
tal, which will give the group more 
strength, i.e., a fair trade practice 
law under which the state would 
have some control over prices, with 
the right^to revoke the license of a 
liquor wholesaler who doesn't con- 
form to the price schedule set up by 
distillers. 



Grade Fields' Concert 
Dates Upon U.S. Return 

Gracie Fields, expected back in 
this country in December following 
her current tour under ENSA aus- 
pices, has been booked for additional 
concert dates, 

She'll play one-nighters at. the Or- 
pheirni theatre, Ogden, Utah, Feb. 1; 
Capitol theatre, Salt Lake City, Feb. 
4, and in St. Paul she's to perform 
Under a women's club auspices, on 
Feb. 20. 



Prima's Contrib to 82G Take At 
N. Y. Strand Has Tm Guessing 



Galesburg (111.) Nitery 
Has to Pay Off When 
No Band for Acts 

Three acts that had been booked 
into Five Aces Club, Galesburg, 111., 
and upon arrival found that Guy 
Haskins, operator, had not pacted a 
band, were paid off in full from 
cash bond posted with Chicago local 
of American Guild of Variety Art- 
ists. Acts were Rush and Lee, 
Evelyn Kay and Jean Hamilton. 

According to. performers, when 
they arrived at club for rehearsal 
there was no musicrew to play their 
stuff. The following" day they hung 
around but no tooters again. Haskins 
agreed to pay them for two days but 
Jack Irving, AGVA's Chi rep, told 
them to nix short payoff and return 
to Chi, • where they were subse- 
quently paid off in full. 

■Haskins retaliated by. saying he'd 
do without shows for the rest of the 
summer — maybe dancing, too. 



NEW DALLAS NITERY 

Dallas, June 26. 

Hi-Hat Club, new nitery, opens on 
July 3. Owners are George Lontos 
and Al Pierce. 

Name bands plus vaude acts will 
be the policy, with Gray Gordon 
band set to open. 



The record-breaking $82,000 
chalked up at the Strand theatre, 
N.Y., during the first week of "Con- 
flict" (WB), with Humphrey Bogart, 
plus Louis Prima's orch and Dane 
Clark on stage, has emerged as one. 
of the hottest subjects on Broadway. 

The main argument revolves 
around how much each contributed 
to the gross. 

The . Strand's management' and 
booking office are non-committal. 
Being Warner employees, this is un- 
derstandable since it wouldn't be 
cricket for 'them to underestimate 
the pulling power of either Bogart 
or Clark, which is conceded to be . 
considerable. ■ • 

However, majority of talent agen- 
cies seem eager to point out «iat 
Prima must b°e considered a vital 
factor in this herculean take during 
which time came some of the hottest 
days of the year. They point out that 
even though this is Bo'gart's first re-, 
lease since his marriage to Lauren 
Bacall, the people most impressed 
by this deluge of; publicity 
would be most likely to come to see 
him in the evening. The matinee 
trade here has been especially heavy 
with juves and 1 they .regard this as. 
attributable to the man who plays 
pretty for the people. .; 

Prima's recordings of "Please. No 
Squeeza Banana," "Robin Hood" 
"Bell Bottom Trousers" and "An- 
gelina" have firmly established him 
with the j.b. element, which provides 
a considerable segment of the the- 
atre business, 

While Music Corp. of America 
books Prima, other offices are prone 
to go along with the contention that 
Prima's contribution is considerable. 
In the face of declining band busi- 
ness, this engagement looks like a 
lifesaver to many arguments bands 
have been getting from bookers. 



Charles Borrelli, veteran comic 
and now head of Borrelli Co., ad 
agency, Philly, back at desk after 
five months' absence because of 
hip fracture. Suffered it while act- 
ing out in volunteer shows for. G Is, 



THE DUNCAN SISTERS 




Jiy C.rmidy. Washington Slur. ««>■»: 

Tile JDttiican . Sbttis" .I'omijliiatloii of the 

old songs, the ones -they Inlrodiu'rd tit 

tire. Palace In New. -.York, in the ■ t'olHes.- 

and elsewhere, and the new ones Is Mill 
"tie. (it Mt6 . best sti'elohes or nosiaight 

and hilarity to lie found anj-wliwe, 



John Mayn«ri», Washington Times-Herald, 
"ays: The Duncans— Vivian ami Itosettu 
— headed Into their 'eighth'. week without 
a not ratable let-uji. The energy the y 'pour 
Into their stuff, and . the ietlgMi of time 

lliey devote' (o obliging eiirores. Is re- 
markable., .;■ 



Mary Harris. Washington ''">!. aiiys: 
Ouccn of (lie innyhein at Troika Is Topsy 
IhilH-au... She tumulrs the ilngsiders' hair. 
She kisses, litem on the lohs of- their 
shiny heads. Eva sits at her iilano like, 
a little lady, plalnlliely bega Toiisv to 
liiharp, . . 



Harry Hfloley, The Nile Owl, Washington 
Tliues- Herald, says: The IMun/air Sisters, 
the eternal aMer art. 1 is going into' Its 
sixth week, and by the .looks of tilings 
I lie', gats will be held, over another *ls 
week's. 



Paler Carter. Washington' Times Sooirlv 
K.lltnr, .'says! The Illlliian Slaters hai« 
n 'way' with their audlonee. 'Tonsy' takes 
many liberties "lilt the linblli'— and they 
love it.'' Kva as i-harmhig anil beattl.lri.il 
as ever. Keal so|ihlstlrated entertainment. 



'Bernie,' Washlng'lim Pally News, <»vs: 
The Ourioau' Sisters get slronter as- Ihev 
•lay longer. They ate. fast hemming Ihe 
•Im'igi'St. run'.'Ri-t jn Ica'al night flub Ilia' 
In, v. you like them Wore and mot* be- 
,-atiae MetVhntly does. 



'TOPSY and EVA' 

HELD OVER! 

10th Consecutive Week 
and Still Going Strong 

HELEN HAMILTON'S 

TROIKA 

Washington's Foremost Night Club 



Helen Hamilton says: The 'Duncans' are the most consistent 'draw' 
that has ever played the TROIKA! 



48 



VAUDEVILLE 



Wednesday, June 27, 19i. r » 



Two Seattle Houses Unfair, Sez AGVA, 
So Sterling Chain Tosses Out Shows 



American Guild of Variety Artists 
lias declared the Palomar and Rivoli 
theatres, Seattle, unfair, as of July 
1 lor failure to pact new agreement 
for houses and for adequate terms 
oil the midnight shows being given 
at both houses on Saturdays. 
' Former pact with the theatres, 
operated by Sterling Theatres Corp.. 
expired. last April, according to Matt 
Shelvey, head of AGVA, and the un- 
fair listing followed failure of John 
Dan*, prez of theatre chain, to pact 
customary agreement with- talent 
union. : . , -, 

AGVA's contract calls for an ex- 
tra day's pay to performers giving 
additional midnight shows. AGVA 
claims to have been lenient on the 
matter to the extent of giving the 
chain the green light until now 
Danz wanted to compromise on half 
flay salary, which AGVA nixed and 
dispatched Arthur Kaye, northwest 



AL TRACE 

And Hit 
SILLY SYMPHONISTS 
■■til July 1st. 

SURF CLUB 
VIRGINIA tEACH. VA. 

Dir. I STAN ZCCKF.K 



rep for talent union, to Seattle to 
talce charge of (be unfair action, 
Danz retaliated by notifying stage- 
hands and musicians' unions that 
they would both be out as of June 30. 

Palomar had been operating with 
vaudfilm policy while Tivoli plays 
burlesque. Botli houses have been 
good coin getters for the circuit with 
these policies. 

AGVA DICKERING FOR 
NEW. VERSAILLES PACT 

American Guild of Variety Artists 
will start dickering with Nick and 
Arnold's Versailles, N. Y.. nitery 
this week for a basic minimum pact 
such as cemented two weeks ago 
with Monte Proser's Copacabana. 
X. Y. 

Dealings between nitery and tal- 
ent union have been consistently 
amicable, since spot pays above 
union minimum, only hitches being 
terms Of rehearsal periods sans 
remuneration and the six-day week 
tor chorines.' Pact allows two weeks 
of free , rehearsals, two at half sal- 
ary and full salary for all additional- 
| ty required. Rehearsals are also 
limited to six-hour sessions with 



for . all overlapping 1 tainment. 



Wash. Nitery Cited 
For OPA Violation; 
ABC Bans Photogs 

Washington, June 22. 
Herb Sachs, of - Del Bio nitery, 
faces charges of violation of a sus- 
pension order issued in May, 1944, 
which prohibited him from receiv- 
ing any rationed meat- 
Suit also charges that on June 12, 
this year, the defendant offered 50 
items of food and beverages at over- 
ceiling prices. Hearings ;were sched- 
uled on the suspension orders On 
Monday and Tuesday. 

Niteries also took another belt 
when the. Alcohol Beverage Control 
Board ruied photographers out : of 
the after dark spots, after July 10. 
Protests were made at a public hear- 
ing which the Board called after a 
number of photographers questioned 
a recent announcement that the 
three-year-old business was in vio- 
lation of local liquor regulations. 

The photogs, who are not required 
to obtain licenses from the munici- 
pal government, agreed yesterday 
that the demand for pictures was 
bringing in nearly $3,000 a month. 

Attorneys Charles H. Fleming and 
Thomas Lodge (former chairman of 
the ABC board) representing pho- 
togs from such clubs as the Trade 
Winds, China Clipper and Casino 
Royal, told th« ABC board that gals 
with cameras have become as iieces- 
j sary to niteries as niusic'aftd enter- 



Red, Hot and Bothered 
Troupers Turn to AGVA 

Vaude acts and choristers of "Red, 
Hot and Blue." which played three 
weeks at the Shubert-Lafayette, De- 
troit, have filed claims with Ameri- 
can Guild of Variety Artists' N. Y. 
local against A. & B, Dow for com- 
pensation for two extra midnight 
performances played and npi paid. 
AGVA is waiting for all other claims 
to be filed before taking action to 
collect. .. 

Dow had sent the troupe out on a 
letter of financial responsibility sev - 
eral weeks ago when, the Shuberts 
apprised the talent union they were 
not involved in the ' productions, 
merely being landlords of the thea- 
tres wherein revues would be 
spotted. - 

Unit' was first of a promised series 
expected to dreamboat the indie 
bookers into the bigtime but seem- 
ingly hit shallow waters instead. 



Anything Can Happen 

Willi 

HANLON 

And 

CLARK 

"TWO CRAZY PEOPLE' 
Oversea* for VSO 

Dir.) II VICKY GREBES 
l'resa: DICK RICHARDS 



overtime pay 
hours held 

Matt Shelvey and Dave Fox. na- 
tional administrator and head of 
N. Y. local of "AGVA. respectively, 
will meet with operators: of the 
Versailles latter part of the week, 
and it's expected they'll set deal. 



La Martinique, N. Y., 
Stymied on Name Acts 

La Martinique. N. Y. nitery has 
been unable to find a "name" re- 
placer for Harry Richman, who 
winds up at spot Tuesday (J). Re- 
ported deals with Sophie Tucker. 
Ben Blue and Joey Adams fell 
I through because of previous com- 
mitments. 

I Meanwhile Miss Dorothy, sister of 
Judy Garland, has been inked start- 
ing Wednesday (4) along with Jane 
Dillon, formerly Ginger Dulo, who 
recentlv was at Le Ruban Bleu, 

I N. Y. 



FRANK 



ANITA 



ROSS: LA PIERRE 

THE ONE-MAN JUKE BOX 

11 MONTHS ENGAGEMENT 

BILLY ROSE'S 
DIAMOND HORSESHOE 

NEW YORK 

6 WEEKS ENGAGEMENT 
LATIN QUARTER 

NEW YORK 

And NOW 

LOEWS STATE 

NEW YORK 

(WEEK JUNE 21 ST) 

Personal Management: JOHNNY SINGER 

Thanks to/ Billy Rose, Lou Walters, Jesse Kaye. Ben 
Shainin and Jack Curtis for making all this possible. 



Pawtucket Niterv 

Picketed by AGVA 

Warsaw Club. Pawtucket. R. I,, 
was declared unfair by national of- 
fice of American Guild of Variety 
Artists last week upon recommen- 
datioiuof Fred Dale. Boston rep of 
talent union. Dale pulled out the 
floorshow and picketed the spot 
when operators refused to sign basic 
agreement and post bond covering 
performers' salaries. '.',.■• 

Central Trades Council of New 
England has ordered all delivery 
men not to cross picket line. 



Foor Joins Oxley 

Sam Foor. who operates own tal- 
ent agency in Jacksonville. Fla.. has 
joined up with the Oxley Agency. 
N. Y... but will also continue own 
agency in FloricTa: 

Oxley agency. Which previously 
booked bands exclusively, is expand- 
ing to handle vaude and nitery acts 
as well, w|th new department 
headed -by Foor. 



AGVA Holds 'Unfair' Club 
Over Andy Russell In 
GAC-Wm. Morris Tussle 

Unless crooner Andy Russell sub- 
mils to immediate arbitration of con- 
troversy anent his switch from Gen- 
eral Amus; Corp. to William Morris 
agency, he will win himself a spot 
on the unfair list of American Guild 
of Variety Artists, which would 
mean suspension from membership 
and other penalties.* This ultima- 
tum lias been made to the singer by 
Mortimer S. Rosenthal, head of 
AGVA's ^egal department, this week 
upon direction of Matt Shelvey. 
AGVA's national administrator. If 
action is taken singer's deals with 
the Morris agency couldn't come off. 

Russell is in N. Y. now but has not 
come up to see the boys at AGVA. 
according to their lament, but has 
been content to let Martin Gang, his 
attorney and also attorney for the 
Morris Coast office, talce care of 
things for him. 

While on the Coast, Russell wanted 
triplicate arbitration of his grievance 
against GAC, embracing American 
Federation of Radio Actors and 
Screen Actors Guild, as well as 
AGVA and all at the same time. 
AGVA has scotched this, claiming 
other matters are beyond their pale 
and are only interested in threshing 
out cause of Russell scramming his 
seven-year exclusive representation 
deal with GAC. Matter has been 
hanging lire for several months and 
AGVA is demanding that the singer 
come up and see. them pronto of else. 



Carroll's, F. Gardens 
Testing Legality Of 
New Cat liquor Law 

Hollywood, June .20. 
California's recent law halting 
liquor sales at midnight, will be 
tested for constitutionality by suits 
filed yesterday in Superior Court by 
Earl ..Carroll's and Florentine Gar- 
dens niteries. Two spots asked for 
injunction restraining State Board 
of Equalization from enforcing law 
and Judge Hartley Shaw has or- 
dered Board to appear in Court Fri- 
day to show cause why -restraining' 
order should not be issued. " 

Niteries contend, through lawyer, 
that while bill was passed as 
urgency measure "to preserve 
public peace and safety," that no 
actual military necessity exists and 
that other businesses are per- 
mitted to stay open all night with-- 
out regulation. Therefore new law 
is discriminatory. Previous state 
law allowed sale of liquor from 6 
a.m. to 2 a.m., but new law sets 
hours from 8 a.m. to midnight. 



THE AMAZING 

LADY ETHEL 



AND 



Film Reviews 

iS5 Continued from page 16 ^ 

Tin- La»< Hill 

nals for artillery fire at her post — 
and lives through it. No Russian 
critic of the cinema would ever allow 
a Hollywood western to get away 
with such shoddy material without 
contemptuous laughter. But here, 
the Russians are doing thai kind of 
stuff. 

One hopes thai, now the shooting 
is over for them, some of the fine 
Soviet film people may_get back to 
dramatic work of importance. Mean- 
while, they'd do their film reputa- 
tion more good by keepnig stufT like 
"Hill" at home, instead of exporting 
it. ' - Cors. 



AGVA Forces Chorus 
Out of Kentucky Spot 

Gloria Lee dancers, line suspended 
by American Guild of Variety Art- 
ists, were yanked out of the show at 
Fair Spot nitery. Henderson. Ky., 
last week by AGVA's local rep. 

Latter had apprised the spot of 
aut's status and nitery operator can- 
celled; 



DR. JESTER 

Marvels of Magical 
Perception 
MEN Til LIST 

SUAVE 
MYSTIFYING 
HILARIOUS 




llnffllnic niidlrnrm In the WIIm lintvt 
rontnx all ov«*r fhlit nHitiumt Is a N.iiipte 
ffjit for till* Ktnitxliitf rmi|»lf, ilenw»- 
fttraliiiK tllflr unlM'Hf valil« (ViiN »f 
meiitnl wrllltv. ISh|m-« li.lly lm»rt'NNi'il nml 
rti4ti(tMin*4l<* nrv thus** who nv«* skc-pl ic»t 
In- lore liny HmlltittKe Hu'se hrillludt mep- 
(M14* «f tin* si.asosS* 



llama 1pimmi<|4> 

("The Ghosl Lady") 

Buenos Aires, Mav 



17. 



FRESCOTT VICE TYSON 

Norman Frescott, manager of "Ice- 
Capades" for four years, will suc- 
ceed George D. Tyson as hea i of the 
N. Y. .office of the Arena Managers- 
Association. Tyson resigned to be- 
come manager of "Skating Vanities," 
roller show, starting July 14; 

B. C. Blum, assistant manager of 
"Ice-Capades." moves up to fill the 
spot vacated by Frescott. 



Sim Mlirtit'l riniilin-liiin ti ml rrliMWes s'mrv 
Ijeliti (Jim-,'.*; IV.-itiirrs Aljlullbi 11,'n-nro. 
Kitriijm' A\\:\rev. tlinptljiili,, Krm'HI.i VMHj.'h. 
IMOuiIh (i-,irzoii. A>.i;imlni Maximum. Kitin- 
fisco I.oimv. Sllva. Alnt'Hii Siim-h"/. Ai-in,,. 
Dii ecli-1 |jy I. Mis Sii»IrlA«|ij , Sc'i<-<-li|>V.'jy h> 

Miniii 'Oii-sii Li'iifi.-uiid I'siiiui-i Anii-i-n rimii 

sliny liy Dm, lVtJii, C.-ilileinn At. (ii . HiirMi : 
t'umtvM.' .Iiiko Marin Keliniti. t>i>eni'»l in 
Klipnos Aii-py. ilHj- 17. "4,".. ' ... 



Action of this.ambilious production 
takes place in Spain in the 18th cen- 
tury and picture contains much pic- 
turesque costuming and big scenes. 
Looks an excellent moneymaker, and 
started off at admission scales equal 
to highest placed on Hollywood films. 
Because the picture can't become 
dated, it should make coin for many 
years, it's dubious for the U. S. 
market. . ■'■ 

Story is based on the ventures of 
the youthful widow of a Peruvian 
V iceroy. • To Overcome the rigid eli- 
quet of Spanish mourning; she poses 
a.s a ghost and so lures a young army 
captain, accidentally lodged in her 
castle, as her second spous-v Delia 
Garces is vivacious as the "Ghost 
Lady" and does well teamed with 
Enrique Diosdado. .as the gallant 
captain... — . ... 

Many scenes recall the . bc-t of 
Goya's paintings. Nid. 



De Marcos, current at the Roxy 
theatre. N, Y., are signed for the 
Persian Boom of the Plaza hotel, 
N. Y.. July 19. 



Iiillsls. Truly 
Ol TSTAMHM; 



ATTRACTIONS.. 



C'llrrciitly 

KING HIUVARO IIOTKI. 
TORONTO 

M.C.A., NEW YORK 



GAGS! JOKES! GAGS! 

PATTER! WISE-CRAX! STORIES! 

Fir vau<e-ii(t« ellibi, radio M.C.'i. slnglat. 
daualai. aaaauncers. nraduttri. disc Iockeyi, 
direelari. baad leadars, apcakert. conilr.a, 
ttatacx. mafielaM, vcntrllfta. cafflmctitalai't. 
wrileri, eartaaniiti. ate. 

Fm-Mmttr ftaq File* Nes. 1 Thru 10 
$1.05 Par Script, Postage Prcpoiat 

Each File- Coatalm Ovtr 100 Sock 

ii- - 



Mako ClMicks Payable to 
PAULA SMITH 
Hall to Tnii-Masler" 
?.(>» W. MHi St.. New *ork CMy lt>, N.T. 



BERT FROHMAN 

HELD OVER 

Now Appearing CONGA. New York 

AIR COOLED (Sltt Straat and Iroadwayl 
Featuring SAMMY STEPT'S Semational Song 

"AS IF YOU DIDN'T KNOW" 

Special Material by MILT FRANCIS 



Wednesday, June 27, 1945 



49 



Night Club Reviews 



Versailles, N. Y. 

Jerri/ Cooper, Gloria Davis, Ken- 
j,,u Keltv. Miriam Seobold, Darlene 
ZUo J«clc Harwood; 7 Vcr-Siohs 
tUariha McKinnev. Gail Bennett, 
}«t«"i«e McCormack, Beverly 
uichdels, Joan Anderson, Danjiit 
K™ J«»e Kirbu); Joe Ric«rdel 
Pepifo Lopez orchestras; stooed 
I,;/ Boots McKenna, costumes by 
Billy Livingston; score, Al -Evans, 
■ fStiei by McKenna: three shows 
wflS. * 2 - 50 g " d W 

An adequate but no wow of a 
summer show. . Jerry Cooper top- 
fines with his pop songs backed by 
i radio rep but thereafter it's spotty 
°StSer Boots McKenna has kneaded 
« well, considering the components, 
but somehow it docsn t impress m 

l0t Smeer Kendall Kelly emcees, giv- 
ing the show two chirpers, consider- 
ing Coopers chore as the top 
warbler. Gloria Davis with her 
disk - impressions (Spike Jones' 
-Cocktails for Two," etc.) never gets 
to 'em as the comedienne of the 
show Darlene Zito tries a song 
Intro and then hoofs. She should 
confine herself to the dancing, regis- 
tering OK in that department, solo 
and later paired with Jack Harwood. 
Miriam Seabold is the ballet num- 
ber-leader, specializing in "Blue 
Danube." And that's the lineup, 
patently a conventional sequencing 
of acts although, as bonifaces Nick 
and Arnold, maitre d'hotel Robert, 
et al.. aver, "You just open the doors 
• and in they pile." . 

Cooper had a rather rough time of 
it opening dinner show which, how^ 
. ever, is more or less par for the 
course— or rather the dinner-courses. 
The clatter and chatter was that 
rough. That's why Nick & Arnold 
and John Bogiano (management) in 
midwinter have their stars, such as 
Carl Brisson and Dwight Fiske, work 
only the midnight and 2 a.m. show. 
Cooper finally got to them with 
"Love Is Sweeping the Country," 
"Every Time," "Laura," a Texas 
yodel routine, a parody on "Candy" 
called "Brandy," etc. 

Productionally the Billy Living- 
ston costumes are ultra, per usual, 
excepting that sequins and velvet 
• don't fit in a summer decor. Abel. 

Blue Room, X. ©. 

(HOTEL ROOSEVELT) 

New Orleans, June 21. 
Enrico Caruso, Jr., Baron & 
Bemay, Nip Nelson, V/oodie & Betty, 
Camilla Lane, Ray Benson Orch 
<15» $1,50 minimum Saturdays and 
Sundays. 



ley and Sid Blake, to name only two. 
Response is oig, however, and Gale 
gets off clamorously. 

Jerry Bergen snags lots of merri- 
ment, too, with his operantics, with 
Elizabeth Walberg htghnoting "Car- 
men" olio and "II Bacio." Little guy 
slams over the non-ringing Swiss 
bellringing gag, to click. 

Marion Francis lots of schmaltz 
into "Follow the Girls," "Irish Lulla- 
by," "Can't Say No" and "I Wanna 
Man." Jeanne Blanche spores with 
noisy ^wirltops, plus high kicks, cart- 
wheels and other acroantics. 

Lynne Mannion's line goes acro- 
batic, too, in hayfoot-sUawfoot, 
rhumba and tropical workouts, and 
Duke Yellman's 3-reed, 1-brass. 3- 
preci.sion outfit, outside of a little too 
much oomph from the drums, is tops. 

••. ' Mike. 



Oval Itoonu Boston 

(COPLEY PLAZA HOTEL) 

Boston, June 20. 
Dwight Fiske, Ariini & Consuelo 
Molly Logan, Ray Morton -Orch (10); 
cover $1, minimum $2 a/ler 10 p.m. 



Current layout packing plenty of 
entertainment, is fast-moving 45- 
minute package that clicks solidly. 

Enrico Caruso, Jr., son of the fa- 
mous tenor, does nicely on "Magic Is 
the Moonlight v " "La Donna e Mobile" 
and "For You Alone." 

Baron and Bernay are a suave 
young dance team whose work Is 
smooth and clever. They feature 
some nifty routines highlighted by 
dizzy whirls and twirls that net 
plenty of palm pounding. 

Nip Nelson is whole show in him- 
self. He cups his hands or strums 
nose to present signature tunes or 
Harry James and other musicians, 
as well as • personalities such as 
Churchill, Kate Smith, Benny and 
Rochester, and others. Clicks. 

Woodie and Betty present thrills 
on rollerskates, whirling dizzily 
around small mat and atop table. 
Their skill and speed registers for 
top returns. 

Camilla Lane, Benson's .Warbler, 
who doubles on the piano, has class, 
nice pipes and sparkle aplenty. 
Garners share of bravos with "Sweet 
Mystery of Life." "Italian Street 
&ong" and some pops. 

Benson's outfit can swing* it sweet 
or not, with the accent on the soft 
side much to the delight of dinner 
patrons. Benson also emcees nicely. 
Band keeps floor crowded during 
dance sessions. 

Biz capacity when caught. Liur. 

*1 Hnndred Clnb, Chi 

. Chicago. June 22. 

. .Lenny Gale. Jerry Bergen, with 
^abeth Walberg, Marion Francis, 
Jeanne Blanche. Lynne Mannion 
Line (6), Duke Yellman Orch <7) 
with Mel Henke * Ray Grccco; $1.50 
win. 



Whimsically naughty Dwight Fiske, 
on first visit to Hub in two years, 
gets wow reception in room some- 
what larger than most of his Man- 
hattan haunts. Complete with lubri- 
cious animals (imaginary), the fam- 
ous leer and music to suit most 
tastes. 

Fiske seems to have no fear— of 
Boston's Watch & Ward Society, 
which never goes to niteries anyhow, 
but which would nab him if con- 
genitally able to understand such 
lusty gems as ''Mr. Pettibone," "The 
Colonel's Tropical Bird" and a 
brand-new one, "Colonel Tcakwood," 
outlining the torrid affairs of a for- 
eign correspondent. Other debut 
songs here are "Stella the White 
Mouse," "The Captain's Leave" and 
"All-Out Annie." The Hub rarely 
gets any parlor entertainment quite 
so broad as this but apparently loves 
it. He keeps the heat down for 
the dinner crowd but steps it up 
for late-comers. He has lost none 
of his zest for tmpishness. 

Artini and Cdnsuelo, a class dance 
duo. also click neatly. Routine 
starts with an American waltz, 
"Roses," and ends with an.' Argen- 
tine tango, "Irresistible." 

Morton's orch is new. leader hav- 
ing been discharged recently from 
Army. Harmony is excellent and 
first-night nervousness once dis- 
pelled, this should be a winner. Orch 
chu'per, Molly Logan, fills the bill. 

. Dame. 



New Acts 



THE MARLINS 
Acrobats 
9 Mins. 
Apollo, N. Y. 

Acrobatic threesome obviously are 
oldtimers but not in "Variety" files 
under this tag- Two males patently 
are the basis, of the act and veterans 
at this sort of aero maneuvers. Third 
is comely femme who works well 
with the two strong undermen.' • 

Their opening apparently is an 
innovation, and a good one. It's a 
South Sea Isles background with 
three, wearing typical tropical garb 
done in fluorescent paint so that only 
the wearing apparel and a few props 
stand out in the spot. Series of diffi- 
cult feats are made to look easy. 

Okay opener for most vaude dates. 

Wear. 



Variety Dills 

WEEK OF JUNE 28 

Numeral* In conncctloa nidi bill* belair Indie*!* apcaln* liar of thow. 
wlictlir.r full or tpllt week. 



FORD. HARRIS * JONES 
Singing,* Dancing 
10 Mins. 

Apollo, N. Y. • 

Three colored boys, also known as 
"Three Maniacs of Rhythm," appar- 
ently have been around in night- 
clubs though not In "Variety" files. 
In closing spot here, and did well 
to hold their audience. Usual clown- 
ing song to tee off is followed by 
unison and individual stepping, 

It's one of those breathless type 
of agile terp turns that leans heavily 
on mugging for best returns. Okay 
tor modest-budgeted vaude and cafes. 

Wear. 



N. Y. Nitery Followup 



Nan Blakstone, who has been an 
intermittent visitor to Main Stem 
spots for years, together with her 
husband-manager, Ronald Aaron 
Gerard, have taken over the Ca- 
rousel, previously the Club VIII, on 
a percentage deal. Room has been 
given a new paint job. with blow- 
ups of Miss Blakstone providing the 
sole decor. They're apparent- 
ly trying to get the 21 and the 
ar'ound-the-corncr Stork club ele- 
ment. 

Miss Blakstone's stuff is smartly 
written and expertly delivered. With 
her own accomp at the piano she 
knocks off such ribaldry as disserta- 
tions on Mata Hari and Sadie 
Thompson, and includes one number 
•wiUi dramatic overtones. 

Since here last visit to town, 
where she appeared at La Conga, 
Miss Blakstone's material has im- 
proved considerably. Her stuff is 
now more sophisticated and the en- 
tendre is more subtle than previous- 
ly. She no longer punches out the 
pointed lines as before. In all, de- 
portment is smart and goes espe- 
cially well in this intime room. 

As an added inducement to the 
carriage trade. Fred Keating emcees. 
He has a smart line of patter but 
doesn't get a chance to use enough 
of it. His work is confined to the 
introcs. With a continuous enter- 
tainment policy. Ted Hunter key- 
boards expertly while Sue Valentine 
strolls with song and accordion, and 
Bruce Raeburn (New Acts); accom- 
panying himself at the piano, does 
additional vocal work. Jose. 



Loew 



SEW l'OKK CITY-' 

rm»Ho! rim 

Mark Wurnow Ore 
Klhel Sttillh 
Paul Hyde 11 
.lark Duratit 
Rose Marie 

State (>*) . 
The Glenus 
Georgie. Kayo 



Mary Belli Hughe» 
Ch I:Jb Cro«s 
Boh Howard 
Lm-kv ItIHm 

\\ AKIII\*u TON 
Copilot (2K> 
Pansy, Ihe Hnrse 
t'oley Worth 
Mr OislrUt Atf'y 
Alary Alcl *rtnaha'ij 



Paramount 



XKW YORK' CITY 

Paramount vit) 
.Ton y Wald Bd 
Allan .1 ones 
Eileen Ban on 
Ly-il Shirley 
Oil T.amb 
Bob Coffey 

CHICAGO 

Ink Spots show 



Ol.Ttupta <-;t> 
Clriyion a Phillips 
Duke Art, ,lr 
Kdifh r-'ello*r«. 
.lack Carter 
PeKKy Taylor 3 
MINNEAPOLIS 
Orpheuni (37) 
Sammy Kaye Bd 
Cy Reeves 
B Lane & Clnlro 



K<M KEOHD 

Palace <?S-1) 

Ewing Tt 
I. a UK I.ee 
Watsh & Renee 
Bitty 'Papon 

(TWO to fill) 

SPRINGEIELD 
Court Square riH-l) 

Kla.uret.ta Co . 



Utility, [fall %2o 
:i riuire His 
5 Master Keys 
Tripp & Kail 
Johnny Uladmoro 

IlouHrd <■!»> 

Earl if i hps Ore 
Ford, llanffl & J 
Th« Marlins 
r^*Roy Carrlnyioa 



Cabaret Bills 



NEW TOBK CITY 



Bill'* a*j M'( 

ICilitl Gilbert 

Bern!* drauer 

Murald Willard 

■Inch Ityno 

Cliai les .StrlcUlaad 

Ummy Burn*. 

11,11 K"el.<ey 

Gay 'JO'b Oiiai-reiu^ 

Rlue .%D^rl 
Mildreil Beilcy 
Ijplla Rhythm Boys 
Trene Boi-donl. 
Ilurtou'n Birds 
Bobby Short 



Hotel rierr* 

Myrus 

Stanley Melba Ore 
Hai-rlK, Clare * S 

Hotel I'lnza 
Bob Ura.nt Oro 
llil'icgiirde 

Hotel KaoUTelt 
Eddio Stone Oro ■ 

Hotel St MorltB 
D's l>el I'arntcu Bd 

Hotel Tart 
Vincent r.onex Ora 
Hotel Waldorf-A 
Minnevit.th Kasrala 



footle Williams JtEd 
Klla fllziteiH.ld 
I'oiie Vok« 
Ralph Brown 
MIAMI 



i;«tsT»N- 

HoHtoM CIS) 

Andy Ruttaell 
Raymond Si*ott On 
Pied Pipers 
Joe De Rita 
Frank Ncann^U ' 
tMKVKI.VM) 
HKO lilt) 
Ouy Lnnribardo Ore 
.loey Ada-nis 
Klennor *J?it;tnaii 
Ben Berl » 
t Ol.l Mltl S 
Palaee ci-5) 



XBIV YORK CITV 
Straud CIS) 

T.ouis Prima Wrc 
t'arr BrOH 
Eunirp 1 l^n ley 
pane Clark 
rmi.Ai>r:i.i-iiiA 

Knrlr (tt) 

Benny (joodinan Or 



» °" e of the outstanders in the new 
?f,. H , u ndred Club, revue isn't even 
billed. Guy is' Mel Henke, who pro- 
■ vWes..some rare pianotes during re- 
lief interludes, with Ray Giccco's 
th'um accomps backing. With some 
solid material, Henke. who makes 
Bach fugues, along with "Beguine," 
Uarktown Strutter's Ball,'' etc., 
rtiiff eaWe ' Ca " cluve, °P into click solo 
Ren of bill doesn't come up (o the 
recent offerings the spot's had, but 
onsets fairly well the disappointment 
occasioned by deal with Slapsey 
Maxie Rosenbloom that failed to jell. 
~ c » nv Gale trips in the emcee dept., 
that audience-participationer 
»«s added to standard impreshes of 
J'lldei.-.sleeve, Ink Spots, Gable, Heat- 
J e r, c t al., with servicemen subbing 
«>r dummies while comic takes off 
Amos & Andy characters, has been 
done to death in Chi by Dick Buck- 



Benito Collada has done a gootl 
facelift on the upstairs lounge-bar of 
his El Chico. topflight Greenwich 
Village iN. Y.) nitery. which should 
interpret itself well for the drqp-ih 
trade. The downstairs main room 
has its usual sprightly atmosphere, 
which, with the food, is basically the 
prime draw. Weakest of the new 
show's entries is the opener, Ojos 
Negros, who. like her name, has 
"dark eyes." She's a sombre brunet 
personality with an undistinguished 
terp routine. Debuting in the U. S. 
arc Daniel Gonzalez and His Boys 
from San Juan. P. R., doing typical 
Mexican' song-guitar routines, and 
holding over are Pilar Gomez & Roz- 
zino. tiptop Spanish terp team. Also 
continuing is TomSs Rios and band, 
with Alejandro Vilalta featured at 
th«.> Stein way. With bonifacc Col- 
lada due to go away for the sum- 
mer, his brother. Tom. last at the 
Hotel Park Central (Latin dept.). has 
moved in as alter ego. Abel. 



Showmanship I 

— Continued from page 13 -' 

Ellis, owner of three houses in Be- 
loit, Wis., for a "stay-at-home-during- 
the-summer" gimmick on Metro's 
Fitzpa trick Travelogs. Tryout will 
give shorts equal billing with fea- 
tures, and local merchants and news- 
papers, who are naturally fond of 
the idea to£ townspeople staying 
home during vacation, are also tied 
in. Bishop has arranged for cham- 
bers of commerce throughout the 
country to send in material to tie in 
with such shorts as "Salt Lake Di- 
versions,'' "Roaming Through Ari- 
zona," "Mackinac Island," etc. 

Special exploitation stunts are 
also being elbowed along in stronger- 
than-usual fashion by flacks in WB 
exchange and circuit, 20th-Fox, Uni- 
versal,' Essaness, RKO (latter two go^ 
in'g all out in horror stunts on 
"Vampire's Ghost," "Phantom 
Speaks" and "Body Snatcher," 
"Brighton Strangler" dualers), etc. 

Many midwest exhibs, meanwhil'e, 
came in for some sharp criticism 
from an exchange head here last 
week, who told "Variety" that dur- 
ing the war they've sacrificed the in- 
dividualism that has made U. S. ex- 
hibs the world's leaders in film 
exploitation by turning over to 
others the booking and buying of 
films— "the most important part of 
their operation — and that goes not 
only for Chicago exhibitors but for 
others throughout the country." 
Too Much Gin Rummy 
"Look what's happened here in the 
past few years," he continued. "Ten 
years ago there were about 250 
indies who did their own buying 
and operating, whereas today there 
are less than 80 doing it. Because 
they've almost all lined' up with 
buying-booking circuits, any of our 
film salesman can cover 283 of the 
356 theatres here merely by calling 
on 14 circuits. Sure, it's save man- 

j power and streamlined operations — 

I but what's it done to showmanship?" 
Exchange execs granted the point 

i that an important reason for indies 

! joining up with circuits is to bolster 

(their buying strength- -"but a more 

i truthful i«cason is that the exhibitor 

I isnT an exhibitor in the true sense 
of the world any more. Most of 
them don't know enough about how 
to exploit a picture but, instead of 

: trying to learn how, they've, decided 

I they'd rather pay a fee, and thus 

i have more time for gin rummy. 

"In the old days, the exhibitor op- 
erated his own house all the way 
down the line: he bought pictures 
and booked them where he thought 
they belonged. He knew his own 
situation better than anyone else. 
He knew, for example, what day of 
the week was the best to play a 
western, and would really go all out 
in ballyhoo— get out his own heralds, 
work up his exploitation and so 
forth. 

"Nowadays, however, he regards 
his operation as purely automatic. 
He has tinned over his booking and 
buying, the most important part of 
| his operation, to somebody else. He's 
I gone all out for the assembly line 
| method of doing things, and in so 
! doing he's, lost,, that individualism 
I that flair for showmanship, that's the 
! most essential'part of . this business." | oriaiidn .sis 



BOOKING THE NATION'S LEADING INDEPENDENT 
VAUDEVILLE THEATRES 

EDWARD SHERMAN AGENCY 



NEW YORK 

PARAMOUNT SUIlDlftS 



BEVERLY HILLS. CAL. 

CALIFORNIA BANK BLOC 



TOI.KIIO 

Paramount t2<) 

t.iunel Hampton Bd 

■i X.eiiliyrs 

B *c K NiKliiinaaln 



RKO 



KoWtflster 

.lohriny Klebimljj O 

.Van Wynii 

b itty Murray 

Tommy Tr*>nt 
KOCIIKKTKK 
Trmiile (30-1) 

John <'alven. 
SAN FKAM lSrO 
(•oIiitMt <ttile (2*) 

M;intif>t V1*?ra 

Tht; J$l»«>rn'<Mj«Ji5 

l>ii*k I.eMie 

Aim Crtrlo 



Warner 



Tim ll*?rlier( 
Dovoflty Keller 
WASHINGTON 
K»rle (t«> 

Ojinny I)ra.v.««n * 

l.ip in nm*r 4 



Independent 



NKW YUKK «'IT¥ 
MUHic IImII ( »H> 

AnchutlnH' 
Win Dollar 

Ueri)a.i-d Htiflin 
Wiu JoiM 
Tony <*»ll;ie 
(Jo«> Orotitn. • 
Sid PiUoawal* 

««»y («> 
T * H OMimn.o 
John Kolpft .. 
The Pitflimen 
Jackie *)l<'UKon 
HodUy M»'l>oWflt 
I.OMi ISLAM) 

Kally RoW* 
KobMl»on A l!<iPe 

Th« Jvnr«ili« 

:t TTanuonirii. F>e<ls 
Dawn Bvttu 



U*>y Uot?**tN 
(1-4) 
Ray Royi'« , 
SHlfy VVInfhrop 
[|«rby Lynn . ^ 
(toy TIhh's<*ii ;t 
4 A.UItKN 
TftMft*t> (if»-l) 
WyomiiiK T>o<i ' 
T Canine .A*i»ir 
Or Pi«rkar«l 
Monty Wolf 

rm< A<.o 

Orirntnl ri»> 
Oettt'jco Olsfri Ore 
Jfift Br-MKpr 
Am bawtartm*t*l1.«'H 
II AK I 1 OKIl 
Stulr (Sll-I) 

JoImi fii< h Ore 
.Van Wytin 
KHty -Murray 
Tomn>y Tfnnt 



America's Lcodrn^ l**i«ftc«e>ftt 
Agent 

EDDIE SMITH 

1501 Irocdway 
N«w York 



J r'»l<*ne & Howard 
I 'aula Kh.iv6 
Hal Ston« 
ATLANTK- * IT\ 
llMinid'N I'lcr (1-4) 
t.t'rio 1< r« pit On; 

llit»|MHlrotn«* (3<l) 
Holifday tiunrem 
.lonii t'arUfr 
T**«l l 4 »*ary 
Tti. -let")- ,v;- Tr "maims 

SluJ I'lrr I 1 ) 

Woody Ji*'nmii> Or.- 
Vanities oil lie 
Vie ilyd.v 

R \LTI\IOIIK 
lliu|MMlroin«* iV.it 

M.-r Marine Stiow 
i t\t'U Siahi!** '• ■ 
f'at>Kiir lt«>mov»j. 
J.iinfny !.♦"'«!« ■ 



KANSAS «TfY 
Tower (*!») 

WHttey Uobt'trtM 
The *'jn-h<Mts 
Huron Harris 
The Robhy-Sojf 

ULLWAI ki-:k 

Kiver^ule (2!i^ 
Skionav ; , 

«»H)»i O.'Tool* 
SiaiUon Sis 
Tei'r> Vance 

riiiLAOKi.ruiA 

Carina ii i ■.'*>> 

H> rip^ SKs •; 
.1 Stou :iway» ■ • • 
K;U tif>rlhe Kyrne H 
SaUinf-n, (»ei. , x<m'*J't tW 
W illow ' (.mi e t*nrk 

(Ihl only) 
Ot'f«,n*lt>; Sis 
Roy fjosrern 

(HI. .»..!>) 

Helrne -A Howard 
HUFlo.n Ja.liet., 
(.Tbrte W dU> 



ChitUttou Trio 
Cafe Society . 
(IJiHowh) 

Jimmy Savo 

Mao la Laurence 

(i^orgia Gibbs 

Bea Kraft 

Gene Field (3) 

I'liil Moore Ore 
Cafe Sorter* 
<DouatowB) 

Ann Hathaway 

Mary^Lou Wmi 

l£lwood Smith 

lid If a II Ore 

Carnival 

W Uov4!ler Ucrs 

4 Alorrocana 

The Gibsons 

litaiue M alloy 

Kay .fe Kniol 

VVhU'lwlnds 

Oon McGrnne Ore 

Art Mooney Ore 

faroUBOl 

Xan Blatt'stone 
Cn«iM Rhm 

Olca TIaclanova 

Adia'Kuznet^off 

Simoon Karzaelt 

tTodolban Ore 
Copaeatuioa 

Knric Madri^uera 

Mirxi Green 

Howell .Snaiin 

Mario & i'loria 

Don Dennis 

Joel Iferrnn 

Con R«>UK« 

Irwin Polk Ore 

I Mn mond Hoi nenlio* 

Bob Wall 

Johnny Burke 

Kiiima l^raurte 

Hazel Mangean 4 

Marnia Dole 

Cecil Uvlfl 

Gloria f.oiluy 

Billy Banks 

Bill Quentmeyer 

Mifehell Brother 

Michael Kdwarda 

Wort Rcid Ore 

Vincent Trayor* O rc 
400 CVu1» 

Benny Goodman Ore 

Alachfto Bd 

lla»«M«-M«drl«J 

Florcs A DeOordoba 

Ha I Winters 

Klise Jay no . 

Maria Louisa Lopez 

Chtaiino Ore 

fortoa Varela Ore 
Hotel AmlHinMittor 

;. 'Hi's BeLancourt O 

Jules LantSo Ore 
Hotel A fit or 

Harry .Tames Ore 

Kitty K alien 

Hnddy DeVtto 

Corky Corcoran 

.loan Tizol 

Hotel Belmont 
Pla*» 

Gnl© Roberts 

Hylfon S»s 

Tuny t*raijc 

K'aihnn Duffy Dora 

Nino Morales Ore 

Pay son Re Ore 
Hotel Biltmoro 

l.lehj*y Bus.se Ore 

Harrys 

Hotel Cu**i«.odore 

Mi.Hhni Gorner Ore 

Il0l«| fllHlO 

Don Baker Ore 
Hotel CdlftM 

Jose Cortex Ore 
Esffe* Hons* 
Stan Keller Oro 
llutli Clwary 

Hotel IriiH'o* 
Moml Ka\ 
Tapn Kitua 
Tali ma 
llaile 
MfjliUiaiia 
Harold Aloma Ore 

lintel Llneulit 
Rrskine U'I»ins Ore 
tl«»lel New Yorkei 
Joan Etyfdoft . 
Tf-rry Brent 
Phil Roma trio 
Nell t'ontaino 
Arnold . Shoda 
Sonny Dutiliain Ore 
Hotel . IVnnsyrvantn 
f;*-oi(re Pnxton Ore 
Alan Dale 
Hetty Jo Daxey 



Danny O'Xeil 
Mischa Borr Ore 
N Brandwyntie Oro 

Icelaod 
Maxellos 
Boyd Hea tit. n 
Lou Martin Oro 
Juliet Masierv 
DeQuincey A Given* 
Kelly's Stables 
Tans Miller Ore 
Vivian Garry Trio 
Aida 

Jimmy Kelly's 
La Rubio 
lean Colvfna 
Rudya Lynn 
Jo Ann Collycr 
Aloma 
Rene* 
Rositu 
Dlano Pago 
Carter St Ross 
toe CApello Ore 

Ij* Coogo 
Bert.fcYohtnan 
Se'rvandos 3 
Frasers 
Mac hi to Bd 

fjt HartlHlqoo 
Harry Riehman 
trraakie Hyns , 
I. ill inn Moore 
Harria Trio. 
Danny Daniels 
Sooasnes Ore 
Dick Rhodes Oro 

l.atlo Ounrtot 
Tommy Disc 
Ma^zone-Ahbott f> 
Gloria Gilbert 
Shea & Raymond 
Don Saxon 
Harold & Lola 
Hudson Wonder* 
Ben *Dova 
Winl Walsh 
Marty Beck Oro 

Lo Rubso urea 
Jane Dillon 
Thelma Carpenter 
.Honlea. Boyar 
Jose MellEs 
Cedrfc Wallace t 

Leon A IMtflo'o 
Monro* Settm 

Hutu St h Dwyer 

ffrancine iVhHe 

Stanley Piwcher 

Jean Mode 

Bob Karl 

Art Waner Ore 

Mont© Carlo 
Dick Gasparre Oro 
Jean F Mrirrar 
|j»dy Anno 
Alberto Ore 

Old (hot hi » Mia* 
Olga Woytbva 
Sadie Ranks 
Mimi Cartier 
Joe l^aPorto Oro 
■oaers Comer 
Harry Lefcourt Oro 
OlarVs Hawsliana 
Harold Greco 
Freshmen 
Mars Trio 
Korn Kobblera 
Sig- Srbsts! Ore 
Spivy'a Roof 
Sptvy 

Carter A Bowie 
Jayuo Mannero 
ntmrh Liu* 

Morales Oro 
p;rnie TToist Ore 
Stan Keller Oro 
Versailles 

Jerry Cooper 
Darlene 7Al*> 
Ja.-le Harwood ; 
Gloria DuvIa 
Kendall Kelly 
Miriam Sea bold 
Joe Rirardel Oro 
Villa ice Ham 
VtfaUy ICos.v 

Cohrlpfintals ; 
Moore rtis 
Tiny Clark 
Kddie Ashman Ore 

ZaorJImr 
r*.t.|> Calloyiity Or« 
fount Lo Roy 
Day. Da^rn A. Dusk 
r'earl Bafley 
BUI Cailey 
Pee wee Marcmetto 
cdok A KroVo. 
Doroitliy S;Mtlter» 
ClauOo Hopkins Ore 



. Art Mooney, who closet, at the 
Carnival Room, N*. Y,, Sunday (243) 
opens at Palisades Park, N. J., Sat- 
urday <30>. 



50 



HOUSE REVIEWS 



Wednesday, June 27, 1945 



Casino de Paris Packs 'Em in But 
It Only Adds Up to Mediocre Talent 



Produced by Henri Varna: asst.. 
Guy Cadenat; sketches, Marc-Cab 
and Cities Margaritis; dances, Muss 
Doris, Wat Kryser and Muurandi; 
Orchestra. Marcel Pagnoul; cos- 
fumes, "R. Frost; cast, -Joan Darnell, 
Greta de Horn, Maurandi. Ann & 
Wai Kryser, Robt. Berri, Nicolas 
Arasse, Ludmilla & Cadi.v, Lyana, 
Eve Lyne & Desmet, Lucienne Mon- 
nel, Marceau, Colette Anthony. 
Coccia, Ruby, Sagan & Co., Janme & 
Cisele, Ninette & Gladys. Paula & 
Nargot, Li Ion, Jean Gosser.. 

Paris. June 10. 
The Casino de Paris— the No. 1 
music hall of France— is packin' 'cm 
in with a new revue called "Charm- 
ing Paris." The showcase o£ the 
French vaudeville theatres has only 
a fair show, with", plenty of epidermis, 
good orchestra, but mediocre talent. 
It plays to packed houses and crowds 
come nightly to the rue de Clichy 
to see what gives.. The Casino has 
been, dishing out classy revues since 
1912 and can almost be called the 
"Palace" of France. Since then it 
has presented Cecile SOrel, famed 
longhair actress, who abandoned the 
legit for vaudeville; Maurice Cheva- 
lier, the diseuse Raquel Meller, Tino 
Rossi, and others. But where you 
would expect a hotsy totsy revue this 
one just. barely clicks. 

In the first olace the showgirls 
seem to be dead from the neck -up 
and down. They show plenty in 
between but they come out, go 
through their routines with dead- 
pans, just as if they'd had a tough 
night the night before. They have 
no sense of ensemble dancing, and 
it seems to be every gal for herself. 
There are two sets of 'em, the 16 
glamor gals, and another more ex- 
clusive group of eight showgirls who 
are a little bigger, a little better, and 
• a little more animated. They're the 
clothes-horse type, only they don't 
overdo the clothes angle. There are 
plenty of French civilians present 
and they seem to go for it more than 
the "Folies Bergere.'" It's not any 
better, but it's more risque and dar- 
ing. 

The staging goes in for lots of 
stairway numbers and it opens with 
girls spread all over the steps, 
dressed' in long, black, spangled 
dresses. The girls sing a crummy 
.greeting song called "Bonjour Paris" 
and then wriggle their torsos to a 
hot chorus. They also make with 
the arms, but it's no go. You better 
look quick, because it's practically 
the last time you see the girls with 
any clothes on. From then on the 
skin just drools all over the joint. 

Early in the revue they peel off a 
number called "New York by Night" 
and the girls come down the stair- 
way. It gets a Sig hand from the 
soldier boys because the backdrop 
shows lots of New York skyscrapers 
with lights showing through the win- 
downs, and for many of the homesick 
campaigners it's the closest they've 
been to N.Y.C. in maybe two, three 
and four years. It introduces Ann and 
Walt Kryser, a nifty and talented 
ballroom team. He's tall, dark and 
graceful and she's a cute blonde little 
trick. They dish out a little corn— 
at the end of their dance her black 
gown falls away, revealing an Amer- 
ican flag gown underneath. 

As usual with most French revues, 
the backdrops are really the berries, 
which introduces a singer, Robert 
Berri, a fair comic with a small but 
good-enough voice. (After all, the 
puns don't have to be any better than 
the show.) He opens with "There 
Are Beautiful Girls" against a drop 
showing the Arc de Triomphe and 
warbles about how hot the Pari- 
sienne numbers are, while the eight 
showgirls make with the eyes, 
dressed in little bolero jackets which 
really don't even begin to cover 
their • charms. 

Then comes .a high class bedroom 
number — and it never fails. "Fan- 
tastic Armor" is the terpsichorean 
story -of the lonely princess who is 
undressed — no kidding — before your 
eyes and is carefully put to bed. She 
tosses restlessly, gets up as her boy 
friend appears from behind a stained 
glass window. They (Ludmilla & 
Cadix) go into a classy dance which 
is good. Then he puts her to bed, 
tenderly embraces her. takes a pow- 
der, but leaves a little something 
behind. In comes an old chaperone. 
sees what's been going on. To 
punish the princess, she sends the 
naughty gal into the cold arms of a 
suit of armor. Justice is triumphant 
as the steel arms lock on the naked 
flesh, and down comes the curtain. 
Pretty arty. 

"Frenzied Jazz" is a novelty num- 
ber which- features the Krysers in a 
hot tap dance which clicks. The girls 
come out in clever costumes designed 
as band instruments and they wiggle 
around before a big, black, impres- 
sive drop which has four large Negro 
faces blowing clarinets. The drop 
is really a lulu and suffuses the 
whole scene with a sense of awe- 
some, mysterious, frenzied music. . 

As a contrast from black "Orna- 
ment From Sevres" shows the stair- 
way again, and a string , ensemble, on 
top with a minuet dancing couples 
on the bottom.' Everything is tw- 



it. And they pay plenty of dough to 
see it. so everybody is happy. But 
the Casino will have to do belter 'to 
maintain its old motto, "The Revue 
of Revues." Teiger. 



cred in whilefaces— hands, cos- 
tumes and instruments; The Krysers 
bounce in. dressed in modern clothes 
and contrast their hot steps with the 
old ones. The close dancing to the 
"Rhapsody in Blue.". 

"The Babv Machine" gets plenty of 
laughs. A little gal, not bad at all, 
explains how France has been suf- 
fering from a baby shortage, and 
can't wait for the standard delivery 
time. She savs the machine delivers 
the little bundles pronto— all you 
gotta do is flash a little instrument 
she gives you on the. machine. She 
comes down the runway plaintively 
asking "Won't someone help me 
make a baby?'' Henry Berri takes 
the part of a G. I. stooge, looks at the 
babe and gets laughs with his crack 
in English. "Boy, she really is 
stacked up." He doesn't go for the 
machine stuff, and says "That ain't 
thewav we do it back in the States." 
Again the babe pleads for help, and 
explains how they've already made 
150 with the machine. He corns with 
a crack about "That ain't no ma- 
chine: that's a rabbit." Finally he 
grabs her. starts planting juicy kisses 
while the machine throws Out baby 
dolls all over the stage. Can you 
guess what he cracks as the curtain 
drops? Right you are;- it's "The old 
system is best." Berri has a fail- 
sense of timing, and reminds you a 
little of Frank Fay. 

Nicolas Arasse is a sweet warbler, 
who has several spots. His first is 
"Beautiful Serenade," and after the 
chorus the curtain falls forward, re- 
vealing "The Chamber of Love." a 
pretty tableau showing the queens of 
the boudoir in a silky bed. surround- 
ed by cute. little numbers dressed in 
smiles. ' . 

Caccia. the sad-faced, baldheaded, 
pantomimic comedian, is introduced 
with "In the Park." He's the bored 
husband sitting in the park with his 
plain, knitting wife, who just keeps 
knitting. A large white drefp shows 
the lower rear half of a female 
statue. It's most prominent feature 
is a great big cheeky bottom, which 
starts to interest the husband. He 
goes over, looks at it artistically, ad. 
miringly, lecherously, tries to peek 
at the front of it, and all the time he 
has to dodge the. dirty looks Ms knit 
ting wife keeps throwing at him. 
Then in come a young couple, park 
on the bench and they go into a 
clincheroo routine. What necking! 
The old guy sees it. and almost dies 
with envy. The wife sees it, too^gets 
a little gooey looking herself, but 
goes right on with her knitting. 
Hubby chucks his umbrella over 
close, picks it up and takes a worm's 
eye close-up of the bench maneuvers. 
In. come a black, slinky little skirt 
the husbad falls hard, and takes off 
with it— but fast. As she goes off the 
stage she throws up her skirts, re 
vealing a pink bottom before the 
blackout. 

Alter the intermission — which 
really means drink time— the ' gals 
open with a sailor number which is 
the quintessence of corn. They end 
up with waving Allied flags. Well 
you gotta clap, if not for the. number, 
then for the flags. 

The big comic number is called 
"Nuptial Nights," another bedroom 
scene. In comes Caccia". ready to 
spend a lonely night in his hotel 
rooili. As he starts to undress, he 
he^rs goos and gurgles and gay 
screams from the room next door. 
He peeks over, under and through 
the door. In comes the maid, and he 
starts propositioning her. She finally 
weakens, promising to return later 
The old boy goes out to make his.toi 
lette while an anxious bridal couple 
is mistakenly shown into the same 
room. They get ready. The husband 
goes out. the bride steps out for a 
moment. The old boy comes in, pow 
ders himself carefully, and tickles 
himself into a frenzy with the pow 
derpuff.. The nude bride comes back 
and snuggles into bed. The old boy 
gels into bed. The husband breezes 
in and jumps 'into bed. Finally, the 
maid comes in 'and she gets into bed. 
The blackout and curtain descend on 
a full but somewhat surprised quar 
tet. 

Ruby Sagan & Co; is a team of 
■ballroom dancers who end up with 
screwy routine. They're like the 
Hartmans, only* not as good. A clever 
little dog comes out, and keeps get 
ting tangled up in the dance. By the 
time they finish, clothes are disshev- 
eled and torn, and pieces are strew 
all over the stage. 

A very classy number is called 
"Undress Throuhgout the Ages." It 
could be called elevating— a scien 
tific investigation into what went 
into the female costume of the dif- 
ferent periods. As the number peel., 
off the doue. and also the clothes 
it all gets down to the facts of .dress, 
or, better, undress, and figures. And 
the. figures aren't bad. 

The final number is a dressed-up, 
big, silky, fleshy spectacles, but they 
don't show it long enough. The stairs 
jack-knife open, revealing a sumptu 
cHtsly decorated tableau number 
"The Marvelous Chaco." and befor 
you can say "Casino de Paris," the 

curtain comes down. 

It's not top-drawer stuff, but the 
soldiers and the French seem to like 



Hipp, Hallo 

Baltimore, June 23. 
Amazing Mr. Ballanfine. Hylton 
Sisters (3), Danny Drayxon, The 
Gtenns (3), Felice /Ufa House Orel) 
(12); "China Sky". (RKO). 



Standard setup plays well enough 
and packs a transient punch in a rou- 
tine way. Danny Drayson is a pleas- 
ing emcee; contributing also a spot 
of smart hoofcry to good response 
when caught. Opening spot has the 
Glenns, two men and gal, in smooth 
acrobatics 'and hand-to-hand 'stuff. 
Nicely timed and supported by ef- 
fective orchestra backing by Felice 
Iula and house combo, act goes over 
and sets nice pace for rest of bill. 

Three Hvltoh Sisters, s m a r 1 1 y 
garbed and having original material, 
whack out three song routines 
wrapped around hillbilly and cow- 
girl routines. Have nice presence 
and good vocal fortitude, but stick 
too close to rote. Interpolation of 
pop tunes would help joint up spe- 
cial numbers. Get good returns, 
nevertheless. 

Following Drayson's sesh of tap- 
pery. the Amazing Mr. Ballantine 
takes hold with some hoke magic, 
and found stubholders. at least when 
caught, not hep enough to savvy in- 
tended satire. Here, too. introduc- 
tion of a really legit trick would help 
overall effect. 
Biz fairly good. -Barm. 



Victoria Palaee, London 

London, June 11. 
Anne Shelton, Rawicz & Landatter, 
Billy Caryll & Hilda Miindy, Leslie 
Strange. Talbot O'Farrell, Lionel 
King, The Demos, Nor Kiddie, Dun- 
can's Collies, Wieol & Merrill, Nor- 
man Girls. 



RKO, Boston 

Boston, Jane 22. • 
Benny Goodman Orch (16). Bob 
Hayden, Dorothy Keller, Red Norvo, 
Dotty Reidv Tim Herbert;. "Pent- 
house Rhythm" (U). 

The inimitable Benny Goodman, 
good as ever with his 'snatCeWiarm- 
ing clarinet and leadership of a new 
orch, is wowing them at RKO-Bos- 
ton. Some snappy supporting num- 
bers also shakes the house out of 
doldrums as swing music echoes in 
the eaves. . ■ - * . oi , 

Goodman is particularly fit, has 
his easy manner well-oiled and 
offers some gay-tempoed precision 
not often seen here. "Clarinet a la 
King." his own specialty, brings 
down house. He sings well in "It's 
Gotta Be This or That" and has art 
enough to submerge himself when 
others take the spotlight. It's defi- 
nitely. B.G. Week in Boston, from the 
opening theme, "Let's Dance," to Wie 
finale, "Goodby." 

Bob Hayden puts over vocal of 
"Don't Blame Me." A lively wisp 
topped with red hair is Dorofhy 
Keller, who chirps "I'm Getting a 
Little Too Fat" and bounces merrily- 
round the stage. .Red Norvo per 
forms notably on 'vibraphone, with 
and without orch. A tall gal with a 
husky voice, Dottie Reid, wins popu- 
lar fancy with "Everytime I Fall in 
Love" and"It's Only a Paper Moon.'" 
Tim Herbert, comic, sounds an un- 
usual, comic *note with imitations of 
figures at the San Francisco Confer- 
ence. The Russians wouldn't ap- 
prove. 

Although musicians seemed to 
have reached top torridity before, 
they really hit high with Benny's 
All-Star Sextette, including Red 
Norvo, Slam Stuart, bass viol; 
Charlie Queener, piano; Morey Feld, 
madman at drums; Mike Bryan, 
guitar, and the non-obscure clarinet- 
ist. "After You've Gone" is best 
number here. Dame. 



Current bill falls below standard 
established by Jack Hyltom prob- 
ably due to talent shortage which is 
becoming acute here. 

•Openers are Nicol and Merrill, two 
Scottish cycling comics. Offering 
looks okay for any bill. Nor Kiddie, 
back here again, is now aided by 
stooge. Act is quiet but well Uked. 

Duncan's Collies do everything but 
talk. Well trained, the dogs supply 
plenty of comedy which gets over 
nicely. 

Leslie Strange, who has played in 
U. S. in the old Keith-Albee days, 
has a novel offering, giving impres- 
sions of political celebrities. Also 
does takeoffs of film celebrities. 

Anne Shelton. who has made big 
strides in recent years as a singer, 
tecs off with "Accentuate the Posi- 
tive," and includes "More and More" 
and "Together." Sells' solidly. Eddie 
Lisbona. her pianist-songwriter, 
plays his own composition, "Long 
Ago and Far Away," with singer re- 
turning for "Yiddisha Mama," which 
goes over big. Ends with, a medley 
of pop tunes. 

Norman Girls, six hefty gals, ac- 
quit themselves nicely in aero rou- 
tine. They are followed by Lionel 
King, suave card manipulator, who 
contribs bag of tricks, all cleverly 
done, Talbot O'Farrell is entertain- 
ing with his stories and Irish songs, 
consisting mostly of oldies, which 
audience gfles for in big way. 

Billy Caryll and Hilda Mundy. in 
burlesque of Dubarry and Louis XV, 
in period dress, draw plenty of 
laughs. 

Rawicz and Landauer; couple of 
Czech concert pianists now fully 
established over here, get a boister- 
ous reception. "Viennese Waltz 
Medley," "Rhapsody No. 2." "War- 
saw Concerto" and "Stars and 
Stripes." are in their repertoire. 
Had to beg off. 

Three Dernos, two femmes and 
male, keep crowd, v interested with 
iron-jaw work on the trapeze. Act 
is a natural for this'spot. Rege. 

Apollo, tV. IV 

Earl Hines Orch (201 tolth Arthur 
Walker, Essex Scott, William Thomp- 
son, Stephan Stevenson, Leroy Car- 
rington; the Martitis (3), Ford, Har- 
ris & Jones; Moore, Crackshot & 
Harris; "The Great Flammarion" 
(Rep). "-:' 



Earle, Philiy 

Philadelphia, June 23. 
Rochester (Eddie Anderson) 
Kitty Murray, Nan Wynn, Tommy 
Trent, Johnny Richards Orch (15) 
"Ont oj the Night" (PRC). 



Rochester's p.a. stint at the Earle 
this week is -a carbon copy of last 
year's — and it's repeating success it 
had then. * 

The gravel-voiced comic keeps 'em 
laughing and that's some trick in this 
seat and the Earle's snafued cooling 
system. 

He brings back his partner of other 
appearances — dead-panned, hefty 
Kitty Murray, whom he introduces 
as an entrant in his contest to find 
himself a "leading lady for his next 
picture." The gal almost takes the 
play away from the little gu5' with 
her dancing and mugging. 

Rochester nets plenty of applause 
with "Accentuate the'Positive." run 
ning string of gags about Mister 
Benny, a tricky little dance routine 
and his m.c.'ing. 

Nan Wynn. cute warbler, scores 
with "Every Time We Say Good 
bye," "Ain't Misbehaving" and ; 
flock of pops. Gal has plenty of stage 
presence and mike appeal. 

Tommy Trent's puppet act is Punch 
and Judy brought up to date arid 
it clicks well with the audience. 

Johnny Richards, a Philiy product, 
comes back to his home town with 
a fair aggregation of musicians. 
Johnny is his own best tooter, doing 
a noble job on tenor sax. Arrange- 
ments, however, are just lair. 

Vocalists are husky-voiced Karen 
Rich; who does an okay job on 
Wanna Get Married," and Pat Russo, 
who renders a couple of romantic 
ballads to fair returns. 

House fairly well filled, despite 
scorching heat (Sat.). < Shal. 



- State, X. Y. 

Virffinia Weidler, Jim Wono 
Troupe (5) Al Gordon's Dogs, floss 
& La Pierre, Dick Bucldey, Fred & 
Sally Hartnell; "The Clock" (ft-GJ, 

Except for a sag in the mid-sec- ' 
tion, State has a highly playable 
parlay with marquee lure in person 
of Virginia Weidler, former screen 
moppet, plus a well-routined bill 
which would show up more effec- 
tively with some pruning. 

A pair of standard acts provide a 
fast opening. With the Jim Wong 
troupe of tumblers and contortion- 
ists, the audience gets used to ap- 
plauding, and this spirit continues 
into the time allotted Fred and Sally 
Hartnell, whose vigorous taps and 
turns invite further accolade; 

Letdown in pacing comes with 
Dick Buckley, the English-accented 
comic, who has a clever pantomime 
turn wherein he gets four customers 
to get up oh stage to move' their lips 
while he sits behind them and makes 
with an Amos 'n Andy spiel. It's 
cleverly done and once he gets started 
he brings out the guffaws. However, 
he takes too much time picking out 
his stooges. This period is a stage- 
wait, especially for the balconyites, 
who can't see him while he's in back 
of the house taking his pick. 

Although Miss Weidler does more 
than the usual personal appearance 
and makes a serious attempt to sell 
herself through songs, vocals 1 are a 
bit sub-standard, although she does 
very well with her finale, a Virginia 
O'Brien impression of "Rock-a-Bye 
Baby." v 

Snow picks up at that point for a 
warm wmdup.' Al Gordon and his 
recalcitrant dogs provide strong 
laugh-material, and Frank Ross and 
Anita LaPierre with a variety ot im- 
n-essions of musical instruments and 
3 opeye. Olive Oyl, etc., constitute a 
strong finish. 
Good biz when caught. Jose. 

Tower, K. C. 

Kansas City, June 22. 
Shano Sherman, Lew Welton, Bur- 
tell Sisters (2), Phil & Dotty Phelps, 
Bewerly Lassiter, Tomer Orch (9) 
with Norma Werner; "See My Law- 
yer" W) and "Swing Out, Sister" 
(U>. 



Biz is in the groove at this Harlem 
home of swing bands. It reflects Earl 
Hines' heightened popularity, this 
date displaying his crew as an all- 
round musical outfit. • Piano-playing 
leader has a large complement of 
musicians and singers, and he's 
picked them well. 

Hines smartly has spotted himself 
up front with a sliok piano solo to 
get his crew rolling. Leroy Carring- 
ton, newcomer, starts with a clown- 
ing ballad, and then clicks with his 
deft tapstering. William Thompson 
is a sock addition with his vibra- 
phone specialties. 

Rhythm Foursome cleans up with 
"Caldonia." Stephani Stevenson, new 
iemme balladist, does okay with "In- 
vitation to the Blues" and "Dream- 
ing of Man I Love," but nervousness 
appeared to slow up her vocaling. 

Essex Scott still is principal male 
singer with combo, doing "Memories 
of You" and "My Heart Sings" in 
hangup fashion. But Arthur Walker 
is a strong competitor. Young»ap- 
pearing single wowed 'em up here 
with "In Your Heart" and "Time On 
Hands." He doubles from trumpet 
section, teeing off his opening bal- 
lad «vith horn solo. Glee club is 
framed around Scott's initial war- 
bling effort. Hines' band now is solid 
both on sweet swing and torrid jive 

The Marlins (New Acts), white 
acrobatic threesome, obviously are 
aldtimers, and score a solid hit 
Ford, Harris & Jones (New Acts), 
also known as "Three Maniacs of 
Rhythm." are in closing slot. Three 
colored boys mop up. 

UsuaL comedy skit is handled by 
Moore, Crackshot and Harris. 

Biz strong. Wear. 



Capitol, Wash. 

■ Washington, June 21. 

Borrah Minevitch's Harmonica Ras 
cals, the Luckee Girls, Ladd Lyons, 
Sam Jack Kaufman's House Orches 
tra. Milton Slosser; "Son of Las 
sie" (MG). . • 



House was loaded with juveniles 
first show, biggest opening day biz 
house, has had in weeks. Milton 
Slosser tees off with organalogue. 
Luckee girls follow in fan dance to 
dreamy music. Then Ladd Lyons 
brings up brother from audience for 
nifty acrobatics and comedy that 
registers solid. Luckee girls return 
for classy South Sea islands number 
for a wham. • 

Johnny Puleo, diminutive panto 
comic with Minevitch's Harmonica 
Rascals, makes the act. Kids loved 
his. comedy antics. Group displays 
plenty ability on "Tico-Tico" and 
other difficult selections. 

Sam Jack Kaufman's overture 
closes the show. It highlights bril- 
liant keyboarding of Burrus Wil- 
liams, concert pianist, on "Warsaw 
Concerto," Arke. 



Tower comes up with fast-moving 
bill topped by Shavo Sherman, 
whose smooth take-offs on ace radio 
and screen personalities round out 
40 minutes of pleasing hol-weather 
entertainment. " ■ ■ 

House band opens with medley of 
old and new tunes with Norma Wer- 
ner taking vocals. Sherman doubles 
as m.c. 

Phil and Dotty Phelps take over 
for a nifty balancing routine which 
clicks. Then Beverly Lassiter, juve 
Discovery Night" winner, contribs 
a combo tap and baton twirling num- 
ber. Lew Welton, harmonica player, 
gives out with "When Day Is Done," 
then several pops topped by torrid 
session of "St. Louis Blues" for hefty 
returns. ' 

Following the Burtell Sisters, who 
tap out a brace of terp specialties, 
Sherman ties things up with his im- 
preshes of such stars as Ted Lewis, 
Jimmy Durante. Stan Laurel. Hugh 
Herbert and Groucho Marx. Earl. 



Palace, Columbus 

Columbus, June 20. 
Stan Kenton Orch, Irene Manning, 
Low, Hite & Stanley; "Escape in the 
Desert" (WB). ■ 



Well balanced show at Palace ap- 
peals to -all comers. Stan Kenton 
dishes out equal amounts of music, 
fun, and showmanship. Band does 
straight job on "I Know That You 
Know" and "Eager Beaver" to set a 
snappy . pace. Other numbers in- 
clude very smartly done "Artistry in 
Rhythm" and rollicking treatment of 
"St. James Infirmary" with Kenton 
and bandsmen doing some rib-tickling 
verbal sparring. 

Gene Howard sets the groove for 
the sweet stuff with "There's No 
You" and "Summertime." June 
Cristy is a cute eyeful; sings "Are 
You Livin' Old Man" and "Senti- 
mental Journey" in Betty Hutton 
style. 

Low, Hite and Stanley score lots 
ot laughs with their pantomime and 
mimicry of Andrew Sisters' record- 
ing of "Sonny Boy" and Ella Fitz- 
gerald's "Cow Cow Boogie." 

Topper in performance and recep- 
tion is Irene Manning. Her voice, 
poise and general charm win warm 
bouquets of audience approval. When 
caught she was forced to do three 
encores, causing the show to run 10; 
minutes over. She handles own ac- 
comp on piano for "Mary Is a Grand 
Old Name" and several pops which 
she sells for tops. Sinai 



Oriental, Chi 

Chicago, June 22. 
Jean ParJcer. Lenny Kent. Frances 
Faye, Blair & Dean, LeRoy Bros. 
(2); "Hitchhike to Happiness 
(Rep). 



Nicely balanced lineup this week,, 
with headline combo of Jean Parker, 
Frances Faye and Lenny Kent, lat- 
ter two just out of the Rio Cabana, 
adding up to a zestful blend of 
music, comedy and novelty. 

Truanting from assignments. Miss 
Parker has a much better vehicle 
than on her last visit, with audience 
going big for her can-can finale. 
Spotted in center segment, she opens 
(Continued on page 55) 



We<lnris«li»y, June 27, 1945 



J^RIETY 



LEGITIMATE 



51 



Eddie Dowling Latest to Be Involved 
In Glass Menagerie Mgr. Mixup 



'•The Glass Menagerie - ' managerial* 
mixup has become further involved, 
newest flareup over the weekend 
seeing Eddie Dowling entering one 
r.h a «e of the controversy. As the 



who owns 
versus Dowling 



phase of 

situation now stands the cases in 
elude Joel Schenkcr versus Louis J 
Singer, Dowling's partner in "Men- 
agerie,'' and Alex Yokel 
l 0 r; of the show 
and Singer. ■■■ '. 

On fuwday (26) Yokel, through 
his attorney, Aaron Upper, advised 
D & S. that unless he is furnished, a 
production statement avid given his 
share of. the profits within 48 hours, 
suit for an accounting and the pos- 
sible appointment of a receiver for 
the hit at the Playhouse, N. Y.. 
would be sought. 

Dowling, evidently steamed up 
oyer a previous letter from Upper, 
demanded that Yokel, return the 
agreement which sets forth the 
grant to him of 5 "n of "Menagerie" 
(he has another 5'> -secured from 
Singer as per agreement, obtained 
after coi^iderable controversy), In, 
the Dowling agreement is the state- 
ment that a share was given Yokel 
as compensation for him having been 
instrumental in providing the show's 



Pasadena Starts Strawhat 

Pasadena, June 26. 
Annual Midsummer Drama Festi- 
val of the Pasadena Community 
Playhouse, got under way today 
vTues!) with Philip Barry's "Tomor- 
row and Tomorrow" as . the first 
offering. 

Second in the hot weather series 
will be "Golden Boy," slated for two 
I weeks beginning July 3. 

jB'way Hit Ducats 
I For Visiting 'Brass 

| Broadway responded immediately 
to an Army request that tickets be 
made available to victorious officer- I 
leaders who planed in from the Eu- j 
ropean area. A major with quarters ' 
at the Waldorf-Astoria contacted 
managers and. an arrangement was 
made whereby tickets for hits were 
frozen for the specific :' use of thea- 
finaucing. Singer having bankrolled j Ire-minded .genera's and their staffs. 



ATS iii Intensive 

Washington Drive 

' , Washington, June 26. 

The American Theatre Society, 
with 12,000 subscribers in this area, 
is making an intensive drive to line 
up new customers. Spearheading 
the drive is Bess Davis Schreiner, 
secretary of the ATS, and she hopes 
to swell the membership rolls to 
13.000 by the time next season opens. 

Attractions booked under Ameri- 
can Theatre Society auspices come 
in with the two upper balconies sold 
out and one-half of the orchestra. It 
gives every play « .sustaining fund of 
about $15,000 and assures success for 
those booked under these auspices. 

The subscription lists are planning 
heavily, on the Units, favorites here, 
to sell out in Terrence RatiganV 
play, "Love in Idleness." Also 
booked to play, under ATS sponsor- 
ship are Fredric March in "A Bell 
for Adano" and "The Hasty Heart:" 
also S. N. Behrmans new play. 
"Dunnigan's Daughters," will debut 
here.' 



See 15 Survivors on Broadway 
As Shows Drop Out Wholesale 



Stander to Prep Legiter 

Hollywood, June 26. 
Lionel Stander, currently working 
in the Goldwyn production. ' The Kid 
| from Brooklyn," will shove off for 
j New York on completion of that job 
j to stage a legit play on Broadway, 

Play is "Love and the Ceiisus 
j Taker," authored by Arthur Betn. and 
j recently, purchased by Stander, who 
I is negotiating with Ernest Truex for 
! the male lead.-. ..' ' ... '• 



"Menagerie" after being brought to 
the actor-manager by Yokel. 

Now Dowling contends he has 
since learned that Yokel "had noth- 
ing to do with Singer's coming to 
me," the actdr'-prqducer-directdr 
claiming to have gotten that in- 
formation from Michael Halperin, 
Singer's lawyer. In a letter sent to 
the press Dowling said "unless he 
(Ypkel > slopped writing ..lawyer's 
letters to me . . . I would refuse to 
pay the 5'i .'';.. •, 

Matter of Expenditures 

Yokel figures tne show's profit to 
date is around $35,000 plus $10,000 as 
reserve but claims that moneys ad- 
ditionally adde<t to the weekly out- 
lays amount to another $15,000 and 
that such expenditures are reducing 
his potential share of the profit. 
Such items include $500 weekly to 
Singer as the "producer's fee" and 
.3% of the gross as royalty to, Dowling 
for staging the show, although Margo 
is billed as co-director. One of 
Yokel's demands is billing "for hav- 
ing supervised the production," 
which was accorded him when the 
thow played Chicago. Dowling says 
he cut his salary percentage from 10 
to 5% to get the play started, also 
waiving his director's royally tem- 
porarily. . ■ ' : • . 

Wiseman &. Grant, attorneys for 
Schenker, who claims 10% of "Men- 
agerie.'' have applied for a writ to 
examine Singer before trial. Latter 
made a similar application and when 
that action was argued last week il 
was contended that the papers were 
so voluminous that a postponement 
was secured. 

When it was announced that raises 
were given Dowling and Laurelte 
Taylor, so-stars in "Menagerie," in- 
vestigators for the wage stabilization 
bureau asked questions, and it is 
likely that those benefited will be 
called before the board. There's 
some surprise on Broadway that the 
wage-stabilization regulations should 
apply to stars. . 



The tickets are being held until 
o'clock each afternoon and' if notj 
required are released at the b.o. This ... 
service in no way conflicts with the • 
Officers Service Committee which j 
has been in operation at the Commo- j 
dore hotel since the start of the war, j 
that 'bureau selling tickets to junior j 
Army and Navy officers at reduced 
rates.. Tickets for the recently re- I 
turned Army commanders are at ! 
regular boxoffice rates. 

When General Eisenhower was in 
New York, managers of halt a dozen 
hits claimed he would be out front. 
There were four tickets to a musical 
smash set aside for him. but he went j 
to West Point instead. General of the j 
Army is bent on taking a rest before [ 
returning to Europe and itV ques- 
tionable whether he will revisit New i 
York before departure; 

There are activities on behalf of 
men cited for bravery who are to be 
sent to New York during their 
leaves. First of such contingents 
consisted of 700 Purple Heart 
marines who had been in serv- 
ice in the Jap-infested islands of 
the West Pacific and who paraded 
Fifth avenue in jeeps. A civilian 
committee headed by S. Arthur 
Glixon contacted managers, asking 
that tickets be made available, th^at 
$1,000 per month has been set aside 
for that purpose and that the' men 
regarded the theatre as the top form 
of diversion. 



Acme Tix Agcy. 
Operating Pending 
2-Way Court Verdict 

Although jt was suspended by the 
legit ticket enforcement board and 
the license revoked on the grounds 
of overcharging, the Acme agency, 
N. Y., is still operating, pending 
court decision in two directions. 

Revealed that when Acme obtained 
a stay preventing License Commis- 
sioner Paul Moss from cancelling 
the license, agency also enjoined the 
League of New York' Theatres from 
ordering boxoffices not to make 
allotments to Acme. Result was that, 
the League, after instructing the 
theatres to withhold allotments, re- 
ceived a subsequent order restoring 
Acme to the allotment list. Court 
stay was sought against the League 
because it operates the code, ex- 
cept when violations are tried, at 
which time Equity participates as 
part of the enforcement board. Cases 
involving Moss and the League are 
due for hearing on Monday 02). 

Acme militantly opposed the code 
when that form of price control was 
adopted. Agency went into court but 
lost the case and signed the code. 
Couple of months ago it was charged 
that Acme got double the boxoffice 
price for hit tickets and was then 
"disciplined" by the code board and 
the license commissioner. 



WILDBERG FAVORS 
A COAST 'BROADWAY' 

u Hollywood, June 26.- 

. Hollywood as a legit centre is vis- 
J?ned by John Wildberg and Gilda 
Dahlberg, who are ogling real estate 
here with the intention of building 
? theatre for top stage shows right 
tri • fi,m indlls try's front yard. 
Idea is to make this area second to 
New York as a breeding ground for 
legit drama. 

Sites under consideration will be 
selected- later when Wildberg returns 
from New York. He left here Fri- 
day (22) to supervise the production 
of "Belle Brodie" for a fall opening. 
Before leaving he announced that 
two "Anna Lucasta" troupes would 
be sent on the road, one in October 
and one in January. 



The Ballet Theatre will leave N.Y. 
end of July for summer Coast ap- 
pearances, with one week at War 
Memorial Opera House, San Fran- 
t'sco. and three weeks at Hollywood 
Howl. Alicia Markova and Anton 
■Uolin have rejoined troupe and will 
head it. Company will return to 
Y. in September to prepare for 
its October season at Metropolitan 
Opera House. 



State's Atty. Wins Nod 
By Chi Drama Schools 
To Amend Their Ways ; 

Chicago. June 26. : 
State Attorney's office here ■ 
dropped its threat last week to 
prosecute operators of Chi drama- ! 
and-voice schools complained against 
by students at a meeting at" which I 
the ops promised Ota P. Lightfoot. 
assistant S. A., that they'd amend j 
their ways and permit his office to ! 
police their methods of doing biz I 
for the nwt six months. ! 

AIL mailers anent tuition lost by j 
students, who'd dropped out of 
classes because they were dissatis- 
fied but were hooked on paying up 
because they'd signed up with loan 
companies aligned wtth the schools, 
have been cleared up. Lightfoot dis- 
closed, and schools have agreed to 
drop the "let us make you a star" 
angles from their advertising, be- 
sides dropping their tie-in deals with 
loan companies. This latter move 
Will permit students . to quit the 
schools any time they wish, just as in 
other schools. Lightfoot said. , •. 



USO LEGITS SOURCE 
OF EQUITY MEMBERSHIP 

Legit troupe;; of USO-Camp Shows 
have become a new source of mem- 
bership for Equity, as indicated last 
week when nearly 50 'c of the 11 
new member^ elected we're in such 
outfits. When players are selected 
for the shows. USO people do not 
make membership a requirement 
but Equity is insistent that they join 
the association. $100 initiation fee. 
plus half a year's dues i $9), 'being 
payable when in rehearsal. * 

Most of the newcomers have had 
experience in summer stocks and 
other outfits of the kind far distant 
from New York and consequently 
have not been checked upon by 
Equity.' There are exceptions, and 
if members of other talent unions 
are cast for USO legiters, there is no 
compulsion to switch to Equity as 
required when players from radio 
pictures and other fields go onto the 
stage regularly. 



Max Gordon Overseas 
Trip Seen Cancelled 

Max Gordon's planned trip to 
London and the continent on a mis- 
sion for Army Special Services in, 
connection, with GI entertainment 
has been virtually cancelled. Show- 
man expressed willingness to serve 
for a month but the Army wanted 
him to guarantee remaining overseas 
for three months. ..' 

Manager replied that he could' not 
devote that length of time away 
from his enterprises, especially in 
light of productions scheduled for 
the new season. 



Nedda Harrigan In 

'Family' for Overseas 

Nedda Harrigan is going overseas 
shortly in "3 'is a Family," in the' 
part she originally played. Actress 
had the lead in the John C. Wilson 
production, then titled "The . Wife 
Takes a Child," which played a 
week in Boston in Dec. '42. and 
folded, show later being picked up 
by John Golden and title and cast 
changed. 

This will be. USO-Camp Shows' 
third company of "Family" and is 
one of the legiters for the post V-E 
European schedule. Ann Mason, 
Hamilton Matt and Virginia Dun- 
ning, all of whom played in the first 
company which just returned from 
six months in the Pacific, are going 
out again in this one. 

Camp Shows- is also starting on a 
third company of "Dear Ruth" and 
a fourth company uf "Kiss and Tell." 



m Added 
To Bond Shows 

"Harvey," 48th Street, and "The 
Glass Menagerie," Playhouse, gave j 
the first 7th War Loan bond mali- | 
nees among legiters on Monday (25), 
both performances being sold out. 

"Oklahoma,"- St. James, is back 
among the attractions giving special 
bond matinees, it developed over the 
w'eekend. It had been stricken from 
the list because'.some musicians in 
the orchestra demanded payment for 
the bond performance, which would 
have defeated the purpose of the 
drive, all connected with the shows 
working gratis. Understood that the 
pit men agreed to join the others 
after a representative of the War 
Labor Board talked it over with 
them: 

The "Oklahoma" bond show, 
which will be its second (a matinee 
was given during the 6th' Loan 
drive), will be held July 10, al- 
though the extended drive on E 
bond sales is dated to finale three 
days earlier. Inclusion of the musi- 
cal more than compensates for the 
loss of "Common Ground." sched- 
uled to play a special bond show last 
night, but latter closed „at the 
Golden, Saturday (23); ■ 

Legit Managers Hot 
Under Collar Over Ice 
Problem to Cool Houses 

Delivery of ice for the cooling sys- 
tem of Broadway legiters is again 
a managerial source of worry, also 
a source of annoyance to theatre- 
goers. When the bins were empty 
on some of the hottest nights recent- 
ly, there were angry charges about 
whose fault it was but the ice com- 
panies staled it was simply a .matter 
of manpower — not enough help to 
haul the cakes onto the loading 
platforms. Some house managers 
switched to independent icemen, 
producers joining in the hustle to 
obtain deliveries. 

Ice bills for cooling sytems aver- 
age around $300 weekly for the aver- ■ 
age house, most of that coin being | 
paid by the attractions on the usual 
sharing terms. In one instance the 
backer of a drama entered into a 
deal with a truckman guaranteeing 
delivery of ice, when the house man- 
ager was stymied. Shortage of labor 
on ice trucks has resulted in a simi- 
lar situation for the past several 
summers and some theatre owners 
are figuring on changing the cooling 
plants to the freon gas system which 
require no ice, the plants to be simi- 
lar to those in major picture houses. 
Priorities have prevented such in- 
stallations since the start of the war 
but most theatres which installed ice 
systems in recent seasons did so be- 
cause the original cost was cheaper. 



By JACK PULASKI 

Shows are dropping out aplenty da 
Broadway, but when the summer 
lineup is more definite, as it may 
be by next week, survivors should 
do well during the hot period/ Box- 
office strength of most standouts, 
even in the slump going of the past 
two weeks, augurs well for those 
attractions, and despite the uncer- 
tainties of transportation the metrop- 
olis figures to entertain a goodly 'vis- 
itor influx. . / ' \i •' • . .'.-. 

No doubt that some, shows were 
able to. stick beyond Memorial. Day 
by the grace of an abnormally cool 
early June, but as soon as the weath- 
er went to the other extreme grosses 
immediately dived. Not more than 
10 attractions were unaffected in the 
past fortnight,' they being the top 
standouts, both straight and musical. 
As lor the others there were pro- 
visional notices that brought down 
the curtain permanently on five last 
Saturday (23),' most of them having 
overstayed their time. ' 

Three hits will lay off at this 
weekend (30), one for a month, the 
others from six to eight weeks. It 
will not be surprising if the number 
of survivors is around 15, not count- 
ing the temporary closings, and as 
there are 27 shows on the list, an ad- 
ditional dozen departures is possible. 

"Memphis Bound" was among the 
closings of the last weekend, colored 
cast musical being a eostly mistake, 
show being rated in the red for 
around $150,000. The variation of 
"Pinafore" was fated from the time 
it came into the Broadway for a lim- 
ited two and one-half-week booking, 
instead, of being kept out of town 
until a permanent ' berth was se- 
cured. As soon as it bowed in 
"Memphis" was announced to move 
to the Belasco, psychological effect 
on would-be patrons being reflected 
at the boxoffice; Known that "Mem- 
phis" earned an operating profit in 
Boston and at the Broadway. That 
was wiped out, however, at the Be- 
lasco, operating, loss being $12,000 for 
the two weeks there. 

Closing of "Kiss and Tell" leaves 
but two long stayers in , town, they 
being "Life With Father" (Empire), 
well in its sixth year, and "Okla- 
homa!" (St. James), running in its 
third year. rThe Voice of the Tur- 
tle." Morosco, will go into a third 
season, while "Hats Off to Ice." Cen- 
ter, and "Ten Little Indians," Ply- 
mouth, have just completed one-year 
runs). Other closings were "Kiss 
Them For Me," "School For Birdes" 
and "C ommon Ground." 

Among the 1944-45 sock attrac- 
tions expected to run on and on are: 
"Harvey," 48th Street; "I Remember 
Mama,'.' Music Box; "The Glass Me- 
nagerie," Playhouse; "Dear .Ruth," 
Miller: "A Bell For Adano," Cort; 
"Anna Lucasta," Mansfield; "The 
Late George Apley," Lyceum; "Up 
In Central Park," Broadway; "Ca- 
rousel." Majestic; "Bloomer Girl," 
Shubert; "Song of Norway," latter 
four being musicals. 

Shows to lay off: "Turtle," 
"Adano" and "Apley." 



K. C. Sets Met Opera 

Kansas City, June 26. 

The Metropolitan Opera Co. of 
New York will be heard in two per- 
formances here May 13-14, J946. un- 
der terms of a contract negotiated 
By Walter A. Fritschy, veteran local 
Concert bureau manager, Tentative 
arrangements provide for use of the 
main arena of the Municipal Audi- 
torium, if the necessary additional 
scenic and lighting equipment is 
then available. 

It will be the first time in years 
that Kansas City has been, included 
in the Met's intinerary. 



'CHICKEN' BIG CLICK 
IN LONDON PREMIERE 

London, June 26. 

"Chicken Every Sunday/' last sea- 
son Broadway moderate, came into 
the Savoy on June 20 and was gener- 
ally acclaimed by critics. Opening 
night resulted in seven curtain calls 
and speeches by Frank Leighton, 
star of play, and Firth Shephard, who 
produced "Chicken" in London. 

Second opening of past week, on 
June 21, was "Sweet Yesterday," at 
the Adclphi. -'While, the new musi- 
ual. elaborated from an original radio 
feature, got widespread praise from 
the press, it is over-long, and needs 
tightening to warrant fair chance of 
success. Crix lauded the score in 
particular. '.;.,- 



Charles Wciitnian, rianccr-chore- 
! ographer. will coast-to-coast starting 
I Jan. 11, '46, with a company of J2 
I dancers. : .' ' ' " '."." 



Huston Illness Delays 

USO Trip Till Fall 

Walter Huston has delayed his trip 
overseas, originally set for "August. 
Actor left a N. Y. hospital last wetk 
after a three-week stay for an opera- 
tion, and went to California Trim's- :. 
day (21) to convalesce on his ranch. 

Has no 'other acting plans, and still 
intends going overseas for USO- 
Camp Shows in late fall. 



V 



52 



LEGITIMATE 



Wednesday, June '2 



1945 



Decision Due Monday (2) in N. Y. Try 
To Dispossess Shuberts From Theatre 

Annlication for an order to dis- ■ fered around $650,000 but is. said to 
no sess "Dark of the Moon," at the j be holding out for $1,000,000 and the 
Sii, Street T Y was argued be- i right to re-establish. an eating place 
fore Judge 'Ben Shalleck in munici- in the new building if and when 
pal court last Friday when both j erected. ■ . 
sides were asked to submit briefs, a . ' ' 

TRY0UT AT CAPE MAY 
AND OTHER STRAWHATS 



Monday (2 I. Action was started on 
behalf: of a subsidiary of the City 
Investing Co.. which added the prop- 
erty to its string of Broadway thea- 
tres by purchase. Defendant was 
Select Theatres, the Shuberts' oper- 
ating corporation 



'Honey' Actress' Collapse 
Halts Show at MusartL.A. 

Hollywood\ June. 26. 

Fifteen minutes after she went on 
in first act of "Honey in the Hay" at 
Musart theatre last night. Joy Gwy- 
nell. playing femme lead, toppled 
over with attack of. appendicitis. Ac- 
tress had not been .well and physi- 
cian was in attendance. She insisted 
on going on but attack on stage 
forced performance to be cancelled. 

She was taken home and is under 
doctor's care. Understudy will take 
over -tonight. 



Plays on Broadway 



TIm> Wlml Is NlnH.v 

SIiiiIhmIh (In n'Hwii-lHlkin Willi Albert ile 
i'oiil'vlllet piottm-i Ion of ilrnnm in iluee ai'lw 
tone ai-eiie) hy I'n pi. llalpli Nt'lwill. Fea- 
tures niiim-hc Vurkn. Hen l.jlell. Womloll 
I'oiei. l-'liimes Kj-10. Kirlc Uoimla.i. SlnKe,| 
In- ite riillivllte: mnilns li.v l-'ie,li.|li-U l-'o*. 
Onoiie.l III Booth. N. V.. .Iltne 21. Ki: $!U)0 
loll ($4.'J(I opening "IK')" 
Nil mi . 
Join) . . 

Tolltni, 
.llminy 
VUM: 
Reel 



Lee 
Allan 



Cape May. N. J.. June 26. 
Sluibert, in association with 
Robbins. is trying out "This 



The Shuberts have been operating, Was a Woman'' by Joan Morgan at 
the 46th Street on a percentage-of- |. the eape Theatre, Cape May. N. J 
profits arrangement. They also own. j w?e)< of j u ] y 16. Robert Kendall 



"Dark." a drama with incidental 
music, which ordinarily would be 
berthed in a smaller house, but by 
keeping' the play there the new own- 
ers were prevented from taking 
possession and booking in a musical. 
According to the show's contract it 
could not be ousted unless the gross 
dropped under $17,500, the stop limit, j 
Through their attorneys. Socolow I 
& Pepper, City Investing contended , 
that "Dark" did drop under the stop j 
limit and therefore notice to vacate 
should have been given some weeks 
ago. They further argued that be- 
cause the" Shuberts control Select 
and "Dark," they did not therefore 
give themselves notice to vacate. 

Understood that "Dark" went un- 
der the stop limit last week, and is 
not figured to remain through the 
summer. With the Shuberts holding 
onto the 46th Street, bookings for 
musicals during the summer were 
jammed, but that situation has been 
relieved, for there are a couple of 
expected musical- withdrawals. The 
46th Street' will be available for 
musicals under the new management 
and the Shuberts will lose another 
house designed- for that type of pro- 



Goodhue will direct. 

Mt. Gretna Reopenin* 

Mt. Gretna. Pa.. June 26. 

■ Gretna Playhouse, closed since 
1941. has reopened with company of 
N. Y. players under direction of 
Charles F. Coghlan. Ten-week sea- 
son opened June . 14 with "3 Is a 
Family." current production being 

■ Out bt the Frying Pan." > 



Vanguard's Strawhat • 

Los Angeles. June 26. 

Eugene O'Neill's "Beyond the I 
Horizon" opens theJVanguard Stage's 
1945 strawhat season here tomorrow 
(Wed.). .: . 

Season will run for 10 weeks, with 
five productions slated for two 
weeks each. 



Cleveland Tryout 

Cleveland, June 26. 
"More Love, Brother," new semi- 
historical play by Miriam Anne 
: Cramer, Clevelander, is being tried 
j out w"eek of Aug. 7 at the 3,200- 
j capacity Cain Park Straw-hat thea- 
tre in Cleveland Heights. 



duction when the 44th Street is. Au tly>ress was commissioned by 
razed. "On >he Town" being notified ; Weslem Reserve University to write 
to vacate that theatre by June 28. thB fo]k comedy-drama, dealing with 
On that date "Town" will move to the ,. elig j ous shaker cult which once 
the Beck, an independent house, j populated Northern Ohio in the 
Musical was Shubert-booked .but J^SO's ..Curious folksongs and dances 
when switched from the Adelphi to 0{ the. Shakers, "the original jitter- 
the 44th Street, itwas stipulated that bugs,": are woven into the piece by 
if another satisfactory theatre could - . Mijis Cramer, formerly a dance in- 
not be supplied, "Town's" manage- I ...... 

ment had the right to select another 
spot not Shubert-controlled. Winter 
, Garden, which has "Laffing Room 
Only," was mentioned as a possi- 
bility but no deal was consummated. 

City's purchase of the 46th Street 
gives the downtown outfit more legitr 
ers than any single company except 
the Shuberts, and a booking contest 
is expected to eventuate between 
them. Downtown group plans a vast 
building improvement, which would 
mean the razing of most of its pres- 
ent theatres, though new houses may- 
be built. - -' 

It owns the Broadway bloc"k on the 
west side between 44th and 45th 
streets, with adjoining properties | 



Henry"— Roger 
Weber, Diana 
Dorn. Jeanne 
(CO. and stage 



! structor; 

Frisco Strawhat's July 6 Bow 

San Francisco, June 26. 
The Hillbarn Summer theatre, lo- 
cated in nearby San Mateo, starts its 
fifth season on July 6 with Benn 
Levy's "Springtime for Henry.". 
There will be four shows in the list, 
six ^performances each — "Creeps in 
the Dark," "The Daylight Grows," 
by Geneva Harrison, and "Anatol: 
His Affairs." a new translation of the 
Schnitzler comedy. 



11 Plays for Newport Casino 

Newport, R. I., June 26. 
Sara Stamm. producer-manager of 
westward. Reported that City has I the Newport Casino theatre, is pre- 
^cquiredHhe-Piecadilly-hotel^vJijch^^atuig 1 !. JBliXi for the 18th annual 
would extend its holdings from | summer season here. Season opened 
Broadway to the Music Box on the! a »d will continue through Sept. 8. 



44th street side. On the 44th street 
side, City owns all property, down to 
the 46th Street theatre, except 
Moore's restaurant. Latter was of- 



"Blithe Spirit - ' opened season 
Monday (25). Ballerina Maria Gam- 
barelli makes her dramatic debut in 
"Spirit," enacting the leading role. 




CASTS AND PLAYS SET 
FOR USO OVERSEAS 

Fifteen legit shows are ready to 
go. or have recently gone, overseas 
for USO-Camp Shows. . 
Casts and plays are as follows: 
"Dear Ruth"— Frynne Hamden, 
Riith Shepley, Jennifer Bunker, 
Joyce Franklin. Harry Antrim. Stu- 
art Brody. Hugh Williamson. Patricia 
Ingram. Harry Gaffney. John Buck- 
waiter (stage mgr.), Josephiue 
Bangs. Rodney Hale (co. mgr.). 

"Kind Lady" — Charles Ashton (co. 
mgr.), Joanna Roos. Toni Merrill, 
Betty Brown. Jane Clayborne. La- 
mont Johnson, Edith Dexter. Saul 
Davis. Miles Winslow/ Geraldine 
Garrick. Wanda Spondee. Saul Davis, 
Robert Claborne, Frank E. Brown 
(stage . mgr. ).. 

"The Front Page" — Ramsay Wil- 
liams, Virginia^ Gahagan. Bentley 
Wallace, Bob WJiite. Edna Eustace, 
Nick Dennis, Bert Kalmar, Betty 
Marrow, Maria Manton. Robert 
Blakesley. Clare Klar, Betty White, 
Percy Helton, Wayne Fitzgerald, 
Walter Gilbert, Edward Richardson. 

"Meet the Wife"— Betty Garde, 
John Roche, Noel Mills. Keith Bar- 
ton. Frank Baxter, Veernon Steele, 
Helen Stenborg, Frank Lennon (co. 
and stage mgr.). 
| "Blithe Spirit"— Phyllis Adams, 
Helene Ambrose. Alexander Kirk- 
land, Ethel Intropidi. Hal Hershey, 
Florence Anderson, Karen Morley, 
Murison G. Dunn (co. and stage 
mgr.).' 

"Springtime For 
Pryor." Roland Von 
Parnham, Cyrilla 
Taylor, Luciao Self 
mgr.). . 

"Personal Appearance" — Anita Ze- 
man, Marie Carroll, Jane Lloyd 
Johe*r~ s KtffjQert PoleywHelen Hess 
Howe, Lee FinV^n, 'Dougla^Gi ; eg- 
ory, Dorothy Eaton?" Julia Meadows, 
Mark Forbes (co. and stage mgr.), 

"Double Door"— Frances Beck, 
George Bleesdale, Alice Turner, 
Richard Phelan, Peggy Lyons. Nola 
Luxford, Hilda Vaughn. William 
Bowman, Frank Anton, Dan Louns- 
bury. John Stevens. Mel Tyler. 

"Night Must Fall"— Elise Bernard, 
Ann Summers, Meg Wyllie, -Valerie 
Valer.e. Jan Harven. Stanley Taek- 
ney, Dorman Leonard. Matthew Bol- 
ton, Bill Johnson (co. and stage 
mgr.). 

"Junior Miss Co. A"— Brandon 
-Peters,. Nancy, CushmaiK Donna._M£^ 
Rae, Peggy Wagner, Doris Bauer, 
Paul Giles, Elizabeth Keen, Alexan- 
der Campbell, Eric Woodley, John 
Eldridge. William Hoe? Merrill'Moor- 
man. Alarj Shayne, Alice Thompson. 

"The Late Christopher Bean" — Art 
Jarretty Rosalind Fradkin. Norma 
Chambers. Mary Powers. Myra Mc- 
Cullough, Tom Grace, William Law- 
son, Wychy Birch (co. mgr.). James 
McDonald, Evelyn Snapp, Joel Tur- 
ner (stage mgr.). ' 

"Night of Jan. 16th"— Helene 
Thomas, Roland Hansen (co. mgr.), 
Robert Lawrence, Gregory Robbins, 
Sheila Bromley, Barry MacCullum. 
Tom McElhany, Margaret Young. 
Florence Rowan, Russell Gairge, 
Gilbert Green, Stephen Roberts, 
Helen Thomas. 

"Our Town"— Raymond Massey 
(stage mgr. ). H." E. Currier, John' 
Corcoran, Glenn Martin, Dorothy 
Lambert, Dorritf Keltori, Richard 
Hilton, Martha Greenhouse, Robert 
Lauren, Carolyn Roll. Norman Por- 
ter, Ian MacAlister. Walter Gorney, 
Frank Milano.'John Fox, Tess She- 
han, Michael Carter. Joseph Waring. 

"Arsenic and Old Lace"— Ruth Mc- 
Davitt, Farrell Polly, Gordon Peters, 
Clinton King (stage mgr.), Martin 
Greene, Frances Bavier. Barbara 
Barton. Ed Hunt. Charles Douglas, 
Paul Fairleigh (co. mgr.). Fred 
Downs. Frank DeLangton. Kenneth 
Cook, Charles Douglas. Ann Downs. 

"Kiss and Tell" (C ) Co.— Jane 
Du Frayne, Gardner Single. Beman 
Lord, Geoffrey Warrick, Jack Har- 
rington. Lenke Iacson, Kitty Cos- 
griff. Irving Mitchell. Margaret 
Seeley, Eve Parnell. Margaret Shee^ 
han, Doiiglas Warren, Robert Toms, 
Katliie Henderson. 



Dim-; Rlli'llln, . . . 
Mv. Wijpirlei-. ... 

.I&iri . 

Krnle Sheffield. 
I inn . . ... ..... , ... . 

SoMier. ..... 

Hoy. ..... ... , 

Vntilli. .......... 

VnmiK Mun. , . . 
ill l.ientenunl. . 



, Hlnlli-he Yih'Vh 
, .Joyce \'mii I'nUi-n 

Hoy Sleiliux 

. . . . Kevin MHllievv* 
, . . . .Doniilil Devlin 
/I'ntlilv Itoee 

Bell l.ylell 

Svoll Mooit- 

Kritnree. Keiil" 

. Dii-Ule Vim PhUoii 
. .-. .iWemU'll .'oi-e> 

Kills INunrlHH 

.... . . .Mni'ly Miller 

...... .I ll inert lliilixoli 

Menry Hiininril 

. .IJoiilon Ali-Donnlil 



Introduction of serious drama in 
summer seems to be an extra man- 
agerial hazard that will hardly en- 
hance the doubtful chances of this 
well-intentioned play, which is. 
backgrounded with war's fatalities. 

Author Ralph Nelson, an Army 
captain, in a curtain speeoh stated 
that "The Wind Is Ninety" is dedi- 
cated to the next of kin of those 
killed in the present war. Whether 
those relatives will rate the drama 
as diversion is questionable, for the 
play is necessarily steeped in trag- 
edy. The, messages against war with 



undoubtedly do much belter with it 
in its filming. Ul) " 

The story is about a schemer (Her 
berl) who, in order to rear, a vast 
inheritance, passes off a voung ehao 
with whom he's in cahoots, 'as the 
long-lost son of a wealthy family 
The story has several tangents no 
one of which holds interest for ]onv 
Unless it's Miss Whelan modeling 
those swimming suits. 

Of the cast, Don Gibson, as the 
-young schemer, gives possibly the 
best performance. Herbert's eccen- 
tric mannerisms become tiresome 
after awhile, and Miss Whelan isn't 
made to appear at a particularly 
gracious advantage because of the 
lines given her— excepting, of course 
those endowed her by nature, 

Catherine Doucet, another repatri- 
ate from Hollywood, has one of those 
Highly parts, while others who linip 
through the tired script arc Forrest 
Orr. Susana Garnetf. Eva Condon 
Sally Archdeacon and Kendall Bry- 
"SOn. Samuel Leve has contributed 
the single setting, a living-room in- 
terior, and it fits the play's needs. 
' Oh, brother! Oh. sister! Oh! 

Kakn. 

2D 'OKLA^oTfOR 
OVERSEAS CANCELLED 



the intent to lighten the grief of 
those bereaved is the soldier- writer's Another "Oklahoma!" readied for 
antidote, which may or may not be USO-Camp Shows has been can- 
acceptable. • celled; at the direction of ihe Thea- 
The title is an aviation phrase, one i u . e G(|i , d LaU er produced the mu- 



not familiar to lay people, but that's 
not material. It's a fantastic story, 



sical, and its arrangement with USO 
soTiiewhat 'Tn the' Saroym vcin.""'fo ] has a stipulation whereby all mat- 
Ihe garden of a small town home j ters of casting and the entire corn- 
comes the spirit of Capt. Don Ritchie. | plement of the service unit must be 
an Army pilot. He had been killed i okayed by the Guild. Understood 
while on a bombing mission over- the- management objected to the 
Germany but neither his parents, his sh(nvin „ or "Oklahoma!" by a CI 
wite and their two children yet know I c t rt!poHe(l from China, and while 
ot his demise. Don is accompanied i" i 5 

by a private of the first World War t,lf> uso w «« 111 "° w ^ involved 
who's .indicated to be America's Un- | preparations for the second "Okla- 
known Soldier. home!," intended for the European 

Both, of course, are invisible to the i areas, \vere halted, 
family. Don's purpose being to im- Allen C. Dalzell has been named 
part in some manner to his loved i lo replace Solly Pernick as corn- 
ones tbe.idea that he wiW always be manager of the show which is 
present m their minds. The private, -v., .',,„ ,.,„„,"..„ n„, :B „ 
who toys with a mouth organ is the 1,1 the we Stern Pacific, 
flyer's preceptor, suggesting what 
Don should say, although the words 
cannot be heard by his people. 

Comes a boy scout, who delivers 
telegrams in this town, w'ith a mes- 
sage to the wife Jean reading:, "The 
War Department, regrets' J . . ." Tha t 
cues the third act. wherein the mem- 
bers of the family envision Don in 
the various phases of his growth. 
His mother sees him as a lad of nine 
with a black eye, after fighting anr 
other boy for the privilege of carry- 
ing Jean's books home from school. 
Father sees him back home from col- 
lege after the first term, then as a 
graduate, learning to fly, then oft to 
combat. The wife sees him as the 
boy who proposed to her on the 
stone bench from which he toppled 
when she said yes. Additional play- 
ers than those on stage for the rest 
of the play are required for that 
enactment, and there are half a 
dozen kids. 



"Boy Meets Girl" Cancelled 

"Boy Meets Girl." one of the 15 
legitors set up by USO-Camo Shows 
for its post V-E program in Europe, 
has been cancelled due to casting 
difficulties. Cast-members are be- 
ing assigned to other legiters, one 
member, Dan Reed, already having 
gone overseas as replacement for an 
ailing trouper in "Night of. Janu- 
ary 16.'' 



Boston Opera Co. Plans 
80- Performance Season 

Boston. June 26. 
Boston Grand Opera Co. is plan- 
ning a season of 80 performances 
next year, with a tour of 25 eastern 
cities lined up, including two weeks 
in New York as. well as three full 
Frances Reid makes a splendid ! weeks in Boston. 

Company will open Oct. 1 in New- 



Jean, a wholesome, attractive wife. 
Bert Lytell is the father, the author's 
principal proponent of the flyer's 
ideas and commentaries on war. It 
is an excellent characterization. 
Blanche Yurka is the mother, re- 
served in performance^ is _also_giving_ 
a fine portrayal. - " 

Wendell Corey is Don. He's on 
stage most of the time in a- difficult 
part which is uneven. Kirk Douglas 
is the Unknown Soldier, wise beyond 
ordinary limits. It also is a good per- 
formance. Little Joyce Van Patten 
is well cast as the flyer's daughter, 
same going for Donald Devlin, as her 
brother. Among the other youngsters 
is Dickie Van Patten. ' 

There are good actors in "Ninety." 
and if the play misses they can't be 
blamed. Hollywood will doubtless do 
better by the drama than has the 
stage. . .' . ' Ibee. 



ark wilh "Tannhauscr." New York 
season comes in November. Stan- 
ford Erwin is managing director. 



Current Road Shows 

(Period Covering June 2%-Jnly 7) 
"Blackouts of 1915"— El Capitan, 

Hollywood (25-7), 
"Carmen Jones"— Curran. Frisco 

(25-5). 

"Dear Ruth"— Harris, Chi (25-7). 
"Good Nile Ladies" — Plymouth 
Bost. (25-7). 

"Life With Father" (2d Co.) — 
Erlanger, Chi. (25-7). 
"Marinka"— Shubert, Boston (25- 



Oli. BroilH'i*! 

Maximilian Bei-kpr unci Pelei- \Vaneir »io- 
ilm-lion or'-eonieily by .Inciiuen De.vul »l;n-rt 
Hllgjl Harbfrl anil Arleen Wliel.in. Slaiie.'l 
by Uielalgne VVImlusl:. seliliiK. .Sniimel 
l.eve. opened al. Jloyale. X. Y. .Mine III- 
«i *3j«0 toji m.'JO openiiiK nliilil). 



7). 



Forrest, 



Allen Kill 

Slip. Atkins . 

1'lial-len CraiMock 
Klliel Shoi'es.. ... 

ftiw» 

I .any. .'. 

AVilrii.n CosKi-ove, 
Amelia fli'omHypil 

Steve Koley.' 

.luli.-in Tj-umhull. , 
ronnle itnwlaiifl. 
■Joan Alasiniljer. . . 



.Don (lilmon 
...Silsana Untnett 

HilKh H-i-h.-it 

......Kva Con, ton 

-Sally Art Inl-ai-iln 
... . KenuVn Ri-Msin'i 

. . . . Arieen Wlieta n 

..ralliei.lne. Doni-et 

. .I.ylo UeltKei- 

KorreM On- 

.1 ii 1 1 ,-i Wolf 

. . . .CiliM-la Slioo. U 



"Oklahoma!" (2d Co.) 
Philly (25-7). 

"Rain"— Aud., Oakland (25); Jr. 
College Aud.. Sacramenlo (26); 
Civic Aud., Pasadena (28)'; Mun. 
And., Long Beach (29): Russ Aud., 
San Diego (1) ; Biltmorc, X. A. (2-7). 

"Red, Hot and Blue"— Gr. North- 
ern, Chi. (25-30). -:"':' 

"Snafu"— Colonial, Bost. '(25-7). 

"Ten Little Indians" (2d Co.). — 
Geary, Frisco (25-7). ' 

"Voice of Turtle" (2d Co.) — Sel- 
wyn, Chi. (25-7). 



It's nice to feel that a good-inok- 
ing gam— and related riiceties— can, j 
perhaps, do something to relieve the 
tedium of a poor play. Arleen Whe- 
lan sports several changes of bath- 
ing suits in "Oh. Brother!" that em- 
phasize the basic comoonents of 
feminine allure— but it's not enough. 

Miss Whelan and Hugh. Herbert, 
the latter returning to Broadway 
after an absence of many years, are 
the stars of this comedy' by Jacques ; 
Deval, and Maximilian Becker and ! 
Peter Warren are the producers. It's I 
a poorly developed story based on a j 
fair idea. Paramouht. which bought 1 
the play prior to production; will 1 



PLAY PUBLISHERS < 

. . . of htf and many 
olhtr diit'nguithtd playt 

SONG Or BERNADETTE 
TOMORROW THE WORID 
LOST HORIZON • HIGHLAND 
FLING • EVE OF ST. MARK BEST 
FOOT FORWARD • FATHERS IN 
A GALE • MRS. MINIVER • GREAT 
A BIG DOORSTEP • KITTY 
* \ FOYLE • HOUSE WITHOUT A KEY 



THE DRAMATIC PUBLISHING CO. 

Incorporated 1887 

59 E. VAN BU REN ST., CHICAGO 5 

1a a t ti t a i i 



Wednesday, June 27, 194S 



...... ^» . 



LEGITIMATE 



hslde Staff— Legit 

Equity's annual meeting early this month was claimed to have been 
serene, but that was inaccurate, for there were flareups over the contested 
election, Philip Loeb, who heads the independent ballot, being the pro-and* 
con target, it's now revealed. Peggy Wood, one of those opposed to his 
re-election, was quite loquacious, saying she had intended remaining out 
of the campaign, but was aroused over election .literature distributed. 

Miss Wood, the only one of the council members who resigned about" 
three years ago when dissatisfied by the nominations, at the meeting de- 
manded the names of members who opposed Loeb last year on alleged 
religious or racial grounds. Loeb's defeat last year (although he was ap- 
pointed later) was "a fate not unknown in democracies,' remarked Miss 
Wood, who also demanded documentary proof that some members are anti- 
Semitic, as charged. . .. 

Loeb again denied he is a Communist or that . he considered the nomi- 
nating committee anti-Seriiilic. or that he ever brought charges" against 
any of them, although he did believe there -was intolerance among the 
membership. Loeb said he could not supply the. names asked for by Miss 
Wood, unless he received permission from, his sources of information, but 
that the names would be supplied if a board of inquiry was appointed. 

Former college football star and boxer, Edward Roecker of the St. Louis 
Opera, who is taking time out to play Francois Villon in Ernest RaWley's 
revival of "The Vagabond King" at the Royal Alexandra, Toronto, i.s caus- 
ing an occasional casualty because of his exuberance. Reluctant to use 
buttons on the foils in the; first-act duel scene, because this would modify 
the realism, Roecker stabbed Michael Ames through the right hand on 
opening night. This put Ames in hospital here for a week while he under- 
goes penicillin treatments. Ames played the third act, but., by that time, 
infection had set in. Ames is currently replaced by Ruper MacLeod, with 
salary and hospital bill covered by theatre insurance. 

Maida Reade, character woman; who is tossed over a barrel by Roecker 
in the play's action, had her shoulder thrown out of joint; she is now 
playing the part with her arm, in a sling— much tc the bewilderment of 
theatregoers, who have seen "Vagabond King" before. .'•'; 



Setting for "The Wind Is Ninety," which opened at the Booth, N. Y., last 
Thursday, was designed to work on a revolving platform, rolling part way 
around 1 to display miniature scenes. The device called for additional 
production expenditure of around $9,000, but when the show came to New 
York from Boston, Lee Shubert, who presented the drama with Albert 
de Courville, ordered out the platform because it made for a stop-and-go 
performance. It was the second teaming within a year of Shubert and 
de Courville, who scored last summer with "Ten Little Indians," Plymouth. 
"Ninety" drew some strongly laudable notices, but the press generally 
was mixed, . . • 

Play was written by Capt. Ralph Nelson of the Army, script being 
awarded a prize by the National Theatre Conference. Premiere curtain 
was necessarily delayed when a rainstorm prevented a number of first 
nightcrs from reaching the theatre on time. 



League of New York Theatres had a table for the dinner tendered Gen. 
Eisenhower at the Hotel Waldorf-Astoria last Tuesday (19), and there was 
a scramble among managers to be present. When the showmen had been 
seated a message from Mike Todd's secretary, Belle Postal, stated that he 
was taken ill while dressing for the victory feast. Other managers couldn't 
be quickly reached, but Margaret Pemberton was contacted at the Mer- 
chant Seaman's Club, where she's head woman, and -she eagerly accepted 
the invitation. .. '.'"'.._. 

Show crowd went all out in its enthusiasm over the general's speech 
praising of USO and show people generally in their contribution to Gl 
entertainment. Todd recovered and late last week planed to Chicago, 
training to the Coast from there. 



Monte Proser, himself a saloonkeeper, meaning he's the successful nilery 
operator of the Copacabana. N. Y . is writing a guest column for George 
Jean Nathan in the N. Y. Journal American, while the latter vacations, 
and therein boniface-showman Proser deprecates the . "saloon" conno- 
tation. He stresses that most musicomedy comedians (Berle, Niesen, 
Gleason, Kaye, et al.) and many another straight legiter was spawned in 
the cafes. Proser avers that since the demise of vaudeville there's nothing 
like the niteries as a training ground for the so-called legitimate stage and 
Hollywood. Jane Ball, whom he married a week ago, and who then had 
to quickie back, to the Coast and her 20th-Fox contract, is also a product 
of the ffoorshows. Proser this fall will co-produce Milton Berle's next 
starrer, "Springtime in Brazil," with the Shuberts. 



Warner Bros, is behind "Marinka" with an ample bankroll. Jules Lev- 
enthal and Harry Howard are said to be sponsoring, but lavish expendi- 
tures arc keeping it .going. When the show played Washington Harry 
Stockwell went in Saturday matinee and played Saturday evening. He 
Wore the costumes designed for Jerry Wayne, which were much too full. 
Two new scenes went into the book after the Saturday performances and 
the script is being revised. Show is lull of Viennese music, with plenty of 
love songs, but the book carries no suspense. Barney Klawans went to 
Washington to look after Warners' interests;? and show may be kept going 
in Boston until script revisions are made and 1 the show is lighter for 
Broadway. 



Attorney Francis S. Levien, counsellor for John Wildberg, and backer 
of Broadway legits, stresses in a letter to "Variety" that "your story in 
the June 20 issue entitled 'Memphis' Crisis on the Sliding B. O.,' unfortu- 
nately conveys a mistaken impression. ... .While it is perfectly true that the 
cost of 'Memphis Bound- exceeded the original anticipated production costs, 
nevertheless it is equally true that, the production was most favorably 
received by the majority of the critics and was a production of which 
■ny producer could and should be proud.... I never did intend 1 to 
criticize Mr. Wildberg in any respect with this production, nor has any 
"crisis' arisen between us. . '. ." 



USO-Camp Shows' legit depl. had a visit from the N.Y. police last week. 
Someone heard a femintlu: voice screaming for help from the Edison hotel 
on West 46th street about 9 p.m. Wed. (20) and called the cops. Meantime, 
a crowd of about 150 gathered outside, with rumors spreading that a couple 
of sailors were molesting the woman. The cops traced the noise, not in 
the Edison, but next door in a rehearsal hall ''on the third floor. When 
they broke in they found a legit unit rehearsing "The Front Page," with' 
Maria M'anton (Mariene Dietrich's daughter), enacting the second-act cli- 
max where, as Molly Molloy. she denounces the reporters for grilling her 
crook-boyfriend. Cops made the actors close the windows 'before they 
could continue. 



_ Legit musical producers on the Coast are up against a shortage of femme 
singing leads, a curious predicament in wartime when a lack of male voices 
would be more logical. Regardless of the war's drain on young manpower, 
numerous capable male warblers have been developed in the last two sea - 
•Sons, but not femme songbirds. Not only arc distaff leads rare, but efficient 
understudies are more so, while the gals in the chorus offer little relief, 
although they have been given plenty of opportunity through repealed 
tests. Producers are using what material they have, and hoping. ':■ 

Latest form pf ticket bargain i.s being tried with "Foxhole In the Parlor," 
Barrymore, N. Y. Slips are being distributed calling for a reduction of $1 
«u the boxoffice price, show being $3.60 top. Persons presenting the slips 
** 'he- theatre are required to pay the 20% tax on the established price, 
s <> that the reduced rate is $2.60 per ticket. 



It's Getting Monotonous 
To Say 'Okk!' Sells Out 

Philadelphia, June 26. 

There is no question but that 
"Oklahoma!" has overcome its big- 
gest handicap— Philly's tropical sum- 
mer heat— and there appears to be 
no reason why a capacity pace is not 
maintained right through to the end 
of the stay, which is now officially 
and finally set for Saturday, Sept. 8. 
The only difference is that seats are 
not -being sold quite so long in ad- 
vance as they were. Sale right now is 
on for entire month of July, with last 
six weeks not due for sale until later. 

Biz only varies in matter of stan- 
dees with show getting between $37.- 
400 and $37,500 weekly. Forrest's 
cooling system has been functioning 
smoothly, and naturally management 
is emphasizing its presence during 
these torrid days. No other bookings 
are announced and it's pretty definite 
that there won't be any for six 
weeks, but a couple are mentioned, 
unofficially, for mid-August. . 



'Marinka' Rosy 
$21,000, Boston 

Boston, June 26. . 

Continued heat wave not so good 
for biz this past week. . Slam notices 
hurt •'Snafu" at Colonial but "Ma- 
rinka" dazzled the critics at Shu- 
bert and b.o. looks rosy with promise 
of extended engagement. "Good 
Night, Ladies" rolls along at Plym- 
outh. ,-'• • 

World preerti of "The Passionate 
Congressman" at Cambridge Sum- 
mer Theatre drew a big advance 
for this Lee Hanson Fox play, open- 
ing Mon. (25). 

Bass Rock Summer Theatre. Glou- 
cester, opens July 2 with "Blithe 
Spirit." which is feverishly making 
rounds in New England, Lilian Har- 
vey, Jasper Deeter and Billie Spar- 
row being featured. Milo Thomas is 
managing director, taking lease, for 
six years oh theatre in Moorland 
Casino. 

Estimates for Last Week 

"Good Night, Ladies," Plymouth 
(1,400; $2.50). Fair $9,500 for 12th 
week here. 

"Her Cardboard Lover." " Cam- 
bridge Summer Theatre (400; $1.80). 
Satisfactory $3,500. ' 

"Marinka," Shubert (1,500: $3.50). 
Good $21,000 for first five days. 
Opened Tues. (19). 

"Snalu," Colonial (1.500: S3). Light 
$6,000 but due to stay some weeks 
longer. 



'Jones' Cracks Record 
For LA. Season, 49G 

Los Angeles, June 26. 

Blasting an all-time, all-high fig- 
ure for grosses at the Philharmonic 
Auditorium. "Carmen Jones" hit a 
peak $49,300 for its third and final 
week here. Show broke the record 
last week with $45,000, which topped 
the figures set by "Lady in the Dark" 
and "Song of Norway^" in years pre- 
vious, when latter two pulled $44,- 
800. House was scaled for $4.20 top 
for "Jones." Total take of "Jones" 
for the stand was $138,800. Advance 
sale of $80,000 has already been- rung 
up for "Rose-Marie," which comes 
in Monday. 

"Ten Litlle Indians" hit $11,000 
for its final week at the Biltmore, 
rating $34,500 on the three weeks. 
Ken Murray's "Blackout of 1945" hit 
the usual $14,800 in 156th week at 
El Capitan and rolled into its fourth 
year. "Honey in the Hay" took in 
another $3,000 at the Musart for the 
25th week. "School for Brides" got 
a so-so press for its opening at the 
Mayan last Wednesday night, With 
no grosses announced as yet. 



Broadway Slides Further; 'Carousel' 
Takes Over Lead From 'Central Park' 
With 48G, 'Brother' NG 4G, 'Wind 90' 5G 



"Kapers in Khaki," all-GI show at 
Fort i_e\vis, Wash, training center, 
includes following show people: Cpl. 
Gene Markley, T/5 Lloyd Pinckney, 
T/5 Nils Fihberg, Pvt. Ted Haley, 
Pvt. Roy Berman, Pvt. Ray Gerber, 



Downward trend along Broadway 
became more pronounced last week, 
affecting evert some high-grossers 
surprisingly, mostly among the mu- 
sicals. "Central Park" slipped while 
"Carousel," which was battling for 
high money honors, came out' dis- 
tinctly as the leader, its comparative" 
newness being a factor. 

Five shows departed from the list, 
which was not unexpected, and more 
will drop out from now on, it having 
been clear that too many attractions 
were trying' to enter the summer 
period. 

A brace of new plays came in last 
week. " The Wind Is Ninety" was 
easily best, though drawing divided 
notices business was fairly promis- 
ing. ''Oh Brother!" looks like one of 
those things/ and if staying for three 
weeks that merely establishes it for 
pictures. ' .' .' ' ■', 

Estimates for Last Week 

Keys: C (Comedy), D (Drama), 
CD (Comedo-Drama), R (Reuue), 
M ('Musical), O (Operetta). 

"A Bell for Adano," Cort (29th 
week) (D-1,064; $4.20), Will take 
summer layoff after this week; mid- 
week matinee bit over; quoted 
around $20,500, which is great for 
drama; picture version opens at Mu- 
sic Hall. Radio City," for run, but 
play dated to resume Aug. 13. 

"Anna Lucasta," Mansfield (43d 
week) (D-1,041; $3.60). Another 
standout with some matinee attend- 
ance drop due to weather mostly; 
approximately $19,000. 

"Bloomer Girl," Shubert (38tb 
week) (M-1,328; $5.40). Ending ninth 
month and business almost as strong 
as when musical hit opened; $33,000. 

"Carousel," Majestic (10th week) 
(M-1.681; $6). Another musical 
smash that should be among strong- 
est grosses next season; getting all 
big house will hold: went into clear 
leadership last week by topping 
$48,000. 

"Common Ground," Golden. Closed 
last Saturday (23) after playing nine 
weeks; business never strong; dipped 
to aroimd $4,000. . 

"Dark of the Moon," 46th Street 
(J 4th week) (D-1,319; $4.20). Eased 
off under $17,000, which is under stop 
.limit, and may have to vacate house, 
although profitable. . 

"Dear Ruth," Miller (28th week) 
(C-940: $4.20). One of the top com- 
edies, cleaning up here and in the 
Looo: rated over $18,500. 

"Follow the Girls," Broadhurst 
(63d week) (M-1,179; $4.80). Was 
maintaining excellent pace until last 
two weeks, then slipped, as did other 
musicals; rated around $20,500. 

"Foxhole In the Parlor," Barry- 
more (5th week) (D-1,096; $3.60). 
Weakest draw on list, but manage- 
ment still hopeful: estimated consid- 
erably under $2,000" (seven times): 
guaranteeing house. 

"Harvey," 48th Street (34th weoto 
(C-925: $4.20). No deviation for 
some standouts, of which this is 
one; every ticket sold for all per- 
formances: $19,000. 

"Hats Off to lee," Center (52d 
week) (R-2,944; $1.98). Completed 
year's stay, not including May lay- 
off: ice show in Radio City reported 
making goodly profit; $25,000. 

"Hollywood Pinafore," Alvin (4th 
week) (M-1,357; $6). Started fairly 
well and should play through sum- 
mer or beyond: but dipped to $25,000 
last week; profitable. • • 

"I Remember Mama," Music Box 
(37th week) (C-940; $4.20). Among 
hits in big demand by visitors, and 
cinch well into next season; well 
over $21,500. 

"Kiss and Tell," Biltmore. Called 
it a run last Saturday, playing more 
than two years (118 weeks); slipped 
to $5,000. . „ „ 

"Kiss Them tor Me," Fulton. 
Dropped off the list, too, on Satur- 
day after playing 14 weeks; grosses 
so-so. 

"Lairing Room Only," Winter Gar- 
den (26th week) (R-1,522: $6). 
Dipped further; estimated around 
$23,500: recently switched to Sun- 



Chi Hefty Despite Weather; 'Ruth' 
!, Tather 15G, Turtle 17V 2 G 




days but those performances- discon- 
tinued. .' 

"Late George Apley," Lyceum 
(31st week) (C-993; $4.20). Will lay 
off for four weeks starting Saturday 
(30): will resume July 30 and should 
play well into next season; slipped 
-to $10,000. ." '.'.. 

"Life With Father," Empire (290th 
week) (C-1,082; $3.60). Expected to 
continue into autumn; run leader 
should pick up when list shrinks 
further: $8,000 estimated. ; '' 

"Memphis Bound," Belasco. Taken 
off Saturday; played four and one- 
half weeks; did well at start (then 
at the Broadway) but dived when 
moved here. 

"Oh, Brother!", Royale (1st week) 
(C-1,084; $3.60). Opened Tuesday of 
last week and drew thumbs down; 
around $4,000 in first seven perform- 
ances.' ■.•■: :! ; ;:•'-. 

"Oklahoma!", St. James (117th 
week) (M-1.505; $4.80), Nothing 
ever seems to affect popularity of 
this run musical, and there's gener- 
ally the limit of standees in; $31,000 
and over. " 

"On the Town," 44th Street (26th 
week) (M-1,462; $4.80). Heat first 
half last week and heavy rain at 
curtain time slowed pace; takings 
around $30,000; still okay for this 
musical. 

"Schools for Brides," Ambassador. 
Closed last Saturday after playing 47 
weeks; down under $4,000; opened 
on subway circuit Monday (25). 

"Song of Norway," Imperial (34th 
week) (0-1.427; $6). Chances are 
Coast-made operetta will be among 
the top grossers next season, as now; 
eased to aroimd $39,000 for first time 
but comparatively little off. 

"Ten Little Indians," Plymouth 
(51st week) (D-1,075; $3.60). Has 
completed year's - stay, being first 
success in 1944-45 period; has been 
slipping; under $7,000 laSt week. 

"The Glass Menagerie," Playhouse 
(12th week) (CD-865; $4.20). Top 
drama among spring arrivals should 
maintain capacity for many months; 
over $18,500. 

"The Hasty Heart," Hudson (25th 
week) (D-1,094; $3.60). Has run 
half a year and while about break- 
ing even may pick up as number of 
shows decline; $7,500. 

"The Overtons," National (20th 
week) (CD-1,164; $3.60). Moved here 
from Forrest, new spot having cool- 
ing system; dropped under $5;<KH); 
must do better to stick. 

"The Voice of the Turtle." Morosco 
(72d week) (C-939; $4.20). On 
Saturday will lay off for eight weeks, 
zs it did for past two summers: re- 
lights in August; looks good well 
into 1 next season; still big last week, 
over $18.600. quoted. 

"The Wind Is Ninety," Booth (1st 
week) (D-712; $3.60). Opened last 
Thursday (21 ); some Strong notices 
but first-night opinion generally di- 
vided; around $5,000 in first four 
tipies. 

"Up in Central Park," Broadway 
(21st week) i O-1.900; $6). Did great 
business first., week . after moving 
from Century but dropped sharply 
jy^St week; $41,000. 

VAUDE-REVUE 

"Concert-Varieties," Ziegfeld (1,- 
626; $4.20). Closes Thursday (28), 
when four-week date' wlll"ei)«;"weak 
business; house goes dark; no plans. 
NEIGHBORHOOD 

"Good Nitht, Ladies," Flatbush, 
Brooklyn. 

"Abie's Irish Rose," Windsor, 
Bronx. 



Frisco Opera $29,600 

• San Francisco, June 26. 

It was almost capacity at 1,776- 
seat, Cur ran theatre ($3.90 top), 
where San Francisco Civic Opera 
grossed $29,600, while boxoffice re- 
ports '"Carmen Jones", sold out, solid 
Cor fortnight, ■ 

Next door, the Gladys George-Vic- 
tor Kiiiari revival of "Rain" sagged 
to poor $7,100 in 1,550-scat Geary 
theatre ($3 top). 



Chicago, June 26. 

Lotsa buyers, but only three shows. 
The beaches and golf links are 
strong compctish; still, capacity 
$20,500 for "Dear Ruth." ascending 
$14,500 for "Life With Father," and 
oreepin' up $19,200 for "Voice of the 
Turtle" ain't hay. • • 

Estimates for Last Week 

"Dear Ruth," Harris (10th week) 
(1.000; $3.60). Sellout $20,500. „ 

"Life With Father," Erlanger (4th 
week) (1.500; $3). Best week yet 
with over $15,000. 

"Voice of the Turtle," Selwyn 
(38th week) (1.000; $3;60>. Gained 
to nearly $17,500. 



'Fortune Teller' Rig 

ROOO'in St. L. Bow 

./ St. Louis, June 26. 

A modernized version of Victor 
Herbert's "Fortune Teller" 1:eed off 
a seven-night run in the Forest Park 
al fresco theatre last night (Mon- 
day) under sponsorship "of the Mu- 
nicipal Theatre Assn. In. spite of 
overcast skies and showers in the 
afternoon the opening night mob to- 
taled 9,000 and an approximate 
gross of $4,000. . .• 

"The- O'Brien Girl," the Frank 
Mandel-Louis Hirsch musical, wound 
up its first local presentation Sun- 
day (24); Lull in cold and rainy 
spell resulted in accelerated turn- 
stile activity. A total of 48,000 per- 
sons attended the seven perform- 
ance's. Gross was an estimated 
$37,000. ".,; 



'Vag. King' ?10,800, 

tight, in Toronto 

Toronto, June 26. 

Holdover of Ernest Rawley pro- 
duction of ' - Vagabond King" saw 
light second week gross of $10,800. 
with Royal Alexandra (1,525) scaled 
at $3 top. 

Current is "Anything Goes," with 
Vicki Cummings and Arthur Max- 
well. 



54 



Wcducsday, June 27, 1945 



Literati 



More Book Pubs Tie In With Fix 

Large number of current and 
forthcoming films have been tied up 
by publishing houses for motion pic- 
lure editions, including stills from 
the pictures and carrying cast 

credits- • - 

World Publishing is putting out film 
editions of "The Story of GI Joe" 
(50,000 first printing of the film edi- 
tion, in addition to regular printings 
300,000), "Kitty," "The Great 
L" and "Nobody Lives For- 



of 

John 

ever." -". . . .-"'„•: ' . 

Three publishing houses are put- 
tin g nut . "Wilson" books (not special 
film editions), coinciding "wiflT^tlTe- 
general release of the film. Duell 
Sloan & Pearce has "Woodrow Wil- 
son, Selections for Today," Double- 
day, Doran is publishing "Woodrow 
Wilson and the People," while Mac- 
millan has "Woodrow Wilson and 
the Great Betrayal." 20th-Fox is 
negotiating with the publishers to 
tie in the new national release of 
the film with the publications. 

Warners and RKO, meantime, are 
also to be represented in the special 
motion picture book output via "The 
Big Sleep" (WBi and "Farewell, My 
Lovely" (RKO's "Murder, My 
Sweet"), included in the "Mystery 
Omnibus" (World). 

Yank Staff Takes Over SRL 

Forthcoming July 7 issue of Satur- 
day Review of Literature, written 
and edited by staff of Yank, the 
Army weekly, is already exciting 
much interest. Lead article will be 
written by Sgt. Walter Bernstein, 
first correspondent to interview Tito. 
Sgt. John Hay will do William Rose 
Benet's "Phoenix Nest" column, and 
Sgt. Joe McCarthy, Yank's m.e., the 
Bennett Cert "Trade Winds" column. 
Contribs will also include Cpl. Tom 
Shehan, Sgt, Al Hine, Sgt. Richard 
Harrity. Sgt. Paul Showers, Sgt. Art 
Weithas, along with 15 book reviews 
from Yank correspondents abroad. 
Yank cartoonists Sgts. Frank Brandt 
and Tom Flannery . Will also con- 
tribute. 



der's own attempts to seek redress 
foi«a pamphlet written by Foerster 
and charging Ridder, among many 
others, with pro-German and Pan- 
Germanic sentiments. Ridder tried 
unsuccessfully to have the pam- 
phleteer arrested for criminal libel. 
Later, in a Magistrate's Court action, 
Ridder dropped his case when it be- 
came evident he would have to per- 
sonally take the stand to establish* 
legal "publication" .as a prerequisite 
to suit and in a mimeographed de- 
fense the publisher charged Foerster 
with making untrue statements. 
Whereupon Ridder w.as sued in his 
tuTn~arrdrthe matter finally coming 
to trial, the jury found for the com 
plainant in the full amount, which 
Ridder subsequently challenged as 
excessive. .. 

Case is thought to be first one in 
which an allegation of favoring Pan- 
Germanism was the root-cause of 
action. 

Funds for the Foerster action 
against Ridder are understood to 
have been provided by . the mili- 
tantly anti-German Society for the 
Prevention of World War III. 



Sun, thus giving Field "an all-day 
newspaper" here. 

Finnegan got out word to all Times 
employees Friday (22) that there 
was no basis to the rumor. . 



'Up Front' in Sales 

Most staggering book sales in years 
are being chalked up in Chicago by 
"Up Front with Mauldin." 

Bookmen are agog at what's hap- 
pening in the stores, -with the Holt 
edition, Book-of-the-Month selection 
and World's supplementary printing 
cueing the sale of a million copies 
in Chi alone this month. 




The Hollywood Idea in Books? 

Lee Barker, chief editor for Don 
bleday, Doran, is one of the few pub- 
lishers with a practical advertis- 
ing and merchandising background 
Barker was first chief sales and ad 
exec before becoming an editor. 

It parallels the recent Hollywood 
trend, where theatre and distribution 
men, with knowledge of consumer 
demands, have segued into produc- 
tion, and put their merchandising 
ideas into practice. 



Equine Sad Sack 

"It Shouldn't Happen — (To a 
Dog) ," cartoon-story by Don Free- 
man (Harcourt Brace; $2) is a natch 
for a Disney cartoon story. If it ever 
comes to pass it would be one for 
Ripley, because Disney has never 
glorified another cartoonist's crea-: 
tion. • ..'''■• 

As is, in book form, it's the saga 
of Pvt. Albert C. Bedlington, Jr. who 
fast becomes "sick as a dog" as a 
sad -sack and emerges a GI hero, for 
all his self -pitying comparison to a 
"dog's life" in the Army. . 



Donald Nelson's Tome 

Donald M. 'Nelson, former WPB 
chairman and later White House 
troubleshooter to China, is writing a 
book on his connection with the gov- 
ernment. Working with him as ghost 
is Bruce Catton, former director of 
information for WPB, who also was 
Nelson's personal adviser on pub- 
licity. • . 

Incidentally, when Catton finishes 
the book chore, he will go into the 
Department of Commerce as info di- 
rector. The job has been offered and 
accepted and is being held open until 
Catton can move in. , 



Coast Guard's Anni Paper 

To commemorate the 155th an- 
niversary of the U. S. Coast Guard 
Aug. 4, Chief Specialist George 
Foley, Jr., public relations officer, 
and' ex-King Features, is getting out 

a special Coast Guard All-Sf8r 

"Newspaper. Name"byllners nsucb as 
Arthur Krock, Roy Howard, Win- 
chell, Ira Wolfert, et al. are con- 
tributing pieces. 



Heywood Kline's Metro Spot 

Ken Kling's son, Heywood 
(Woody), who graduated from 
Wesleyaiv University, Middletov/n, 
Conn., last Saturday (23), is due to 
join the junior writers group at 
Metro on the strength of a novel 
which won him collegiate honors. 
Book is called. "Boldface Wears No 
Black," detailing the life of a news 
papcrman, written within the last 
three months of his college course 

At Wes'leyan, seniors are required 
to write a thesis on some well 
known author's works, but young 
Kling received permission to submit 
a novel of his own, the switch from 
precedent being the first -instance-at- 
the school. 



CHATTER 

Max E. Hecht, cafe p.a., will have 
piece on press agentry history in 
August issue of This Month. 

Earl Wilson's "8-Ball" has sold 
69,000 copies to date. Publishers 
think 125,000 ultimately is surefire. 

Captain Lynn Carrick, discharged 
from Marine Corps and back in 
N. Y. as editor for J. B. Lippincott. 

Sol- Zatt, ex-tradepaperman, doing 
publicity for Ziff-Davis Pub. Co-., 
aided by Dick Weber, .ex-"Variety" 
mugg in Milwaukee. 

Jesse Zunser, exec editor of ' Cue 
mag, and Mary Singer (Mrs. Z) back 
from Hollywood after a month dig- 
ging material for stories, etc. 

Lou Jones, Hollywood correspon- 
dent for eight Australian papers : 
took over chores for two London 
publications; Daily Mirror and Sun- 
day Pictorial. 

Publication of playwright Victor 
Wolfson's first novel, "The Lonely 
Steeple," has been postponed by 
Simon & Schuster from this summer 
until mid-September. Reason: Vol- 
ume has been bought for serial iza 
tion. ■ 

Charles Scribner's Sons ■ has been 
granted ah additional 149,813 pounds 
of paper for book publication this 
year by WPB. Pocket Books, Inc., 
has been okayed for an additional 
140,000 pounds, transferred from the 
quota of Books, Inc. 

The Fawcett Digest, unusual insti- 
tutional promotion piece by a pub- 
lisher, is a selection of representa- 
tive material which appeared in 
various Fawcett monthly magazines 
during 1944. Printed in full color on 
164 pages. Allen Stearn conceived 
and edited it. 

J. B. Lippincott has allocated from 
its fall supplies of paper enough for 
105,000 copies of "The White Tower," 
a first novel by James Ramsey UU- 
man, to be published Oct. 17. Ull- 
man at one time was a Broadway 
producer, with the Pulitzer prize 
play, "Men In White," to his credit. 



JUDGE EUGENE O. SYKES 

Judge Eugene O. Sykes, member 
of the original Federal Radio Com- 
mission and later chairman of the 
FCC, died at his Washington, D. C, 
home here last . Thursday (21). He 
was 69. After leaving FCC in 1939, 
he practiced law here in the firm of 
Spearman, Sykcs and Robertson. 

A native of Aberdeen. Miss., he 
served oil the Supreme Court of that 
state from 1916 to 1924. In 1927, 
President Coolidge named him to the 
newly created Federal Radio Com- 
mission. Following his retirement in 
1939, he headed several U. S. dele- 
gations to international communica- 
tions meetings. 

Pallbearers at his funeral last Fri- 
day included FCC chairman Paul A. 
Porter,- Commissioner E. K. Jett and 
FCC general counsel Roscl H. Hyde. 
Norman S. Case and Paul A. Walker, 
Commissioners, were among the 
honorary - pallbearers. 



JOHN C. PEEBLES 

John C. Peebles, 72, former pro- 
ducer of vaude acts, died in Brook- 
lyn. N. Y., last week. Born in 
Chelsea, Mass.. he worked on Boston 
newspapers, later going to show 
business as press representative for 
the Stair and Wilbur theatres in 
Boston. Later he repped for the Star 
in Buffalo. 

Going over later to the Keith- 
Albee circuit, he became building- 
site locater when that circuit was 
expanding. After this he became 
producerof vaude acts, among which 
were Sam Chip and Mary Marble 
in "Little Dutch Mill," "The Littlest 
Rebel," ' co-starring William and 
Dustin Farnum. and many others. 

Since retirement, he had been ex 
ecutive secretary of the Merchants 
Ass'n and Community Council of 
Brooklyn. His wife died several 
years ago. 



He, had been in vaude for years, 
playing all standard circuits. For a 
while he and his wife, son and 
daughter, appeared as the Four 
Masons, their comedy act, "The Vil- 
lage School," being standard for 
years. 

Since retirement he lived with his 
daughter and son-in-law, Corinne 
and Tony Hunting, also vaude per- 
formers. 



NAT FERBER : 

Nat Ferber , 56, former newspaper 
and screen writer, died June 21 in 
Pacific Palisades, Calif. Reporter for 
the N. Y. American for 23 years, 
Ferber moved to Hollywood as a 
screen writer in 1933. 

For the last two years he had 
been supervising editor of Douglas 
Aircraft's six company weekly news- . 
papers. T ~ ' ~~ 

SGT. SHELDON COONS 

Sgt. Sheldon Reynolds Coons, Jr., 
23, 8th Air Force, was killed June 8 
when the Army plane in which he 
was flying the first leg for a fur- 
lough with his family in the United 
States, crashed near Llanbedr, 
Wales. He had been overseas in the 
frequently decorated 351st Bom- 
bardment Group for 26 months. 
Father, Sheldon R. Coons, is consul- 
tant to RCA, NBC and others. 

JOHN H. KING 

John Heutsis King, 68, pioneer 
southern exhibitor, died in Mobile, 
Ala., June 16. 

King was credited with showing 
the first talking picture in the south. 
For many years he owned and oper- 
ated the Crown theatre, Mobile. He 
was associated in the venture with 
his brother, Charles, who later oper- 
ated the Azalea theatre. Survived 
by brother. 



N. Y. Post Mulls Paris Edition 

The Thackreys— Dorothy S. and 
Ted E. — are reported having their 
hearts set on a Paris edition of their 
N. Y. Post. Paul Scott Mowrer, who 
is writing special pieces for the Post 
from Europe, is said to be over there 

' .primarily to case the Paris situation 
for his bosses. 

The Thackreys have, been doing 
some wing-spreading of late. Al- 
ready owners of the Post and radio 
station WLIB, Brooklyn, they* bought 
the Bronx Home News a month ago, 

_ and are now dickering for a Coast 
package deal which would, report- 
edly, include the San Francisco 
Chronicle as well as two radio sta- 
tions, one in San Francisco and an- 
other in Hollywood. They've' als« 
been linked with a possible Brook- 
lyn sheet. 



$50,000 Verdict Against Ridder 

Victor Ridder, publisher of Ger- 
man language newspapers in the 
'U. S., and a powerful figure in his 
field, last week was on the losing 
end of a sensational $100,000 verdict 
for libel, which was reduced several 
days later to $50,000. The original 
verdict was the largest sum. ever 
awarded in an action in New York 
State. Justice Ferdinand Pecora 
presided in the case and Louis Nizer, 
theatrical attorney, represented the 
complainant, Frederick W. Foerster, 
former German professor, who has 
" a life-long record of fighting Pan- 
Germanism. 

The case is curious for several 
reasons. It is an aftermath of Rid- 



Snllivan's Mark Twain Postscript 

Ed Sullivan in his News column 
last Friday (22) commented on the 
passing of Sid Mercer, Jack Miley 
and John Hutchens, but the latter 
mention was an error, that newspa 
perman being very much on the job 
at the Times, N. Y. Deceased in- 
tended was Hutchins, former die 
tion 'coach who was also a magician 
and photographer. 



WPB Sloughs Comics 

WPB appeals board last Friday 
(22i nixed permission to continue 
distribution of two comic magazines, 
"Ribtickler" and "Book of All 
Comics." The mags had been printed 
in violation of the paper limitation 
order L-244. 

WPB said the decision sets i 
precedent for cases involving mil 
lions of copies of comic, and detective 
mags printed in violation of the 
paper quotas. 

The Appeals Board ruled that "the 
evidence at hearing failed to support 
claim of severe hardship other than 
what was apparently self-imposed 
Appeal was filed by Belmont Books, 
Inc., and Giant Books, Inc. The two 
mags were published under the im 
print of Chicago Nite Life News 
Inc.,. of 250 W. Broadway,' N. Y. C. 



Chi Times" Denies Merger 

Somebody's been giving Herbert 
Asbury the razzberry, according to 
Richard J. Finnegan, publisher of 
the Chicago Dally Times, in denying 
the report in Asbury's yarn, "Battle 
in Printer's Ink," in the June 30 Col 
lier's that the afternoon Times will 
merge with Marshall Field's morning 



MARRIAGES 

Pat Ekander to Emil Hollander. 
Chicago, June 25. Bride is skater 
with "Ice-Capades." : " 

Ruth Mo?s to Vaughn Taylor, 
New York, June 20. Bride is 1st. Lt. 
USMC (WR); groom is Capt. in 
Army Intelligence, and previously 
WCOP and WORL announcer, Bos- 
ton. 

Betty Berry to William Hahn, Jr., 
Rockford, 111., June 20. Bride was 
discr j ockey_ at _KNAC,. Bpstpn;j$room, 
WNAC announcer. 
t Harriet Eriksen to Carmen J. Fer- 
raro, Boston, June 17; groom is 
transmitter operator at WCOP, Bos- 
ton. 

Rena Blackmore to Lt. Eric Lind, 
San Antonio, June 21. Bride was 
former traffic manager for WOAI in 
that city. 



GARY BRECKNER 

Gary Breckner, 49,. veteran radio 
announcer, died June 25 in Red- 
lands, Calif., from injuries received 
in an auto accident. Breckner en- 
tered radio in 1928 after stage career 
with Elsie Janis and other mu- 
sicomedy stars. Started as sports 
announcer, and later did m.c. work 
on air. A cavalry captain in the last 
war, he was turned down for this 
one. Joined War Dept. as civilian 
for a time, handling pickups around 
the country for "Army Hour." Was 
announcer of RKO studio show, 
and on "Breakfast in Hollywood." 

Survived by widow and son, Rob- 
ert, naval lieutenant. 



BIRTHS 

Mr. and Mrs. Lew Borzage, daugh- 
ter. Hollywood, June 25. Father is 
associate producer at Republic. 

Mr. and Mrs. David Chandler, 
daughter, Hollywood, June 19. Fath- 
er is a film publicist, currently with 
the OWI in China. 

Mr. and Mrs. Kirk Alyn, daugh- 
ter, June 21, Santa Monica, Calif. 
Mother is Virginia O'Brien, screen 
actress.' • 

Mr. and Mrs. Maurice Kurtz, son; 
New York, June 19. Father is an 
engineer with DuMont Television. 

Mr. and Mrs. Hal Moore, son. New 
York, June 13. Father is WNEW, 
N. Y., announcer; mother is former 
Eleanor Powers, radio actress. 

Mr. and Mrs. N. L. Sandler, son; 
Toronto, June 16. Mother is song- 
writer. ■■• .,'.-'* 

Mr. and Mrs. John Ireland, son, 
Hollywood, June 21. Mother was 
Elaine Sheldon of the stage; father 
is a screen actor. 

Mr. and Mrs. George Martin, son, 
Hollywood, Ju'rte 21. Parents are 
dancers. ■ ■ 

. Lieut, and Mrs. Thomas Harmon, 
daughter, San ' Fernando. June 25. 
Father is former- football player; 
mother is Elyse Knox, film actress. 



BELLE GOLDSTEIN 

Belle Goldstein, who was private 
secretary to Adolph Zukor, chairman 
of Paramount's board, for 25 years 
and for a time was attached to the 
story department at the Par studio, 
died June 26 at the Flower hospital, 
N. Y ,, where she had been confined 
severaT"wee1«"^tlra~serious illness 

Before entering the hospital, Miss 
Goldstein was a member of the con 
tract department of International 
Pictures. For a time previously she 
handled publicity for the Little 
Carnegie, N. Y. 

Survived by her mother, two 
brothers and a sister. 



LOUIS DE CAMP 

Louis Flashquam, 74, known pro- 
fessionally as Louis de Camp, oper- 
atic baritone and voice teacher, died 
in Chicago, June 21. 

Member of several opera com- 
panies, de Camp and his wife, Anna, 
soprano, sang operatic duets with a 
number of . vaudeville acts for years. 

Survived by widow. 



MAURICE II. GOLDBERG 

Maurice H. Goldberg, 48, senior 
partner in Golde Co., motion picture 
supplies, and operator at the Glen- 
coe theatre, Glencoe, 111., for the past 
three years, died in Chicago, 
June 19. 

A vet operator, with 25 years' ex- 
perience, Goldberg is survived by 
soil, two daughters, father, two 
brothers and three sisters. 



ARTHUR J. KELLY 

Arthur J. Kelly, 49, character ac- 
tor, died June 19 in Kansas City. He 
ha,d appeared in several Broadway 
-productions, and later in— dramatic — 
stock. 

Survived by his widow- and a 
sister. 



MAX PI.ATTNER 

Max Plattuer, 48, talent agent and 
former bandleader, died in Tampa, 
Fla., June 20. 

Plattner had led his own musicrew 
for a number of years, playing ball- 
rooms and occasional vaude dates. 
He broke up combo about five years 
ago to enter agency field and finally 
built up what was reputed 1 as the 
top talent agency in southwest 
Florida. 

; Survived by two sons, who are in 
the armed forces. 



ALEC t'RAIG 

Alec Craig, 60, stage and screen 
character actor, died June 25 at his 
Glendale, Cal., home after a long 
illness. 

A native of Scotland, he had been 
on the British and American stage 
before going 'into pictures 10 years 
ago. During his screen career, Craig 
appeared in .123 productions includ- 
ing "The Little Minister" and "Mary 
of Scotland." His final film role was 
in "Serenade for Murder," which 
was produced last Marclu 

Survived by widow. 



WILLIAM A. MASON 
William A. • Mason, 83, retired 
vaude performer,- died June 21. at his 
daughter's home in Fair Haven, N. J 



WILLARD ROSCOE STUART 

Willard Roscoe Stuart, 69, former 
actor, died June 12 on a train near 
Atlanta, Ga. Funeral was held in Co- 
lumbus, O., where he was recently 
trainer and manager of pugilists. 
Two sisters survive. 



BRUNO FRANK 

Bruno Frank, 58, playwright, died 
in Hollywood, June 20, following a 
heart attack. 

Author of many books and several 
Broadway plays, Frank went to the 
Coast in- 1938 to write screen plays. 



ERNO RAPEE 

Erno Rapee, 55, director of Radio 
City Music Hall -orchestra and long 
identified with bringing music to pic- 
ture theatre audiences, died June 26 
in N. Y. Details in Music Section. 



Father, 67, of Kay Van Riper, 
screen and radio writer, died June 
20 in Hollywood. 



Violet Gomar, 51, former dancer 
with "George White's Scundals," 
died June 20 in Hollywood.. 



Slavenska Changes Agents. 

Mia Slavenska, the ballerina who 
toured for Columbia Concerts the 
past three seasons, has switched to 
William Morris agency. 

Dancer won't concert tour next 
season, preferring to' remain in N. V. 
Agency may set ..her in Broadway, 
musical. -' . ' •■ 



VfJntsJay, June 27, 1945 



Mhririv 'Meficer in town. 

George Lait engaged to wed Jane 

F Ernie Anderson heads the Majestic 
ncpords publicity dept. 

Mis 'Lillian i Harold) Erichs ("Va- 
,.ipTv») at Park West hospital. . 

Rpitv Hutlon expected in.towi) mo- 
mentarily to prepare for her USO 

° rfb e bies l °cali it (he Hotel Murdery 
since that . Hotel Marguery (Lang- 
ford) notoriety. 

Andrea King, under contract to 
Warners, to the Coast Saturday after 
na -ing in the east. . 

Augusta Dabney into "Rear Ruth" 
(Miller), replacing Virginia Gilmore, 
" who goes to Hollywood next week. 

Dave Wolper may produce the new 
Oito Harbach-Peter de Hose musical, 
aisented bv music pub Jack Robbins. 

Singer Shirley Dennis to the Coast 
shortly to open at Slapsie Maxie's. 
She's also due for a Columbia screen 
te«t 

Ida Joy Balaban, daughter of the 
Boxy theatre managing director, A. 
Roxy theatre operator, A. J. Balaban, 
set for a USO hospital tour. 

Elaine Malbfn. 15-year-old Brook- 
lyn soprano, optioned by Eversharp 
after warbling on Milton Berle radio 
show. . ... . _ ' 

Al Jolson aiid agent Sam Jarre 
huddling over • Connie's Inn," musi- 
cal by Martin Field and H. J. Lcngs- 
felder. , , ' . ' ,/" \ ' , 

Maine (Columbia Recording) Sachs 
back at his desk following his op 
and a week's recuperation in Atlan- 
tic City. 

Robert Ringling to Chicago for 
minor operation, but due back next 
week With Ringling show, touring in 
the east. 

Hildegarde likes Mitzi Green's 
takeoff on her so inuch she's trailer- 
izing the Copacabana comedienne at 
the Persian Room. 

Songstress Monica Boyar, upon 
' closing at Le Ruban Bleu this week, 
goes to a Boston hospital for a long- 
delayed operation. 

Dinner will be tendered Jack Cohn, 
v.p. of Columbia, in behalf of the 
Joint Defense Appeal at the Waldorf 
tomorrow night (Thurs.). 
' T/Sgt. Max Magnus, ex-''Variety" 
mugg in Berlin, back after three 
years in the Army from the ETO, 
and heading for Hollywood. 

Victory aircraft cargo ship' named 
after late Joseph V. Connolly, for- 
mer King Features head, to be 
launched at Panama City, Fliu, July 6. 

Lizbeth Scott will get "The Great' 5 
billing when her .first Hal B. Wallis 
(Par) film is released next month. 
She's doing a publicity whirl around 
Gotham. 

GIs returning on the Queen Mary 
see their 16mm. films on the prom- 
enade deck with the screen dividing 
the audience on both sides, a la the 
old nickleodeons. . 

Stage designed bv Arthur Knorr 
and furnished by George Fineberg 
arid Emil Friedlander will be dedi- 
cated at Maritime Center, West 44th 
street, tomorrow' (Thurs.). 

Albert Ray mo. playing one of the 
cartdrivers in "Bell for Adano," has 
bought half-interest in a restaurant 
across street from the Cort on 48th 
street and is renaming it the Adano. 

After the RKO theatre managers 
convention in N. Y. this week, 
Ha'rdie Meakin returns to Washing- 
ton to move his family to Cincy, 
where he is associate division mana- 
ger. 

Claude Lee. director of public re- 
lations for Paramount, who was an 
official representative of the picture 
iirdastry-at the United" Nations Con-" 
ference in Frisco, returned to his 
desk at Par last week. 
. The Copa seems the fave pre- 
jumping-off spot tor the Hollywood 
comics before going overseas. Jack 
Benny, Bob Hope and Jerry Colonna 

m?.i am £ nfi others doin e straight for 
magico Russell Swann. 

wi' g i? Par execs and others at- 
H reception last week at the 
I f n y i , .„! lome 01 Mr. and Mrs. 
w»rfH hllllps to celebrate their 25th 
seninr n V nn ' vel ' sar y- PhiUiPs is a 

,1"'!°™? with Par. 
mmrl, !.& rst °P en luncheon to- 
SK*„. 28) ' anil °unced by Dave 
suest o e L^' exy ' ? ob Montgomery, 
Ionrtn,? ■ . on r 01 '; scheduled to go to 
London as Jock Lawrence's liaison 

hL l bl : l '» R » nk I" London. 
Trw I„ v n U " le r'' I0l merly with 

t" 0 "" 111 ' Appeals Section, back 
A^rjlrn»otu*--.ot law g i Vin g 

srv v lh' • ' • nl,on ,0 Wa S e alld sal - 
S^tabtiizauon mallcl . ° & , b 



relations. 



Minneapolis 

_ By tes Rees 

headh,'" d L. C Cuimont elevated to 
*' at Warners. . 

&fSS^ ' c . ,u !» sponsoring in - 

R , ,, 1 Picnic here. 
m ^IIPetth ls i)i, Universal sales- 
ton, h(ls P lla ' for ma jor opera- 

Plfe 1 ', ^(ifniatt. 20th-Fox ex- 
Moines'' ° maha ' Li,lcoln an 4 

»tes U |t-,« a,i « ow baek °" 20th-Fox's 
worker " CL ' lfi,ease as war P ,a,lt 
»ews ! "rif ,a Amufc Co.'s house man-: 
«S 9 y«r ago! ding la ' gcr gi ' os$cs 
fcftSte ^teinman resigned from 
• S f S of Monogram 
Wo stage shows 'spotted into Or- 



Pftftiisfr 



CHATTER 



55 



pheum— Sammy Kaye. June 29, and 
Ink Spots and Cootie Williams band 
July 27. 

Back after three years overseas 
with Army. Bill Woods, Par booker, 
marrying Edith Larson, who took 
over his job, 



London 



Chicago 

: W. E. "Doc" Banford, M-G-M 
branch manager, in the hospital for 
a checkup. 

Jack Moffilt, Hollywood writer, in 
town huddling with David Smart, 
publisher of Esquire, about a script 
on. the Varga girls. 

Jonas Perlberg, member of the 
Studio Theatre managerial staff for 
the past two years, has resigned to 
go into freelance publicity. 

Harry Cool will have an entirely 
new band, recruited mostly from 
local musicians, when he opens at 
Black-hawk Cafe on July 11. 

Danny Kaye and cast of air show 
will kick off local Community and 
War Fund campaign for '45-"46 at 
the Coliseum rally Sept. 28. 

Warner. Bros." theatres report a 
new high for a nabe bond rally when 
Highland theatre took in $302,- 
000 for one performance last week. 

Carl Schreiber orch opens in 
American Room of the LaSalle hotel 
on July 13. Richard Gordon, emcee- 
singer, being held over for new 
show. - 

Marie Russell, daughter of theatri- 
cal booker Jack Russell, and Pvt. 
Marty ODonneil, now stationed at 
Fort Bliss, Tex., have a date to be 
welded. 

Carl Brisson held over for another 
two weeks at the Mayfair Room of 
the Blackstone hotel, threw a cock- 
tail party for his friends last Wednes- 
day afternoon (20), which was at- 
tended by a mixture of society, the 
military and the press. Brisson ex- 
pects citizenship papers any day now. 



$14,000,000 

i Continued from page 1 . 



ahd.rcewsreel photogs woke up from 
their slumber of the last few weeks, 
and went to work again. It was a 
grand show, and it was covered ac- 
cordingly. 

There were some bad feelings 
among motion picture people be- 
cause none of them had been invited 
to the big. official reception which 
was staged for the President at the 
Fairmont hotel. As a matter of fact, 
two Government representatives, on 
the staff of the Office of Inter-Amer- 
ican Affairs, who came to the re- 
ception to see what the photogs were 
shooting, were asked politely but 
firmly to scram. 

Both still and newsreel camera 
people pooled their shots. Alto- 
gether, about 1,250 feet of newsreel 
material was taken, for release latter 
part of this week. 

Schools to Get Films 

Final session of the confab, as well 
as the extremely colorful ceremony 
of signing the official World Secur- 
ity Organization charter, was filmed 
for release hot only to theatres but 
also to schools all over the country. 

Everyhody who can possibly make 
a train or plane is pulling out of here 
tonight or tomorrow, with some 
staying over until Thursday. Dele- 
gates and newspapermen who are 
going ¥asT~\Ta~Los Angeles' will be" 
entertained at stux'iOs under guid- 
ance o£ Motion Picture Producers 
Assn. - v 

The hotelmen have nothing fo cry 
about. From (he teeoft of the Con- 
ference to the curtain, about $14,- 
000,000 was spent in local hostelries 
and among this town's dispensers of 
potables and edibles. 

Pre-confab predictions were dire 
and definitely pessimistic. But it 
turned out that the St. Francis and 
Mark Hopkins holds grossed about 
$500,000 each for the nine-week pe- 
riod, the Palace till rang up more 
than 300 G. and even the relatively 
small Clift hotef did business in ex- 
cess of $125,000. , '. 

Night clubs didn't - do so well. 
There was too much free compel ish. 
More than 200 formal cocktail par- 
ties, and dinners were thrown for 
delegates, press, and official visitors, 
not to mention many, more informal 
affairs. And all this was cuffo as far 
| as the invitees were concerned. 

Things are settling back to normal. 
Theatres, which saw the customers 
staying away in droves during the 
early stages of the international 
pow wow, are how doing decent busi- 
ness sain. 

There are other headaches in the 
offing: Such as the matter of taking 
care of the increasingly large flow of 
service personnel that's going to 
come through this town. Hotels will 
have tovreserve at least 50'; of their 
rooms for the armed forces. But if 
they don't come out any worse in 
the next few months than they did 
in the last nine weeks, the] hotels 
will have- little- to kick about., :The 
United Nations Conference brought 
dough . to town, and some -of - that 
folding money has stayed. 



Beatrix Lehmann rehearsing ''Anna 
Christie" for CEMA. S 

Donald Strachan to play opposite 
Sonia Dresdel in new play, "Wait 
My Love." 

Noel Coward to direct "Fighters 
Calling," starring Rex Harrison, for 
Torment's. 

New Cross Empire, which was 
blitzed, reopening in August as va- 
riety house. 

Teddy Brown off to Littlehampton 
for three months to recuperate from 
his recent illness. 

Leslie Burgin, theatrical attorney 
and Member of Parliament, in hos- 
pital for operation. 

G- T. Smith dickering for London 
theatre for "Through the Door," 
starring Ruby Miller and Carl Ber- 
nard. 

Queen's, Poplar, oldest Vaudeville 
house here;- is having its first British 
Broadcasting -Corp. airer— July 4. - 

Criterion theatre, used by British 
Broadcasting Corp. for broadcasting 
during war, reverts back to Bronson 
Albery, owner. 

Walter Hudd's presentation, under 
the auspices of CEMA. of Ibsen's 
"Little Eyolf," well received at the 
Embassy, June 12. 

Barry Morse, film actor who made 
stage hit in "The Assassin," proud 
dad of daughter born to hi.s actress 
wife, Sydney Sturgcss, June 13. 

Jed Harris off to Birmingham to 
see Norman Ginsbury's' "The Firstr 
Gentleman," produced by Henry' 
Sherek, which is due at New' theatre 
July 18. 

• Gilbert Miller conferring with 
Prince Littler, head of Associated 
Theatres, anent renewing leases on 
St. James and Lyrjc theatres. 

Bobby Howes, Binnie Hale and Pa- 
tricia Burke (her first appearance) 
have been signed to star in pic to be 
have been signed to star in pic for 
British National Pictures, with shoot- 
ing to start end of July. 

After two years entertaining 
American forces in Europe for USO- 
Camp Shows,, Freddy Morgan off to 
New York for .short holiday, after 
which he starts tour in Pacific area. 

Only stage name in the King's 
Birthday Honors List was Lewis Cas- 
son, who becomes a knight, giving 
him the prefix "Sir." This brings 
him to equal rank with his wife. 
Dame Sybil Thornclike, who achieved 
the femnie counterpart in 1931. 
Casson was honored for his work as 
director of CEMA. 



Virtuoso, doing a guest-artist stint 
with Cleveland Summer Symph Or- 
chestra in pop concert July 7. Spon- 
sors also dickering for kitty Car- 
lisle for a late July date. 



2,000-Seaters 



Continued from page 1 



Australia 



By Eric Gorrick 

Williamson-Tait have major click 
with "Kiss and Tell" at Royal, Syd- 
ney. 

Whitehall Productions have clicker 
in "Voice of the Turtle" at Minerva, 
Sydney. 

Williamson-Tait reviving "Rio 
Rita" in Adelaide. Gladys Moncrieff 
has top role. 

One of the big surprise clicks here 
is "Laura" (20th), current at May- 
fair, Sydney. 

Lloyd Lamble. top radio actor, is 
taking a tent show out, presenting 
legit attractions. 

Par's "Bell Tolls" goes into State, 
Melbourne, for G.U.T. after seven 
weeks in Sydney. 

Boff biz being done in Sydney by 
Wirth's circus. Public still has 
strong yen for sawdust-and-spangles. 

Ewen and Clyde Waterman, major 
indie exhibs in south Australia, have 
left for a looksee tour of U. S. and 
England^ 

"Ban on nighT sp"OTr1s~'expected-to- 
be lifted shortly in Sydney, An- 
ticipated that night trotting will also 
come back. 

Sir Ernest MacMillan. Canadian 
conductor, has arrived here under 
contract to Australian Broadcasting 
Commission. 

Pilot-Officer Harry Nickless has 
been reported missing following air 
operations over Berlin. Airman was 
formerly on the staff of Palace, Syd- 
ney, 

Gordon Ellis, g.m. of British Em- 
pire Films, arranging special preem 
of British documentary, "Western 
Approaches," in Sydney, with pro- 
ceeds going to clubhouse fund for 
British servicemen. 



colossal- proportions, reduced over- 
head costs will materially lower 
bills so that all this will come about 
for approximately the same cost as 
a pair of legit ducats. 

Nitiry men have detected this 
trend for. some years. They point out 
that bistrqs now cater to an entirely 
new crop of customers, aside from 
the regular c/afe society, habitues. 
The high wages now paid in indus- 
try have accustomed the middle 
classes -to- night -clubs-as-a -regular 
part o," their entertainment diet, and 
it's for that type of customer that 
the large clubs v.'ill become a mat- 
ter o,' necessity when the easy de- 
fense coin tightens up. 

They also point out that the re- 
cent trend- in private entertainment 
is the large parties which in former 
years were held in '; neighborhood 
halls when a celebrant would hire 
t'-e premises, engage a caterer and 
musicians for large functions such as 
anniversaries, weddings or engage- 
ments. Many of these functions are 
now being held in niteries, and boni- 
faces say that the cost is much low- 
er that way and results in better en- 
tertainment and less headaehes to 
the party giver. 

- Hurt Roadhouses 

Another factor supporting the 
big spots are the technical ad- 
vances made in air-conditioning. It's 
pointed out by some that with the 
introduction of thermostatically con- 
trolled cooling systems, patronage 
that went to the roadhouses was di- 
verted to urban spots. They believe 
that roadhouses iii the future will 
have to have some attraction, such 
as gambling, -to maintain themselves. 

The fact that night-clubbing is 
now an integral part of mass enter- 
tainment was evidenced during the 
curfew, which while aimed at niter- 
ies because of the midnight shutter- 
ing, affected every other branch of 
entertainment. Legit theatres suf- 
fered heavily during the 12 o'clock 
hiatus, , 

It's also seen that these large 
clubs will be built away from the 
present high-priced realty areas.. In 
New York, it's likely to come above 
Columbus Circle, where there, are 
now many sites than can be bought 
at a comparatively low cUst. That 
sector would also be the logical site 
to catch the motor trade from Long 
Island, because of the nearby 
Queensboro Bridge, and northern 
New Jersey trade. 

In those days to come ration 
points Will be a bad dream and 
steaks will probably sell for the 
price of an elaborate sandwich and 
liquor will be easily obtainable. 

Bonifaces are awaiting that day — 
even if?only for the latter reason. 



Cleveland 



By Glenn C. Pullen 

Bud Waples' orch in Hotel Cleve- 
land's Bronze Room for the sum- 
mer. 

Sidney Andorn. WGAR commen- 
tator, celebrating 10th anni of his 
daily program for Erin Brew. 

Nine local college actresses" picked 
by reps of Army Special Services 
Division to go overseas to act In Gi 
shows. 

Just after Herman Spcro lan.ded 
contract to handle a new WJW-disc- 
jockeying jpb. he received his Army 
marching papers. 

Terry 'Sterling, singer whose hus- 
band broke back in auto accident, 
teaming up with Kenny Rassmusseii 
in nitery musical act until, hubby 
recovers. 

Frederic McConnell's troupe at 
Civic Play House, which closed sea- 
son Sunday [24 ). taking five' of its 
shows to "Chautauqua, N. Y., for 
strawhat season. 

. K."Elmo Lowe to gucst-d.irect five 
plays for Westchester Playhouse bc- 
fore'rel liming to family ■hearthstone 
here. Has been rehearsing USO 
overseas units in New York. 
John Sebastian, nitery. harmonica 



House Reviews 

Continued from page SO ^ 

Oriental, VM 

with a clever half talked-half sung 
gossip, number titled "Don't Get Me 
Wrong, I Love Hollywood," follows 
with a. dramatic bit about a girl who 
lost her husband overseas, and 
whams over "I Want to Show My 
Personality," a Gay 90s number with 
can-can finish, showing off nifty 
gams, for solid returns. 

Blair and Dean offer three smart 
dance routines, teeing off with a 
lively 'Spanish number; then a 
smooth and easy pattern to "Jealous," 
and wind up with variations on a 
cakewalk theme to "Alexander's 
Ragtime Band," all including expert 
lifts and graceful execution. Click. 

Lenny Ken t has them _ literally 
rolling in the aisles with a line of 
clever chatter, delivered with per- 
fect timing, that stamps him as one 
of our best young comedians. Talk 
runs the gamut from life in the 
Army to spoofing present Cuban 
band and singer craze, w ith rapier- 
like examples, and satirizing the 
.lack Cole dancers to loud laughter.. 
Closes with rapidfire resume of what 
has gone on before for latecomers in 
audience,. and is solid hit. 

Frances Faye, handicapped- by 
laryngitis, wasn't her old boisterous 
self at show caught, but managed to 
sock over a healthy hit with her 
self-accompanied songs. Does "Dance 
With a Dolly," "Man Is Always a 
Dog," piano-soloed "Tic'o Tico." with 
variations, and winds up with "Feet's 
Too Big," in which she enlists Kent, 
who contribs a snatch . hoofing to 
send them Off a hit, 

LcRoy Brothers open the show. 
Working on a dark stage they 
manipulate their lifelike-marionettes, 
composed of Hawaiian dancer, pair 
of- jitterbug- dancers, couple- of 
skeletons and Gene Kl'upa drum- 
playing in workmanlike manner - to 
register. .Morg, 



Hollywood 



Janis Paige nursing strep throat. 
Don McElwaine laid up with bron- 
chitis. 

Lee Bowman laid up with eye in- 
fection. 

Jennifer Jones divorced Robert 
Walker. 

Arthur Rosenstein planed to Mex- 
ico City. . 

John Fabers celebrated golden 
wedding. 

'Emory Nr"Parrtell, screen heavy, 
divorced. ' .'• ' -' : . 

Rov Del Ruth won his counter suit 
for divorce. 

James' Wong Howe laid up with 
throat trouble. 

Natalie Thompson suing Robert 
Button for divorce. 

Brian Donlevy has a backlog of 
five unreleased. pictures. 

Joseph M. Schenck returned from 
three weeks in New York. ,■'.'". 
T Mary Pickford -hosted -150 British 
aviation trainees at Pickfair. 

Dickie Jones, of the "Henry 
Aldrich" air show, joined the Army. 

Harry Brand back at his 20th-Fox 
publicity desk following a vacation. 

Walter McCreery to Seattle to 
open the new tour of "Ice-Capades." 

Jean Negulesco checked in at War- 
ners after vacationing in Mexico 
City: - 

; Grace La Cava drew her final de- 
cree of divorce from Gregory La 
Cava. 

Charles Coburn celebrated his 68th 
birthday and his 54th year as ah 
actor. ... ■ 

Peter Lorre and bride. Karen 
Verne, returned from their honey- 
moon. 

Jack Warner, Jr., tipped from cap- 
tain to major while serving in Ger- 
many. . . 

Major Gordon Jones, former film 
actor, in from the Near East on fur- 
lough. 

Irene Manning in from Columbus. 
O.. to start rehearsals for "Rose 
Marie." ' 

Fred MacMurray off on vacation 
before starting work in "Smoky" at 
20th-Fox. 

Pedro Armendariz. Mexican film 
star, in town for huddles with Hunt 
Stromberg. 

Umberto Delesado. Portuguese 
diplomat, hosted by Charles Boyer 
at Warners. 

Ann Blyth, whose back was bro"ken 
in an accident last April, is able to 
walk again. : 

Glenn Tryon and his wife, Jane 
Frazee, bought a home in San Fer- 
nando Valley. 

. Fanchon returned from New York 
after readying USO troupes for 
overseas jaunts. 

Rasputin, Chicago impresario, in 
town with his new protege, Athena, 
Flamenco dancer. 

Chico Marx in from Detroit to 
huddle with his brothers on their 
forthcoming picture, 

Joseph Vogel in from New York to 
huddle with Metro execs on Loews' 
Inc. public relations. 

Beverly Reedy, Republic actress, 
announced her engagement to wed 
Bob McGalliard, sailor.. 

Victor Klein, Jr., out of the Army 
Air Force and back on his old job 
as film editor at Warners. 

King Charley sold his hotel inter- 
ests in Palm Springs and moved In 
to Malibu for the summer. 

Sgt. Bill Shirley, former Republic 
singer, spending his furlough plug- 
ging the Seventh War Loan. 

Martin N. Wagner. 34 years with 
the William Morris office, opened his 
own agenqy on Sunset Strip. 

Greg McClure to San Francisco for 
I he- opening of- "The- Great John L„" 
in which he plays the title role. 

Ginny Simms collapsed because of 
a flu attack while working on the 
"Alibi in Ermine" set at Universal. 
. Mike Todd in from New York to 
discuss picture production with his 
Hollywood rep, Leonard Goldstein. 

Mary Meade, of the Goldwyn 
Girls, hooked up with Kay Kyser's 
troupe for overseas entertainment. 

Jane Russell treated for appendix 
trouble but able to resume work in 
Hunt Stromberg's "Young Widow." 

Leon D. Britton. former RKO sales 
rep for RKO in the Far East, holding 
studio huddles before going overseas. 

Rex Dennant, Charles Chaplin's 
representative, in town for a meet- 
ing of United Artists board of direc- 
tors. 

..James E/Finey, sales rep for Walt 
Disney in Canada and New YoTK, 
trained east with his bride after two 
weeks of honeymooning in Holly- 
wood. 



St. Louis 

By Sam X. Hurst 

PRC has mOved into new quarters. 

Patsy Kelly and Barry Wood held 
over at Chase Club. - 

Variety Club of St. Louis purchas- 
ing a permanent home in midtown. 

Bing Crosby, making p.a, with war', 
bond shows and golf matches, enter- 
tained- kids at the' Shrlner's hospice : 
last week. . 

Waiter Norton, who with his 
brother Lee, owns several theatres- '■ 
in southern Illinois, received • dis- ■ 
charge from the Seabees. . .. . - 

Mayor Aloys P. Kaufmann • has- 
been elected chairman of the board 
of Playgoers of St. Louis, Inc. Or- 
ganization, which has.a. membership. , 
of 1,041, guarantees the purchase of 
seats for each legit production, 
brought to American theatre. * 



56 



Wednesday, June 27, 1945 




"Active-Uttvsr facial* with tun 
Soap are SO simple but they fealty 

vork!" says lovely Vera-Ellen. 

-The lather's so creamy it's like a 
caress on your skin— leaves it 
softer, smoother. You'll love this 
gentle Lux Soap beauty care.". 

In recent tests of Active-lather 
facials, actually 3 out of 4 com- 
plexions improved in a short time! 



SCREEN STARS ARE 
RIGHT. LUX SOAP 
BEAUTy CARE MAKES 
' SKIN SOFTER/ 
SMOOTHER ! 



And charming Virginia Mayo 
tells you : "A lovely fresh com- 
plexion is the greatest charm 
a girl can have. That's why I 
never neglect my Active- 
lather facials. 

'/Here's how to take them: 
Cover your face generously 
with Lux Soap's creamy 
lather, smooth it well in. 
Rinse with warm water, 
thensplashwithcold.Patgen- 
,v * tly with a soft towel to dry." 



7?/> 'Beauty re#//y 
mates /ore/iecffo mtufer 




FIGHT WASTE 

Soap uses vital 
war malarial*. 
Don't wast* it! 



Scanned from microfilm from the collections of 
The Library of Congress 
National Audio Visual Conservation Center 
www.loc.gov/avconservation 



Coordinated by the 
Media History Digital Library 
www.mediahistoryproiect.org 



Sponsored by 

Department of 
Communication Arts 

*• : University of Wisconsin-Madison 

http://commarts.wisc.edu/ 



A search of the records of the United States Copyright Office has 
determined that this work is in the public domain.